Piven's Doctor Defends Actor, Claims Exit His Decision

Variety is reporting that former SPEED-THE-PLOW star Jeremy Piven's physician said that the actor's "mercury malady" is a genuine health scare and concern for the actor. 

"Jeremy has been a trooper, and did everything he could to fight extreme fatigue, among other things, since the condition was diagnosed," Dr. Carlon Colker told Variety. "It was not his decision to step away from this play, it was mine. I think it was in the best interests of his health to do that."

Yesterday, the "Entourage" star bailed in his role as a movie producer in Mamet's Hollywood satire. He had committed to starring until late February. Piven made the move after missing the Tuesday evening and Wednesday matinee performances.

Colker is an attending physician at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, and Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut, and he is the CEO and medical director of Peak Wellness. He said that Piven's mercury score was alarmingly high, and it was unclear why that level spiked so high.

"The ideology is unclear, but his level of mercury was uncharacteristically high, one of the highest we've seen," Colker said. 

Daily Variety reached out to David Mamet, who wrote the showbiz satire and seemed less than convinced by Piven's departure. Mamet commented, "I talked to Jeremy on the phone and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury," Mamet said. "So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer."

Mamet indicated to Variety that despite Piven's exit, the show will go on. "The good news is that some really great actors will be helping out and stepping in, which to me is a sign of great heroism and friendship," said Mamet. Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy have jumped in to help the production as it deals with the sudden exit of Piven.

"Any insensitive comments like that are not only unkind and unfair, they reflect a profound lack of understanding of a problem that can actually kill," Colker said, who added that Piven's stamina wore down over time.

"He did the best he could to hang in there as the rigors of the show continued to increase in intensity, which, coupled with his symptoms, became increasingly difficult to contend with," Colker explained to Variety. "I felt the need to step in and make the decision for him to stop."

To read the entire Variety article click here.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.