Doctor: Jeremy Piven's Love of Sushi May Have Caused Sickness

Us Magazine - December 18, 2008 9:20 PM PST
Story photo: Doctor: Jeremy Piven's Love of Sushi May Have Caused SicknessJeremy Piven attends an exclusive cocktail party to benefit Piven Theatre Workshop at Level V on Nov. 15, 2008 in New York City.Us Magazine
Jeremy Piven's doctor is speaking out about the actor's decision to quit Broadway's Speed-the-Plow due a high mercury count.

Dr. Carlon Colker says a major symptom of mercury poisoning is extreme fatigue.

What also may have played a factor?

Colker tells Entertainment Tonight the actor, 43, has been an avid sushi eater for many years, regularly eating sushi twice a day.

Piven has also taken certain Chinese herbs that, along with the sushi, could have led to elevated mercury levels.

See today's top celeb news photos.

Last week, Piven began experiencing neuro-muscular dysfunction, which led to extreme difficulty in lifting his arms and legs. On Sunday, he felt dizzy - and now he is ordered to rest.

"He'd like to continue his role in Speed the Plow," his rep tells Usmagazine.com, but "his doctors have advised him that he should end his run immediately."

Piven, who was hospitalized for three days recently, is no longer in New York.

After playwright David Mamet expressed some skepticism about Piven's condition, Colker says the actor is disappointed the cast of the play has not rallied behind him.

The play, which opened Oct. 23, is still scheduled to run through Feb. 22.

Tony-winner Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy will replace Piven (Butz starts Dec. 23; Macy begins Jan. 13.)



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comments 1-10 of 51  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • JeffM
    This is a real thing. Larger fish like tuna have high amounts of mercury and it is an organic form, methylmercury, which is far more toxic than the element itself. A major source of mercury in oceans is from coal-burning power plants. We need to stop doing this.
    report abuseposted December 23, 2008 11:41 AM PST
  • Kim,Aaron T
    let his cast suck a thermometer...amd see how they feel
    report abuseposted December 21, 2008 2:37 AM PST
  • adrienne lawrence
    For those of you who scoff, it is a very serious malady. I can speak from personal experience on high mercury count. I was very ill for years. I had to have chelation therapy from a naturopath. A year of this eliminated my excess mercury count and made me feel like a new person. I ate a lot of swordfish (cooked) and tuna fish when I was in my 30s. It's dibilitating.
    report abuseposted December 20, 2008 12:48 AM PST
  • bt u
    Shame on the cast for not rallying around Jeremy. I hope he gets well soon.
    report abuseposted December 20, 2008 12:38 AM PST
  • UV
    I heard there was mercury in the hair-piece adhesive.
    report abuseposted December 20, 2008 12:14 AM PST
  • LYON WOODS
    penis
    report abuseposted December 20, 2008 12:06 AM PST
  • D
    Sushi twice a day? That's way too much fish daily, not to mention super expensive.
    report abuseposted December 20, 2008 12:02 AM PST
  • PoppyA
    Hey, Piven may really be ill, cut him some slack. Norbert Bitz and William Macy are competent actors who are anxious to perform so give them a chance to enhance the show, they're better box office draws and I certainly would purchase a ticket to see either of them. I would not for Piven (nothing personal) but I buy a ticket at those prices, I want the BEST!
    report abuseposted December 19, 2008 11:53 PM PST
  • MYWAY
    you can't always eat that stuff
    report abuseposted December 19, 2008 11:42 PM PST
  • cullen p
    I've always enjoyed Jeremy and his hair piece. I hope they're both doing fine.
    report abuseposted December 19, 2008 11:39 PM PST
comments 1-10 of 51  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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