Jeremy Piven

After Piven’s doctors informed him that he had a “very high mercury  count” and instructed him to leave immediately, he did just that. He had been complaining of exhaustion.

The job

“Speed the Plow” began its run Oct. 23. Piven made about $15,000 a week at the gig. (Now that’s some serious extra cash.) Performances were scheduled for this week, but Piven hasn’t shown up for work since Tuesday.

David Mamet’s play targets Hollywood power brokers with a vengeance, kind of the way the media attacks payday loans companies. The show is scheduled to run through Feb. 22. The director has not yet named a permanent replacement for Piven, but he says the show will go on as planned despite Piven’s absence.

The illness

According to Wikipedia, a “high mercury count,” known more commonly as high mercury levels, can cause mercury poisoning. Mercury is a heavy metal and is often found in fish. Consuming too much mercury through eating fish is the most common cause of mercury poisoning. But humans can also be exposed to mercury by eating plant or livestock that contain it or by breathing contaminated air.

Mercury causes damage to the central nervous system. This can impair hearing, vision and speech. Other symptoms include itchy skin, kidney damage and, in extreme cases, brain damage or death. Treatment includes taking prescription drugs to remove the toxin.

Side show

Piven has been in headlines recently for another reason, too. Earlier this month the actor deleted Barack Obama’s phone number from his cell phone. Piven says he has no idea how it happened. He just went back to recheck the message Obama left him and it was gone.

Piven had raised lots of extra cash for the President-elect during his campaign. Obama called to thank him and, according to Piven, left him “five phone numbers.” I guess Piven should have saved them to his phone sooner. (Like, immediately? He’s the President.)

But instead he just saved the message on his BlackBerry. Piven blames said BlackBerry for the infraction, but when he called Obama’s people to explain that the President had left his number and said BlackBerry had erased it, they didn’t believe him. Go figure.

So just who does this guy think he is?

Piven is best known for his role in the smash hit HBO series “Entourage.” He plays Ari Gold, a brash Hollywood agent. The show follows Gold’s client, a budding Hollywood actor, as he battles between earning street cred and earning extra cash.

The show hit the air in 2004 and immediately gained a young adult, hipster following. Piven’s performance on the series has won him the Emmy for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” the past three years in a row.

And?

Piven, 43, began his career in 1986 in the film “Lucas.” His first role in a cult hit was in 1989’s “Say Anything,” starring John Cusack. Recently, he has played roles in “Scary Movie 3,” “Smokin’ Aces” and “Keeping up with the Steins.” He’s also done voice work for several animated films, including “Cars” and “Scooby Doo Where Are You.”

After all that, he finally made it to Broadway only to cut his run short. The play’s investors are reelng after looking at the refunds the box office has issued. So far the play could have made $20,000 in extra cash if it hadn’t been for Piven’s absence. Too bad the theater can’t take out payday loans.