Actor Piven cleared in sushi row

Piven said his illness was caused by eating too much sushi

Actor Jeremy Piven has been cleared in a dispute with Broadway producers after sushi-related mercury poisoning caused him to quit a play.

Piven, 44, said he was pleased to be vindicated by an arbitrator, who ruled on medical evidence.

Piven, who plays Hollywood agent Ari Gold in TV series Entourage, left Speed The Plow in December, two months early.

Producers said they respected the decision, but added that "we strongly disagree with it".

They also thanked the production team who had made the show possible, and "the many who had to deal with very difficult and trying circumstances".

'Pretty crippled'

The actor, who has just finished filming the sixth series of Entourage, said he spent three days in hospital suffering from his illness.

Piven told the Associated Press that the mercury poisoning "brought me to my knees".

"I was completely exhausted by the time I ended up in hospital," adding he was "pretty crippled" from the start of rehearsals for Speed The Plow.

He said his doctor told him that he needed to take care of himself.

"To have worked your entire life and then to have that work ethic be questioned was an interesting turn for me," added Piven.

The play completed its limited run on Broadway in February, and had clawed back its production costs.

Three actors went on to play the role vacated by Piven.