The characters they play may prefer six-figure Maseratis and Mercedes-Benzes, but many of the actors on HBO’s hit series "Entourage" go for the unexciting Toyota Prius while others yearn for vintage cars.
Kevin Dillon, who plays endearing tough-guy Johnny Drama, digs '60s muscle cars, just like his character would. "Entourage" producer Mark Wahlberg has an alternative-fuel idea that Cadillac might consider for its Escalade SUV.
We caught up with the cast of HBO’s "Entourage" and other celebs at the series’ season four premiere and after-party in Manhattan. Here are their responses to questions about what they drive, what their first car was and what wheels they hope to get someday.
Kevin Dillon
Johnny Drama on "Entourage"
Q: What was the first car you ever owned?
A: The first car I ever owned was an Audi Fox, and then I had a '67 Firebird. I destroyed the Fox. The '67 Firebird, someone jumped out in front of me on Friday the 13th and smashed through the side of it. But that was a great car, convertible. So Friday the 13th still scares me to this day.
But they were both great cars, and I now have a '69 Firebird, which is the best car I've ever had because I've had it for the longest period of time and it runs like a champ. It just kicks over every time. It's amazing. I've had so many other cars come and go, and that Firebird is the best.
Q: That's your dream car?
A: No, my dream car was actually like a ‘Vetter, like a Stingray, like a '67 ‘Vette. Someday.
Q: Next paycheck?
A: Nah. I wish I could do it just like that, but I got the mortgage to pay, I got a family and whatnot.
Mark Wahlberg
Executive producer of "Entourage"
Q: What was your first car?
A: A Volkswagen Bug was the first car I'd ever bought, but the first legal car I ever had was a '75 Cutlass Supreme. I sold it. I smashed it and sold it.
Q: What is your dream car?
A: An electric Cadillac Escalade. Hopefully, Cadillac will be working on that. If we had listened to Jimmy Carter, we'd have some great electric cars right now.
Jeremy Piven
Ari Gold on "Entourage"
Q: What was your first car?
A: The first car I ever owned was a '65 Mustang, and my friend unfortunately had it taken away from the city while I was in London studying in college because there were too many parking tickets. When I got home it was gone and they sold it. I've been trying to get that '65 back my whole life.
Q: What's your dream car?
A: I really like vintage cars, to be honest with you. I like a lot of the vintage Jaguars. They're kind of amazing.
Rex Lee
Lloyd, Ari's assistant, on "Entourage"
Q: What was the first car that you owned?
A: A hand-me-down Buick Skylark.
Q: And do you have a dream car? Or do you have it already?
A: My next car will be a Prius.
Q: Besides being green, is there a dream car?
A: The funny thing is, I wouldn't want a sports car. I would probably want a nice Lexus or something — a luxury car.
Rhys Coiro
Billy Walsh on "Entourage"
Q: What was the first car you ever owned?
A: The first car I ever owned was a 1988 Acura Legend. Grey leather interior.
Q: Was it legendary for you at that time?
A: I loved that car. It was Honda, man, you can't go wrong — stick shift, V6 engine.
Q: What's your dream car? Or do you own it already?
A: I don't even have a car right now. I only have a motorcycle.
Q: What kind of motorcycle?
A: A Kawasaki KLR 650.
Q: Is that your dream bike?
A: No, not exactly. I think I'd like a KTM, actually — KTM 990.
Q: So you tear up the roads of L.A.?
A: Yeah, it's the only way to beat the traffic.
Q: Would you ever ride cross-country?
A: I haven't ridden it cross-country. I'd like to. It's sore ass material.
Kevin Connolly
Eric Murphy on "Entourage"
Q: What was the first car you ever owned?
A: The first car I ever owned was an Audi 5000, a 1988 Audi 5000. It got keyed two weeks after I had it. I was devastated.
Ralph Macchio
Guest starred as himself on "Entourage"; and starred in "The Karate Kid"
Q: What was the first car you ever owned?
A: The first car I ever owned was a Mercury Montego, burnt orange.
Q: Did you get anywhere with the ladies in that car?
A: Not many that I can brag about. My dad let me have that car. It was a used car, but it was freshly painted. It was OK. My mom was happy because there was a ton of metal around me. It was a big car, but this was the '70s.
Q: Do you have a dream car?
A: The one car that I have that might be interesting news is I own the '47 Ford convertible from “The Karate Kid” movie. The “wax-on, wax-off” car.
Q: Did you buy it?
A: No, they gave it to me. This was 1990, I guess, when they gave it to me. But now it's in storage and needs a great deal of restoration. It's sort of like the white elephant, but it's the coolest thing. I always know if I'm in trouble, I can always put it up on eBay or something. [laughs] My son's waiting for it. He's 11. So he's got a little time.
Q: Do you think it'll be drivable?
A: It is drivable. It's just not drivable today. Those cars are very simple, so they don't take a whole heck of a lot to get back to working. But it's never going to go 0 to 60 in more than, like, 20 minutes.
Q: You'll trust your son with such a relic?
A: Somebody's got to have it. But it's a bit of pop culture, so it's cool. He's excited.
Q: Does he think it's cool that his dad is the Karate Kid?
A: He does think it's cool. He's 11. Maybe when he's 15, he won't. My daughter's 15. It's OK if I can get her to a cool premiere, but otherwise I'm just, like, you know.
Q: She doesn't want the car?
A: No. She wants to be driven.
Adrian Grenier
Vincent Chase on "Entourage"
Q: What was your first car?
A: My first car was a Prius.
Hayden Panettiere
Claire Bennet on the television show "Heroes"
Q: Do you have a car that you own right now?
A: Yes, I'm selling it. So if anyone wants to buy it, it's a Porsche Cayenne S. It's a Merlot color, black leather interior, navigation system; it's got the wooden steering wheel and panel. But I want a Prius.
Q: Why are you selling it?
A: Why am I selling it? Because I feel like a bad human being, and I hate to say this, but when you're an actor and in the spotlight, people watch what you do, people watch what you drive, watch what you say. And it feels to me — I'm into charities and into those kind of things — so I feel like if I'm trying to make a change and everything else and voice my opinion, then at least I can be driving a good, healthy car.