Published Feb 6, 2026, 3:46 PM EST
Ben is a Senior Writer on the New TV team at Screen Rant. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class B.A. Degree in English Literature and History.
Born and raised in Ireland, Ben has always had a love for storytelling in all forms of media and operates multiple projects under the name Benjamin Blogs. Ben is a comic book writer and podcast host, in addition to his work as an entertainment journalist. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Screen Rant, Collider, and other media outlets across various departments, including features, news, reviews, and interviews.
Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Pitt season 2, episode 5.
The Pitt season 2, episode 5 features a surprising cameo from an actor who has a prominent role in one of Taylor Sheridan's ongoing shows. As far as prestige TV is concerned, The Pitt has become a welcome addition to the spectacular collection of series airing on TV right now.
And of course, when talking about contemporary prestige TV, I'd be remiss to leave out the incredible lineup of shows from Taylor Sheridan that have offered up innovation in terms of Westerns and crime drama alike in the very best way. So, when an actor who plays a prominent role in one show crosses over into another story, it creates an interesting connection between the two.
Taylor Handley Plays A Concerned Husband In The Pitt Season 2, Episode 5
The Pitt season 2, episode 5, adds several more patients to the already overflowing emergency room of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, but one should be of particular note for fans of Taylor Sheridan. Roxie Hamler is rushed into the ER after having experienced a seizure. She is accompanied by her husband, played by Taylor Handley.
Roxie has been suffering from a terminal diagnosis for the last seven years, and her husband appears to be deeply concerned with taking care of her and ensuring she is comfortable. However, for Taylor Sheridan fans, this character may be familiar, despite having a wildly different personality in The Pitt.
Taylor Handley Also Stars As Kyle McLusky In Taylor Sheridan's Mayor Of Kingstown
Dennis P. Mong Jr./Paramount+Mayor of Kingstown is one of Taylor Sheridan's most distinctive shows. Starring Jeremy Renner as the infamous Mike McLusky, aka the Mayor, who seeks to maintain a balance between law enforcement and the gangs that coexist in Kingstown. And standing firmly by his brother's side is Kyle McLusky, played by Taylor Handley.
Kyle bears some similarities to the character seen in The Pitt, such as a deep affection for his wife; however, he also has a lot of anger, frustration, and self-doubt that are explored in detail across four seasons of that show. While his character's part in The Pitt season 2 appears to be fairly minor, there is time to flesh him out over the coming episodes.
The Pitt And Mayor Of Kingstown Are Two Of The Best Shows On TV
While both The Pitt and Mayor of Kingstown exist in totally different worlds, and both explore very different genres, they do have some important things in common. Both stand out as examples of dark, gritty, and grounded explorations of places and systems that often go underexposed. Both have talented casts and crews behind and in front of the camera, and both are willing to take risks.
For these reasons and many more, both shows stand out as some of the very best that TV has to offer right now. With The Pitt already confirmed for season 3, and Mayor of Kingstown moving swiftly towards a fifth season, it appears that both will be around for some time to come.
Release Date January 9, 2025
Network Max
Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill
Directors Amanda Marsalis
Writers Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa
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Noah Wyle
Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch
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Tracy Ifeachor
Dr. Heather Collins
English (US) ·