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The Pitt star Patrick Ball got extremely emotional as he spoke about how his role on the award-winning HBO show helped him pay off his massive debt.
In an new interview with Cultured, the actor, 36, revealed he racked up $80,000 in student loans after studying at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
But just months into working on the medical drama, Ball, who plays Dr. Frank Langdon, was able to pay off the five-figure sum in its entirety.
When asked about his new debt-free life, Ball started to cry and admitted he thought it was something he would deal with 'forever.'
'That was a really profound moment 'cause I thought I was gonna die with it. It's a huge burden to carry, and a lot of people carry it,' he said.
'I was $80,000 in debt and I had been through a series of failed relationships where my financial insecurity was a real problem.
The Pitt star Patrick Ball got extremely emotional as he revealed how his role on the award-winning HBO show helped him pay off his massive debt; (L-R) Shabana Azeez, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Noah Wyle, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Supriya Ganesh seen in November 2025
Ball, who plays Dr. Frank Langdon, was able to pay off $80,000 in student loans just three months into working on The Pitt
'I had just thought that was going to be my life forever, and that is a really heavy thing to live with,' he explained.
'Paying off those student loans and getting back to zero, I remember being like, Man, if this show works, great. If it doesn't work, they can't take that away from me.
'I am out of debt. No take-backsies on that.'
Six months before being cast on the HBO drama, Ball admitted that he was considering leaving the acting business because of his mounting debt.
'Working as an actor, you don't know what's coming, have no money—the financial outlook can be bleak. I was looking for an off-ramp,' said Ball, who was forced to work four jobs while living in New York.
Along with shifts at a local coffee shop and a restaurant, Ball also worked as 'a wardrobe assistant' on the Sex And The City reboot And Just Like That.
'I was doing these corporate coaching seminars,' he said of another one of the odd jobs he did to make ends meet.
'I was doing these seminars where they'd bring me into Blackrock and Blackstone and Goldman Sachs, and they would want to teach these young administrators how to have difficult conversations, à la how to fire somebody,' Ball explained.
'They would bring me in as an actor so that these administrators could get practice firing someone.
'So I have been fired more than anyone you've ever met, I promise you. I've been fired thousands of times. And then the call for The Pitt came in and everything was different.'
'That was a really profound moment 'cause I thought I was gonna die with it. It's a huge burden to carry, and a lot of people carry it,' he said; seen on April 6
'Paying off those student loans and getting back to zero, I remember being like, Man, if this show works, great. If it doesn't work, they can't take that away from me,' he said
The Pitt premiered its very first season in January 2025 and it's quickly become one of HBO's most successful shows to date.
Each episode covers one hour of a 15-hour shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.
The show takes place in Pittsburgh, with the title nodding to both the location and a nickname for the hospital's emergency department.
The drama has earned five Primetime Emmy Awards including the top honor Outstanding Drama Series.
ER alum Noah Wyle plays lead character Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch and notably won Outstanding Lead Actor (Drama) at the 2025 Emmy Awards.
Other cast members include Tracy Ifeachor, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell and Shabana Azeez.
However, the show recently suffered a major casting shakeup.
Last week it was revealed that Ganesh, who has portrayed senior resident Dr. Samira Mohan since the beginning of the series, will be exiting the The Pitt at the conclusion of season two.
In addition, Ayesha Harris, who plays senior night shift resident Dr. Parker Ellis, will be promoted to a series regular beginning season two, according to Variety.
The Pitt, which also stars ER alum Noah Wyle, premiered its very first season in January 2025 and it's quickly become one of HBO's most successful shows
The show recently suffered a major casting shakeup as Supriya Ganesh, who has portrayed senior resident Dr. Samira Mohan, will be exiting The Pitt at the conclusion of season 2
A source for the publication 'with knowledge of the situation' indicates that Ganesh's, 28, exit is a decision that has to do with the storyline.
As The Pitt takes place at a teaching hospital, it has been said that it is normal for residents to come in and out.
Season two has also featured Dr. Mohan weighing her options for the next phase of her career after her residency ends.
Her character is a third-year, and later fourth-year, medical resident trying to find balance between diligence and speed.
Ganesh has been a staple of the series as she has appeared in all 28 episodes of The Pitt so far.
Meanwhile, Harris will see an increased role on the series as she starred in four of the 15 episodes in season 1 and season 2, respectively.
The Pitt airs Thursday nights on HBO and streams simultaneously on HBO Max with the season 2 finale airing on April 16.
English (US) ·