The Pitt star cries after HBO show paid off $80,000 debt after thinking they were ‘gonna die with it’

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Patrick Ball, a star at the University of Pittsburgh, became very emotional when discussing how his role in the popular HBO show allowed him to finally pay off a large debt.

In a recent interview with Cultured magazine, the 36-year-old actor shared that he accumulated $80,000 in student loan debt after attending the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

After only a few months of working on the medical show, actor Michael Ball, who plays Dr. Frank Langdon, was able to completely pay off a debt that totaled tens of thousands of dollars.

When asked how it felt to be out of debt, Ball became emotional and confessed he’d believed he’d be paying it off for the rest of his life.

He described it as a deeply impactful moment, admitting he feared for his life. ‘It’s a heavy weight to bear,’ he explained, ‘and many people experience something similar.’

I owed $80,000 and had struggled with relationships, often because my money troubles created issues.

He explained that he’d always assumed that’s how his life would be, and realizing it wasn’t was a difficult burden to carry.

I was determined to pay off my student loans, and I figured, even if this project didn’t succeed, no one could take away the experience I’d gained.

‘I am out of debt. No take-backsies on that.’

Just six months before landing his role on the HBO series, Ball revealed he was thinking about quitting acting due to growing financial difficulties.

Being an actor means constant uncertainty and often, very little money. It can be a tough financial situation. Ball explained he was looking for a way out, as he had to work four different jobs just to get by while living in New York.

I’m always impressed by people juggling multiple things! It turns out, while she was busy with shifts at a coffee shop and a restaurant, Ball also had a really cool gig as a wardrobe assistant on the set of the And Just Like That reboot. Talk about a packed schedule!

He explained that he used to lead corporate coaching sessions, one of the many temporary jobs he took to earn money.

I’ve been brought in to work with firms like BlackRock, Blackstone, and Goldman Sachs for years now. My focus is helping their newer managers learn how to handle really tough talks – things like letting someone go. It’s all about equipping them with the skills to navigate those difficult situations as effectively and respectfully as possible, and that’s what I teach in these seminars.

‘They would bring me in as an actor so that these administrators could get practice firing someone.

Honestly, I’ve lost more jobs than anyone you’ll ever hear about – seriously, thousands. I was a professional at getting fired! But then, out of nowhere, I got the call about The Pitt, and everything just… changed. It was like nothing had ever mattered before that moment.

Premiering in January 2025, The Pitt has rapidly become one of HBO’s biggest hits.

Each episode covers one hour of a 15-hour shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.

The show is set in Pittsburgh, and its title refers to both the city and a common nickname for the hospital’s ER.

The drama has earned five Primetime Emmy Awards including the top honor Outstanding Drama Series. 

Noah Wyle, known for his role on ER, stars as Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2025.

The show also stars 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.

Ganesh, who plays Dr. Samira Mohan on The Pitt, will be leaving the show after the current second season ends.

Ayesha Harris, who portrays Dr. Parker Ellis on the show, will become a series regular starting in season two, as reported by Variety.

Someone familiar with the show says Ganesh, 28, is leaving because of the show’s plot.

As someone who’s spent a lot of time around hospitals – and The Pitt is set in a teaching hospital – it’s completely typical to see doctors and staff coming and going. It’s just part of the learning environment, with residents rotating through for their training.

In season two, we see Dr. Mohan considering what she wants to do with her career now that her residency is finishing up.

She plays a medical resident, first in her third year and then her fourth, who is constantly working to be both thorough and quick.

Ganesh has been a staple of the series as she has appeared in all 28 episodes of The Pitt so far. 

Harris will have a larger part in the show going forward. She appeared in four episodes each of the first and second seasons.

You can watch The Pitt on HBO every Thursday night, and each new episode is also available on HBO Max at the same time. The second season will conclude on April 16th.

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2026-04-09 06:19