“That is a really heavy thing to live with,” Ball said of living with thousands of dollars of debt.

The Pitt star Patrick Ball gets emotional talking about paying off student loans with money from show: ‘I thought I was gonna die with it’

"That is a really heavy thing to live with," Ball said of living with thousands of dollars of debt.

By Sharareh Drury

on April 8, 2026 2:53 p.m. ET

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Patrick Ball on 'The Pitt'. Credit:

Warrick Page/MAX

Patrick Ball is giving major thanks to his breakout role on HBO's hospital drama *The Pitt*.

Ball, who plays Dr. Frank Langdon on the series, became emotional while speaking with *Cultured *about how helpful the show has been not just for his career but also for his personal life.

"I paid off my student loans like three months into *The Pitt*, and that was a really profound moment ‘cause I thought I was gonna die with it," Ball said while starting to cry amid the interview, according to the magazine. "It’s a huge burden to carry, and a lot of people carry it."

Ball had initially studied broadcast journalism at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before dropping out to pursue acting. *The Pitt w*as the 36-year-old's first major onscreen role, an opportunity he says helped eradicate $80,000 in debt.**

Taylor Dearden, Iker Garcia, and Patrick Ball on 'The Pitt.'.

Warrick Page/HBO Max

"I had been through a series of failed relationships where my financial insecurity was a real problem. I had just thought that was going to be my life forever, and that is a really heavy thing to live with," Ball shared.

The actor said before joining the Emmy-winning series, he had considered a mix of jobs to help his financial burden, such as joining the U.S. Merchant Marines or even working at a fishing camp and "just dropping off the grid entirely."

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Like many working actors, Ball shared how he eventually made it to New York — along with actress and girlfriend Elysia Roorbach — and worked a plethora of odd jobs, including being a wardrobe assistant for *And Just Like That*,* *to make ends meet.

Having just wrapped a second season for *The Pitt*, Ball says even if the series didn't become as critically acclaimed as it is today, the gratitude of being debt-free remains.

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

Cast of 'The Pitt' in 2025.

Phillip Faraone/Getty

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Bill's character enters season 2 having just completed rehab for his addiction to benzos, surprising Noah Wyle's Dr. Robby by coming in to cover a July Fourth shift for another doctor.

"He was hoping that their shifts wouldn't overlap and that he could get outta dodge before having to see him," Wyle told *.*

Ball noted the second season will show plenty of tension between the two docs, as there is “a lot of damage to clean up."

*The Pitt* releases new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max.**

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Source: “EW Actors”