Patrick Ball shares how the pit The show, in which he played Dr. David Pittman, a central character in the risky world of a modern-day Pittsburgh hospital, changed his life.
Reportedly, while studying at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Yale School of Drama, the actor had racked up $80,000 in student loans.
In a new conversation with cultured magazineRecalling that troubled time, the actor said this just before landing the pit Gig, he feared he would “die” in debt because of these loans.
Reflecting on the “profound” life change that came with his role, he shared, “I paid off my student loans during the three months I was at The Pit.”
“And that was a really profound moment because I thought I was going to die with it. It’s a huge burden to carry, and a lot of people carry it.”
The actor also admitted that the debt had become a “really heavy thing to live with” and it eventually started taking a toll on his personal life.
He added, “I was $80,000 in debt and had been through several failed relationships where my financial insecurity was a real problem.”
“I just thought this was going to be my life forever, and it’s a really heavy thing to live with.”
“Paying off those student loans and getting back to zero, I remember saying, ‘Man, if this show works, great.’
The actor concluded, “If it doesn’t work, they can’t take it away from me. I’m out of debt. There’s no downside to it.”
