Patrick Ball, who plays Dr. Frank Langdon on HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt, opened up about the intensity of online fan theories and fan interactions in a recent interview, warning that the experience “can get really scary out there.”
During a conversation with Variety as part of their Actors on Actors series alongside Love Story star Paul Anthony Kelly, Ball reflected on how his relationship with fan engagement has evolved since the show’s debut. “Coming out of Season 1, there was a lot of temptation to engage,” Ball explained, noting that fans had created numerous theories about the show’s direction. “People are paying attention for the first time, and they have all of these spinoff theories — I want to engage and have fun. And then as that public swell continued to grow, it got intense. I realized the necessity of boundaries and putting up walls and maintaining privacy.”
Ball also revealed that he doesn’t receive advance information about the show’s future. When asked if he knows what happens next after the season finale, he said, “We don’t get any information. So now that I saw the finale and thought it was amazing, I’m left hanging on the same cliff as everybody else.” The actor, who spent 15 years in regional theater before landing his breakout role on The Pitt, is currently performing on Broadway in Becky Shaw while preparing for Season 3 production, which begins this summer.
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Despite the challenges of sudden fame, Ball expressed gratitude for the show’s impact. He noted that fans have told him the series helped their families understand addiction recovery, and some have even decided to pursue nursing careers after watching. “To be able to feel like you’re telling a story that is not just entertaining to an incredibly large audience, but actually has a sense of utility beyond entertainment, is something that you spend your whole life dreaming of as an artist,” he said.
Sources
- Just Jared — Patrick Ball’s comments on fan theories and online interactions during Variety’s Actors on Actors interview, published June 7, 2026
- Deadline — Patrick Ball’s interview discussing Season 3 production timeline and his Broadway work, published June 2, 2026
