Successful shows change a lot for people around the world, and it was no different in the case of actor Patrick Ball, who paid off US$80,000 in student loan debt after being cast in HBO Max’s The Pit. The actor heaved a sigh of relief after getting that burden off his back.
Patrick Ball shares the benefits of landing a breakthrough role in The Pit
Speaking with Cultural Mag, the actor revealed how his role helped him make better financial decisions in life, including a major decision that many common people struggle with. Talking about paying off his student loans, the actor shared, “I paid off my student loans after I spent three months 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, and a lot of people carry that. I was $80,000 in debt.”
The gravity of the situation is not lost on the actor, who has opened up about facing difficulties in romantic relationships in the past due to his bottomless income, saying, “I’ve been through a series of failed relationships where my financial insecurity was a real problem. I just thought this would 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 thinking, ‘Man, if this show works, great. If it doesn’t work out, So they can’t take it away. I’m free from debt.”
Before landing the role of ER resident Dr. Langdon, he worked odd jobs, such as being fired several times by companies looking for an actor with rigorous training. His casting for The Pit changed this for the star. He shared, “(Companies) would want to teach these young administrators how to have tough conversations, even how to fire someone. They would bring me in as an actor so these administrators could get practice firing someone. So I’ve been fired more than anyone you’ve ever met, I promise you. I’ve been fired thousands of times. And then the call came for The Pit, and everything was different.”
The Pit has been renewed for a third season, which is expected to be released sometime in 2027.
Also read: The Pit Season 1 Ending Explained: Who’s Leaving the Hospital and How the 15-Hour Shift Resolved?