“The Pitt”’s Patrick Ball Teases Dr. Langdon’s Return to the ER and Whether He’ll Reconcile with Robby: ‘A Lot of Shame’ (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW
- Patrick Ball teases Dr. Langdon’s return to the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of the release of The Pitt season 2
- His character had an abrupt exit in the debut season after he was caught stealing and abusing drugs from the hospital
- Ball says his once-unwavering character is now “not quite sure what he’s doing” at the hospital
Dr. Langdon is scrubbing back in!
Patrick Ball teases his return to the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE ahead of the release of The Pitt season 2. His character, senior resident Dr. Frank Langdon, had an abrupt exit in the debut season after he was caught stealing from the hospital.
The incident caused a rupture in his relationship with Noah Wyle’s character, senior attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, as the two exchanged harsh words during a showdown in front of the medical center.
But Dr. Langdon didn’t stay away for long. Even though he wasn’t supposed to work, he made a return during the finale episodes to help his colleagues care for patience after a mass shooting. Now, the doctor is back for the sophomore season after a brief stint in rehab, and Ball, 36, teases that viewers will see a new side of him.
“In season 1, you meet a Langdon that is very confident and has a pretty good idea of what the right thing to do is. He likes to move fast, he likes to be the best and he likes to be the fastest. If there’s a problem, he’s pretty sure he’s the guy for the job,” the actor says.
“I think that assuredness and front-footedness was a way of trying to outrun some things and trying to stay in front of his shadow,” he continues. “Over the last 10 months, he was forced to sit with that shadow. Now he’s coming back into this space without that assuredness.”
Ball says his once-unwavering character is now “not quite sure what he’s doing” at the hospital.
“There’s a lot of damage that has been left in his wake, and I think there’s a lot of shame that he carries surrounding that,” he explains.
Dr. Langdon, at the top of the new season, is banished from the main crew and assigned to triage by Dr. Robby. “I think there is a major conversation to be had with Robby,” Ball admits, “and I hope we get to have it.”
Warrick Page/HBO Max. Patrick Ball in ‘The Pitt’ season 2Each season of the hit medical drama follows a group of healthcare workers through a 15-hour shift in the emergency room of the Pittsburgh hospital. The second season, which premieres on Thursday, Jan. 8, takes place during the Fourth of July.
The show premiered to instant acclaim, winning five 2025 Emmy Awards, and has already been renewed for a third season.
Ball had his breakthrough in the show, and despite the divisive reception of his character, he has become a favorite among the fans. When asked about his experience with the fanbase, particularly online, he admits that they “can get a little scary.” But overall, he appreciates the love.
“It was really cool seeing all the girly pops on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok making these crazy reels and stuff,” the actor says.
Ball shares that many of his fans came to Los Angeles to see him perform as the titular character in Hamlet at the Mark Taper Forum last summer, just a few months after season 1 finished airing.
“I got to meet them in person,” he says with a smile. “That was when it dawned on me. I was like, ‘Oh, this is very cool.’ I’ve never been a hyper online person, but I was like, ‘Oh, this is very cool.’ ”
“Then it gets a little scary. I’ve had to learn to put up some boundaries because it can get weird. But it’s very fun as long as you keep it between the lines,” Ball says.
The Pitt season 2 premieres Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max. Episodes air every Thursday.
