5 surprising facts about The Pitt's cast that you might not have known

HBO's latest medical drama, The Pitt, which concluded its Season 1 on April 10, 2025, has quickly become one of the most popular shows, attracting around 10 million weekly viewers throughout its run.

The show is being lauded for its accuracy and realistic medical portrayals, combined with a unique format that is experimental for the medical genre.

A significant part of the show's success can be attributed to the stellar cast, who made this drama worthwhile. Led by ER alum Noah Wyle, The Pitt cast includes Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Taylor Dearden and many more talented actors in the main roles.

Here are 5 unknown facts about The Pitt's cast.

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5 surprising facts about The Pitt's cast

1) All the cast members had real medical training before starting the show

There's no doubt that The Pitt is being hailed as the most realistic and accurate medical drama on the small screen, as the cast received actual medical training before the show. As Tracy Ifeachor, who plays Dr. Collins, revealed with Max:

''It was amazing because we got to work with doctors one-on-one. We got to practice all of the procedures on dummies and mannequins.''

Additionally, the creators hired a team of seven board-certified doctors to assist with the writing process. Many real-life nurses and physicians also served as background actors during key sequences to ensure the show's accuracy.

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2) Katherine LaNasa shadowed the real-life nurse her character is based on

Katherine LaNasa, who plays nurse Dana Evans on The Pitt, shadowed a real-life nurse. Her character is loosely based on Kathy Garvin, a nurse working at LA General. Since LaNasa wanted to understand her experiences as a nurse, she closely monitored her in the hospital environment.

Dana's interaction with Doug Driscoll was a key moment in Season 1, which LaNasa based on by observing and talking to her.

In an interview with Vulture, she discussed:

''For them to be able to serve everyone, they have to have this kind of emotional efficiency."

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3) Actor Noah Wyle had a peculiar request to the cast during their audition

ER alum Noah Wyle's commitment to this medical show was strong, and, as revealed by many of the cast members, he had a detailed mission statement for anyone auditioning.

Since Wyle was looking for utmost dedication and discipline, he was clear in what he expected from them and urged them to audition only if they could work in a close and intense environment.

Actor Isa Briones, who plays Dr. Santos, recalled Wyle's statement in an interview with Variety:

"This is a very specific type of show. It's intense. It's fast-paced. It's like theater. We are a group of players. If you can be a team player who is ready to lock in with a family, then this is the place for you."

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4) Actress Fiona Dourif's father had a guest appearance on The Pitt

Very few might know this, but actress Fiona Dourif, who plays Dr. Cassie McKay is the daughter of veteran actor Brad Dourif. Dourif is best known for voicing the character of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise since 1988.

In Episode 14, Brad Dourif appeared in a guest role and played her daughter's on-screen father. In an interview with Variety, Fiona Dourif revealed this behind-the-scenes about her key scene with her father:

"My suspicion is that it was Noah Wyle's idea...We were both delighted. It was a gift, really, and a very tender moment to shoot."

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5) Patrick Ball has a real-life connection to medical emergencies

Patrick Ball, who plays Dr. Langdon in The Pitt, has a real-life connection to medical emergencies, having grown up around them. As revealed by the actor in an interview with Deadline, both his parents are in the medical profession:

''Both of my parents are emergency workers. My dad is a lifelong paramedic. My mom is a lifelong ER nurse and they can’t watch medical dramas. They won’t watch because they’re like this doesn’t feel real.''

Ball, whose character underwent a 180-degree turn on the show, was also aware of Langdon's shocking revelation from the beginning and was happy to share the screen with Wyle during such an intense moment.

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Also Read: This Dr. Abbot reveal in The Pitt finale hints at his character development in Season 2