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A big throughline of The Pitt<\/a> is the crushing weight of medical debt, and how it can affect whether you\u2019re even willing to seek treatment. But this is America, and we\u2019ve got all kinds of life-ruining debt! Speaking to Cultured<\/a>, Patrick Ball<\/a> shared that his Pitt paychecks helped him clear $80,000 of student debt. Ball teared up as he reflected on the weight off his shoulders. \u201cI paid off my student loans like three months into\u00a0The Pitt, and that was a really profound moment \u2018cause I thought I was gonna die with it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge burden to carry, and a lot of people carry it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ball said that his student loans affected him personally, causing not only stress but multiple breakups. \u201cI had been through a series of failed relationships where my financial insecurity was a real problem,\u201d he said. \u201cI had just thought that was going to be my life forever, and that is a really heavy thing to live with. Paying off those student loans and getting back to zero, I remember being like,\u00a0Man, if this show works, great. If it doesn\u2019t work, they can\u2019t take that away from me. I am out of debt.\u00a0No take-backsies on that.\u201d Lucky for him, the show was also a huge critical success. No take-backsies on that Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Actor Award<\/a>, either.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Vulture Daily<\/p>\n An entertainment newsletter for the pop-culture obsessed.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n