Interview: Gerran Howell Opens Up About His Role in Max’s ‘The Pitt’—A Journey Through Chaos and Growth
“He’s from Broken Bow, Nebraska,“ Howell told Hollywood First Look. “He’s coming from a small rural community into the most hectic emergency department in the city, and yeah, he’s overwhelmed.“ Being jolted into this intense, life-or-death environment on his very first shift, Whitaker is thrown into the deep end. “Within an hour, he’s pretty much in the thick of it,“ Howell says. “He’s in it from the jump. It’s intense, it’s overwhelming, and it doesn’t slow down.”
Building Whitaker was a team effort, with the script offering a rich backstory and Howell adding his personal touches. “R. Scott Gemmill gave me a fully fleshed-out backstory,“ he shares. “He’s from a small community, has brothers, and is clearly very resilient.”
Howell discussed how developing his character was an exciting challenge. He says one of Whitaker’s most endearing traits is how he pushes forward despite his nerves, making him relatable. The balancing act between resilience and vulnerability is what makes Whitaker such a compelling character to watch.
Howell recounted the audition process over Zoom. “It was pretty short notice, and I remember doing some CPR off-camera,” he recalls. “John Wells, the showrunner, complimented my mime skills, which I thought was funny. I probably did better with the mime than I did on the show,“ he laughed.
Howell prepared by jotting down some medical jargon on post-it notes, which he had on his laptop as a safety blanket. “I don’t think I looked at them, but it was reassuring to have them there just in case.”
Once he landed the role, Howell dove into an intensive two-week medical boot camp to get a taste of the real-life chaos that comes with working in an emergency department. “We had medical professionals come in to train us—doctors, writers, and producers who also helped create the show,“ Howell shares. “They put us through our paces, performing procedures on dummies and eventually on actual actors.”
This hands-on approach allowed Howell and his co-stars an authentic look at the world of medicine. “We used CT scans, watched gruesome footage of surgeries, and really got a feel for the environment,“ he recalls. “The set itself was so immersive—it looked like a real hospital.”
The realism of the set and the intensity of the training created a palpable atmosphere that granted Howell and the others a taste of what it might be like in the real world. “You’ve got a thousand medical terms swirling around in your head, and you just hope you say them in the right order,“ Howell laughs.
Even with the constant stress of life-or-death situations, Howell notes that the chaotic vibe of The Pitt’s set actually helped him as an actor. “The high stakes of trying to save a life are so clear that it really pulls you out of your head,“ he explains. “You don’t have time to think about anything else. We’ve rehearsed trauma scenes so many times that when it’s go-time, we’re just in it.”
For Howell, working with Noah Wyle—famous for his role as Dr. John Carter on ER—was both an inspiration and a privilege. “Noah’s done this before, so we were all just following his lead,“ Howell shares. “He’s so supportive and always open to answering questions. He’s like our ‘glorious leader‘ on set, which mirrors his character, Robbie.”
Howell says his parents were die-hard ER fans. “My parents watched it religiously, so the theme song is burned into my head!“ he laughs. But when he and his co-stars started binging ER in preparation for their roles, they couldn’t help but get starstruck when Wyle entered the room. “When Noah came in, we all went silent. It was like we were little kids again. He’s just that kind of presence.”
Whitaker goes through a lot this season, and it doesn’t slow down. “He bounces back,” Howell teases. “He’ll handle trauma and loss in different ways. There’s no perfect redemption arc—no one knows exactly how to handle these situations. It’s raw and real.”
So, what qualities of Whitaker would Howell like to adopt in his own life? “Whitaker is so competent at what he does, and I admire that. I just wish he believed in himself more,“ Howell admits. “I think everyone has that feeling of wanting to do their best without being held back by self-doubt.”
As Whitaker, Gerran Howell’s performance is a compelling blend of vulnerability, resilience, and growth. Fans of the show can look forward to seeing how his character evolves—both as a medical student and as a person—in the face of the ultimate challenge.
New episodes of The Pitt air every Thursday on Max.
