Shawn Hatosy Discusses Risk Taking in ‘ER’ Role

Shawn Hatosy, known for his work on HBO Max’s The Pitt and TNT’s Animal Kingdom, first collaborated with John Wells on an episode of ER back in 2006. In the episode titled “Jigsaw,” Hatosy played the character Willis Peyton, who presented with flu symptoms and had a much more complex underlying issue.
Reflecting on his experience with Wells on ER, Hatosy shared that it was a challenging role that required a lot of risk-taking. He mentioned how Wells supported him, allowing him to explore different voices and even letting him fail at times while taking big swings.
After wrapping up his work on the episode, Hatosy took a bold step and sent Wells a note expressing his interest in collaborating again in the future. It seems like their working relationship was a success, as they went on to work together on Southland, Animal Kingdom, and Rescue: HI-Surf.
In a recent interview discussing The Pitt, Hatosy talked about reuniting with Wells for the rooftop scene in the series finale, which Wells directed. He described it as a powerful moment, bringing his journey full circle from his early days on ER to now working on The Pitt with Wells and his co-star Noah Wyle.
Looking ahead, Hatosy is set to step into a new role as a director for The Pitt in Season 2. It’s clear that his collaboration with Wells has been fruitful, and fans can expect more exciting projects from this talented duo in the future.