Noah Wyle is speaking out against Tracy Ifeachor’s departure from The Pitt.
The ER star, who portrays Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch on the HBO Max series, told Deadline that he and the actors have “all been sort of amused by the speculation about what everyone thinks might be the reason” for Ifeachor’s departure after one season as Dr. Heather Collins.
“But honestly, we adored the actress. “We really enjoyed having her with us,” he continued. “She’s gotten really big, and we will miss her.”
Wyle told Deadline that Ifeachor’s departure from the program was due to a plot choice.
Wyle’s response to Ifeachor’s departure came days after she hinted at it.
On July 10, Ifeachor uploaded an Instagram picture saying goodbye to her persona.
“What a privilege to be a part of #ThePitt’s first and foundational season on @hbomax.” It was an honor to play Dr. Heather Collins in such a groundbreaking season and piece,” she captioned the image.
Ifeachor also wrote a statement to the show’s followers, saying, “Thank you to everyone who watched and supported Season 1 and shared their stories with me.”
The first season of The Pitt followed a day in the lives of the emergency room at a Pittsburgh hospital.
Each episode constituted one hour of the medical staff’s shift. Wyle’s attending physician, Dr. Robinavitch, supervises the ER, assisted by two senior residents: Dr. Collins from Ifeachor and Dr. Frank Langdon from Patrick Ball.
They set out to aid as many patients as possible, accompanied by a few medical residents and medical students, as well as a committed nursing staff directed by Katherine LaNasa’s charge nurse, Dana Evans.
Pitt received 13 Emmy nods for its inaugural season on Tuesday, July 15.
The program received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, while Wyle was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
This is Wyle’s sixth Emmy nomination, and it comes 30 years after he was originally nominated for playing John Carter on ER.
LaNasa and Shawn Hatosy (Dr. Jack Abbot) both received first-time nominations.
The actors, who are now filming season 2, posted videos on social media celebrating the show’s several Emmy nominations.
The Pitt’s sophomore season premieres in January 2026, while the first season is available on HBO Max.