‘The Pitt’ Star Noah Wyle Was Offered Roles in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ but ‘Couldn’t Get Out’ of Filming ‘ER’

“The Pitt” star Noah Wyle recently told the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast that he missed out on roles in “Saving Private Ryan” and “Good Night, and Good Luck” because he couldn’t get out of filming the long-running medical series “ER.”

When asked if he had any roles that got away, Wyle said, “Yeah, tons. Happens all the time. We talked about a couple of them, actually. ‘Good Night, and Good Luck,’ George [Clooney] offered me a part in that. I couldnt’ get out of ‘ER’ to do it. I was offered the part of Private Ryan in ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ couldn’t get out of ‘ER’ to do it.”

Wyle added that he was in some ways glad he missed out on those parts, because the people who got them made the best of the opportunity.

“I almost am glad that I didn’t do them, because, you know, those guys made those parts,” he said. “Matt Damon was Private Ryan. There were two. I got offered the part of Upham, which was Jeremy Davies’ part, and he was so phenomenal in that I couldn’t imagine doing anything close to what he did.”

Wyle is currently starring in another hit medical drama, “The Pitt,” which wrapped up its second season on HBO Max in April. Production on Season 3 began in June and is set to take place on a day in November. “The Pitt” Season 1 took home five Emmy awards in 2025, including outstanding drama series and lead actor in a drama for Wyle for his role as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch.