How The Simpsons Inspired Gerran Howell’s Accent in The Pitt

It seems Dr. Dennis Whitaker might’ve had a secret residency in Springfield.

Gerran Howell, a Welsh actor, shared at the 2026 Actor Awards on March 1st that someone from The Simpsons helped him perfect the American accent he uses in The Pitt.

Gerran, 35, joked to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet that many British people likely picked up their American accents from watching Homer Simpson. He playfully credited the cartoon character as the source.

The actor, known for his role in Young Dracula, is thankful he researched how Homer speaks. He said the most challenging part of playing Whitaker—who joined the show as a new resident in the second season—was delivering simple lines with a natural American accent.

Gerran found it challenging, but he was thrilled to finally work alongside the cast of The Pitt, including lead actor and producer Noah Wylie.

He’s truly the best leader we could ask for,” he said with conviction. “He’s incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and really relatable – a genuinely good person to follow.

And that has led to a tight bond between the ensemble cast.

He explained that everyone on the show felt like they were going through the experience as a team. It was a high-stress environment with a lot of complicated medical terms, but they supported each other through it all.

As Gerran predicted, the cast of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center – including Taylor Dearden, Supriya Ganesh, Isa Briones, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, and others – celebrated together when they won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. And just like his character, Noah, took the lead and gave the acceptance speech for the whole group.

The speaker, 54 years old, expressed immense pride in the team. They described them as incredibly dedicated, having fully committed to a demanding and all-encompassing project. While challenging, the experience proved deeply rewarding in unexpected ways.

Keep reading to see all the stars who dazzled at the 2026 Actor Awards…