'The Pitt’s' Noah Wyle Reveals How Working in TV Has Negatively Impacted His Kids

There are definitely “cons” when your parent is a famous TV star. There’s the spotlight, and the scrutiny, and the long periods of separation. But for Noah Wyle’s kids, that’s not what negatively impacts them. (At least not entirely).

The star of The Pitt and the ER alum shares kids Owen, 22, and Auden, 19, with ex-wife Tracy Warbin and daughter Frances, 9, with wife Sara Wells. And what’s tough for the three Wyle kids is that their dad sometimes forgets that he’s not actually Dr. Robinavitch or Dr. Carter from the hit medical dramas. And so, on a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Wyle told host Stephen Colbert that he sometimes gets things wrong with his kids.

“The things that immediately occurred to me when you asked me [if I ever forget I’m not a doctor] is all the times I’ve misdiagnosed my children,” Wyle said with a laugh. “‘Oh it’s a compound fracture? Maybe cold water is not going to work.'”

Eek! The scripts have gone to his head, and now instead of fearing “Dr. Google,” the Wyle kids have to fear Dr. Dad and his TV-based medical license. Sure, cold water isn’t going to fix a compound fracture, but will it hurt? (Seriously, will it? Someone page Dr. Robby!)

Jokes aside, let’s be honest, we’re pretty sure every parent — from Hollywood to Timbuktu — has misdiagnosed their child at some point. It’s pretty much a well-meaning parenthood rite of passage.

Last month, Wyle told People that his career “tastes changed radically” once he became a dad.

“After I was a father, I suddenly was very conscious of the things that my kids would be watching their father do or say,” he said. “It curbed some of my impulses to reach for characters that are way more on the friend. You know, I’d rather play good guys.” 

Even if getting immersed in the character of those good guys sometimes leads him astray and reaching for the cold water knob.

Before you go, check out these hot, famous dads.