JB Tadena spent years acting at night. Now he joins The Pitt.
JB Tadena is joining The Pitt for its third season. The Fil-Am actor will play Dr. Reed Thomas, a physician at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center where the HBO Max drama is set. He is one of seven actors added to the recurring cast in August. Philippine outlets reported the season premieres in January.
Satellites by day, the stage at night
Acting was not Tadena’s first career. He earned a degree from Penn State, then worked full-time as a satellite engineer in Washington, D.C. His acting happened in the evenings, on stage at a local theater. The engineering job paid the bills for years while the acting stayed a side pursuit.
Sharing the frame with a Filipino cast
Tadena joins castmates of Filipino heritage already on the show, including Isa Briones, Amielynn Abellera, and Kristin Villanueva. He called the lineup a dream and said all three of those women are stars. He has also spoken about how the series honors the work of Filipino nurses and portrays hospital life without simplifying it.
Brad Pitt is next
After The Pitt, Tadena appears in The Adventures of Cliff Booth, the Netflix film starring Brad Pitt reprising his Oscar-winning role. His earlier screen credits include Kung Fu and The Cleaning Lady. The season arrives in January, and his scenes as Dr. Reed Thomas will be part of it.
