Today, Pedro Pascal is a huge star and one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. But things were not always this smooth, as the actor endured a great deal of pain growing up and lived a very different life.
After struggling to break into the industry with some minor roles, the actor finally got his big break in 2014, after appearing in Game of Thrones as Oberyn Martell. His character was an instant hit with the audience, which later landed him roles in Narcos, The Mandalorian, and of course his Emmy-nominated role in HBO’s The Last of Us.
Pedro Pascal’s Tragic Past
Not all children are fortunate enough to have a sparkling and joyous childhood. Pedro Pascal also endured a tragic and unstable past. Pascal was born in Chile in 1975, and his parents, Verónica Pascal and José Balmaceda were forced to escape the country under Pinochet’s rule when Pascal was just nine months old. The family fled to Denmark and later moved to the United States where they got political asylum.
But the struggle was far from over. Growing up, Pascal was severely bullied, as he told Variety that he finds it hard to fit in. “There were two really, really rough years. A lot of bullying.” But he started reading plays to overcome his loneliness.
“When I was in middle school, we had moved from Texas to Orange County. I didn’t fit in and it was pretty lonely. The way that I was occupying my time, I started reading plays and renting the classics.”
When he was 24, Pascal’s mother committed suicide, adding more grief to his life. Talking to Paula magazine, he said,
“The circumstances of my mother’s death made it very hard for us to keep her memory as the person she was.”
“It hurts so much. Sometimes I feel anguished and I try to deal with it the best way I can because I know my mother wouldn’t want me to do otherwise. There is a before and after her death.”
The Mandalorian actor owes all of his success to his mother as he said none of these would be real without her support.
Pedro Pascal Created Emmy History
Pascal’s screen time is pleasant to watch, and fans across the globe have embraced the actor’s charisma and acting prowess. Most recently, the 48-year-old Latino actor created history with three Emmy nominations at once. Indeed, his greatest achievement to date.
Quite a year for the actor. Pascal was nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his outstanding role in The Last of Us, keeping the actor among the likes of Jeff Bridges, Bob Odenkirk, and three Succession actors— Brian Cox, Kieran Culkin, and Jeremy Strong. He was also nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live’s episode on February 4.
Alongside Chimp Empire’s Mahershala Ali, Good Night Oppy narrator Angela Bassett, Working: What We Do All Day’s Barack Obama, and Our Universe narrator Morgan Freeman, Pascal earned his spot in best narration as well. The Last of Us actor was nominated for best narration for the CNN documentary Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World.
Pedro Pascal will appear in Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls, scheduled for 22 September 2023. He is also set to star in Ridley Scott’s epic drama Gladiator 2, which will hit the theatres on 22 November 2024.
Source: Nicki Swift
