Pedro Pascal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pedro Pascal
Pascal in 2017
Born	José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal (1975-04-02) April 2, 1975 (age 50) Santiago, Chile
Other names	Pedro Balmaceda Alexander Pascal
Education	New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1996–present
Works	Full list
Relatives	Lux Pascal (sister)
Signature

José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal (born April 2, 1975) is an actor from Chile and the United States. He became famous for playing Oberyn Martell in the TV show Game of Thrones (2014). He also starred as Javier Peña in the Netflix series Narcos (2015–2017).

Pascal became a worldwide star with his main roles as Din Djarin in the Disney+ science fiction series The Mandalorian (2019–2023). He also played Joel Miller in the HBO drama The Last of Us (2023–present). These roles made him known for playing characters who are like adoptive fathers. He has won awards for his acting, including a Screen Actors Guild Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

Early life and education

José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal was born on April 2, 1975, in Santiago, Chile. His parents were Verónica Pascal Ureta and José Balmaceda Riera. He has an older sister, Javiera, and two younger siblings, Nicolás and Lux. Lux is also an actress and an activist for transgender rights.

When Pedro was nine months old, his family had to leave Chile because of political problems. They found safety in the Venezuelan embassy and then moved to Denmark. Later, they settled in the United States. Pedro grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and later in Orange County, California.

Pedro studied acting at the Orange County School of the Arts. He graduated in 1993. Then, he went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, finishing in 1997. After his mother passed away, he started using her last name, Pascal, as his professional name. He did this to honor her and because his original last name, Balmaceda, was hard for Americans to say.

Acting career

Starting out (1999–2013)

Before becoming widely known, Pedro Pascal appeared in many TV shows. These include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Good Wife, Homeland, and The Mentalist. He also acted in Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Pascal at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con

Pedro has also worked a lot in theater. He has been both an actor and a director in plays. He won awards for his acting in a play called Orphans. He is part of the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York City.

Becoming famous (2014–2018)

In 2014, Pedro Pascal played Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of HBO's popular show Game of Thrones. His role as the passionate prince was highly praised by fans and critics. Many people called Oberyn Martell one of the best characters in the show. Pedro was a big fan of Game of Thrones before he joined the cast. He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award with the rest of the cast.

Pascal at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con

In 2015, Pedro became even more recognized for his role as Javier Peña. He played a real-life DEA agent in the Netflix crime series Narcos.

In 2016, he starred with Matt Damon in the fantasy action film The Great Wall. Pedro played a mercenary named Pero Tovar. The movie was about European fighters helping to defend the Great Wall of China from ancient monsters.

Pascal at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con

In 2017, Pedro played Agent Whiskey in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. His character was a cool and skilled operative. Critics liked his playful side and how well he fit the role. In 2018, he was the main villain, Dave York, in The Equalizer 2 with Denzel Washington. He also played Ezra in the film Prospect, a tough prospector on an alien moon. Many people later compared this role to his future characters in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us.

Worldwide fame (2019–present)

In 2019, Pedro Pascal made his Broadway debut in a play called King Lear. He played Edmund, a clever and ambitious character. The same year, he started playing the main role in The Mandalorian. This was the first live-action Star Wars TV series on Disney+. The show follows a lone bounty hunter in space. This role made Pedro much more famous and helped him become known for playing father-like characters. He also starred in the Netflix heist drama Triple Frontier.

Pascal in 2022

He played Maxwell Lord in the superhero film Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). In the movie We Can Be Heroes, he played Marcus Moreno. This was another role where he played a loving and caring father figure.

In 2022, Pedro starred with Nicolas Cage in the action comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. His performance was highly praised. He also appeared in The Bubble, a comedy about celebrity life during the pandemic.

In 2023, Pedro Pascal starred in HBO's TV show The Last of Us. It is based on a popular video game. He played Joel Miller, a tough survivor in a world after a disaster. Joel is tasked with protecting a young girl named Ellie. Critics said his performance was one of his best. This role, along with The Mandalorian, made him famous for playing adoptive father figures.

In February 2023, he hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. In May, he starred in the short film Strange Way of Life with Ethan Hawke. In July, Pedro made history as the first Latino actor to get three nominations for the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in the same year. He was nominated for his roles in The Last of Us and Saturday Night Live, and for narrating Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World.

In 2024, he starred in Freaky Tales. He also voiced Fink, a fox who acts like a parent to a goose in the animated movie The Wild Robot. He will also appear in Gladiator II, the sequel to the movie Gladiator.

Pedro Pascal is set to play Reed Richards in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). He will play this role again in future Avengers movies.

Personal life

Pedro Pascal speaks both English and Spanish fluently. He became close friends with actress Sarah Paulson when he moved to New York City in 1993.

Pedro supports LGBTQ+ rights. He was very supportive of his sister Lux Pascal when she shared that she is transgender. Lux has said that Pedro has been an important guide for her. Pedro identifies as an agnostic, meaning he is unsure about the existence of God. He is also a progressive liberal.

Acting highlights and awards

Pedro Pascal's top-rated projects include The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, Narcos, and Game of Thrones.

Images for kids

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  Pedro Pascal's signature

See also

In Spanish: Pedro Pascal para niños