Pedro Pascal

He is a true free spirit. With his enthusiastic approach to life, Pedro Pascal has a magnetic presence and people enjoy being in his company. Even though he might seem light-hearted and fun, he has a deeper side and lives for meaningful connections with other people.

For people with a similar name, see Pedro Pascual (disambiguation). In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Balmaceda and the second or maternal family name is Pascal. Pedro Pascal Pedro Pascal by Gage Skidmore.jpg Pascal in July 2017 Born José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal April 2, 1975 (age 48) Santiago, Chile Other names Pedro Balmaceda Alexander Pascal Education New York University (BFA) Occupation Actor Years active 1996–present Relatives Lux Pascal (sister) Signature Pedro Pascal Signature.png José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal (Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse ˈpeðɾo βalmaˈseða pasˈkal]; born April 2, 1975) is a Chilean and American actor. After nearly two decades of taking small roles in film and television, Pascal rose to prominence for portraying Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2014) and Javier Peña in the Netflix crime series Narcos (2015–2017). Since 2019, he has starred as the title character in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian and again in The Book of Boba Fett (2022). Since 2023, he has played Joel Miller in the HBO drama series The Last of Us. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.[1]

Outside of television, Pascal has appeared in the films The Adjustment Bureau (2011), The Great Wall (2016), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), The Equalizer 2 (2018), Triple Frontier (2019), Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022).

Early life See also: Allende family and Balmaceda family José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal was born on April 2, 1975, in Santiago, Chile[2] to child psychologist Verónica Pascal Ureta and fertility doctor José Balmaceda Riera.[3][4] His paternal grandmother was born in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.[5] He has an older sister named Javiera,[6] a younger brother named Nicolás, and a younger sister named Lux, who is an actress and transgender activist.[7][8] Pascal's mother was the cousin of Andrés Pascal Allende, the nephew of socialist Chilean President Salvador Allende (through his sister Laura). Allende was an early leader of the Movement of the Revolutionary Left, a militant far-left organisation.[9]

According to Pascal, his parents were devout followers of Allende and active in resistance groups against the Pinochet dictatorship.[10] Because of this, nine months after his birth, his family sought refuge in the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago, and later received political asylum in Denmark.[11][12] Ultimately, the family moved to the United States, where Pascal was raised in Orange County, California, and San Antonio, Texas.[13] By the time he was eight years old, his family regularly visited Chile to see his 34 cousins.[14]

Pascal participated in competitive swimming in his early years and even reached the state championships in Texas at age 11. However, he stopped swimming competitively after discovering his interest in drama class.[10] He pursued acting at the Orange County School of the Arts and graduated in 1993, before attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated in 1997.[12][15] In 1995, his father was indicted by a federal grand jury for his involvement in events at a fertility clinic he ran with two others.[4][16] Following this, Pascal's parents and two youngest siblings returned to Chile. Pascal maintains that his father did nothing wrong.[17][18] His mother committed suicide in 1999.[19] After her death, he began using her surname professionally as a tribute to her and because he felt that Americans had difficulty pronouncing his original surname, Balmaceda.[11][14]

Career Pascal has appeared in several television series, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Good Wife, Homeland, The Mentalist, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Graceland.[20] He was cast in the pilot for the 2011 Wonder Woman television adaptation,[21] but the show was not picked up. In June 2013, he was cast as Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO series Game of Thrones.[22] Pascal stated that he was a huge fan of Game of Thrones before being cast as Oberyn and was ecstatic to join.[10] In 2015, Pascal was cast in the role of U.S. DEA agent Javier Peña in the Netflix original show Narcos. In the 2015 movie, Bloodsucking Bastards, Pascal portrayed the vampire Max.[23]

Pascal at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con Pascal has extensive stage experience as both an actor and director; he received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and Garland Award for his role in the International City Theater production of Orphans, and has performed in classical and contemporary works. In 2010, he wrote a play, directed by Sarah Silverman, Flaca Loves Bone, about four siblings who meet in a snowy wood to uncover a family secret.[24] He made his directorial debut with play underneathmybed in 2008. He also directed Yosemite and Killing Play at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.[25][26] He is a member of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company.[27] Pascal made his Broadway debut in February 2019 in an adaptation of King Lear with Glenda Jackson and Ruth Wilson.[28]

In April 2015, Pascal co-starred with Heidi Klum in the music video for Sia's "Fire Meet Gasoline".[29] In 2017, he starred as Agent Whiskey in Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Golden Circle and as mercenary Pero[30] Tovar in The Great Wall.[citation needed] In 2018, Pascal co-starred as Dave York, the primary antagonist in the thriller sequel film The Equalizer 2; the film starred Denzel Washington.[31]

Since 2019, Pascal has portrayed the title role in The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars television series, which debuted on Disney+.[32] The same year, he starred as Francisco "Catfish" Morales in the Netflix heist drama Triple Frontier.[33] He played Maxwell Lord in the DC Extended Universe film Wonder Woman 1984, directed by Patty Jenkins. Following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released to theaters and HBO Max on 25 December 2020.[34][35]

In February 2021, Pascal was cast in the Judd Apatow film The Bubble.[36] The film premiered on Netflix on 1 April 2022. Pascal co-starred with Nicolas Cage in the comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent which premiered at SXSW 2022 in April.[37] In February 2021, Pascal was cast in the lead role of Joel Miller for the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us.[38] Pascal reportedly received $600,000 per episode.[39] In November 2022, he was cast in Freaky Tales, to be directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.[40] In April 2023, he was added to the cast of Ethan Coen's Drive-Away Dolls.[41] In May 2023, Pascal was cast in an upcoming sequel of Gladiator.[42][43]

Personal life Pascal is fluent in both English and Spanish and has been a resident of New York City since 1993.[12] He developed a close friendship with actress Sarah Paulson soon after moving there.[44]

Pascal is an advocate of LGBTQ+ rights[45] and was supportive of his sister Lux Pascal when she came out as transgender. Lux said, "He has been an important part of this. He is also an artist and has been a guide. He was one of the first to give me the things that formed my identity."[46]

Pascal identifies as an agnostic[47] and a progressive liberal.[48] He endorsed leftist Gabriel Boric in the 2021 Chilean presidential election.[49]

Acting credits Film Film credits Year Title Role Notes 1996 Burning Bridges Alex Short film; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 1997 Window Shopping David Short film; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 2005 Hermanas Steve 2008 I Am That Girl Noah 2009 Iris Billy Short film 2011 The Adjustment Bureau Maitre D’ Paul De Santo 2011 Sweet Little Lies Paulino 2015 Bloodsucking Bastards Max 2015 Sweets Twin Peter 2016 The Great Wall Pero Tovar 2017 Kingsman: The Golden Circle Jack Daniels / Agent Whiskey 2018 Prospect Ezra 2018 The Equalizer 2 Dave York 2018 If Beale Street Could Talk Pietro Alvarez 2019 Triple Frontier Francisco "Catfish" Morales 2020 Wonder Woman 1984 Maxwell Lord 2020 We Can Be Heroes Marcus Moreno 2022 The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Javi Gutierrez 2022 The Bubble Dieter Bravo 2022 House Comes with a Bird Nico Short film 2023 Strange Way of Life Silva Short film 2023 Drive-Away Dolls Not yet released TBA Post-production 2024 Gladiator 2 Not yet released TBA Filming TBA Freaky Tales Not yet released TBA Post-production TBA The Uninvited Not yet released TBA Post-production Key Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released Television Television credits Year Title Role Notes 1999 Good vs. Evil Gregor New Episode: "Gee Your Hair Smells Evil"; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 1999 Downtown Voice Episode: "Hot Spot"; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 1999 Undressed Greg 3 episodes; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 1999 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Eddie Episode: "The Freshman"; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 2000 Touched by an Angel Ricky Episode: "Stealing Hope"; credited as Pedro Balmaceda 2001 NYPD Blue Shane 'Dio' Morrissey Episode: "Oh Golly Goth"; credited as Alexander Pascal 2001 Earth vs. the Spider Goth Guy Television film 2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Reggie Luckman Episode: "Weeping Willow" 2006 Without a Trace Kyle Wilson Episode: "Candy" 2008 Law & Order Tito Cabassa Episode: "Tango" 2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kevin 'Kip' Green Episode: "The Glory That Was..." 2009–2011 The Good Wife Nathan Landry 6 episodes 2010 Nurse Jackie Steve Episode: "Twitter" 2011 Lights Out Omar Assarian 4 episodes 2011 Brothers & Sisters Zach Wellison 2 episodes 2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Special Agent Greer Episode: "Smoked" 2011 Charlie's Angels Frederick Mercer Episode: "Angels in Paradise" 2011 Wonder Woman Ed Indelicato Television pilot 2011 Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe Comandante Veracruz Television pilot 2012 Body of Proof Zack Goffman Episode: "Falling for You" 2012 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Kyle Hartley Episode: "Malice in Wonderland" 2013 Nikita Liam Episode: "Aftermath" 2013 Red Widow Jay Castillo 4 episodes 2013 Homeland David Portillo Episode: "Tin Man Is Down" 2013 The Sixth Gun Special Agent Ortega Television pilot 2013–2014 Graceland Juan Badillo 10 episodes 2014 The Mentalist Marcus Pike 7 episodes 2014 Game of Thrones Oberyn Martell Recurring role 2015 Exposed Oscar Castro Vargas Television film 2015–2017 Narcos Javier Peña Main role (seasons 1–2), Lead role (season 3) 2019–present The Mandalorian The Mandalorian / Din Djarin Lead role 2020 Home Movie: The Princess Bride[50] Inigo Montoya Episode: "Chapter Two: The Shrieking Eels" 2021 Calls Pedro Voice role; Episode: "Pedro Across the Street" 2021 Amend: The Fight for America Himself 2 episodes 2021 Animal Himself / narrator Episode: "Octopus" 2022 The Book of Boba Fett The Mandalorian / Din Djarin 3 episodes 2022 Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World Narrator Documentary miniseries 2023–present The Last of Us Joel Miller Lead role 2023 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Pedro Pascal/Coldplay" 2023 HouseBroken Claude Voice role; Episode: "Who’s a Homeowner?" TBA My Dentist's Murder Trial Not yet released[51] TBA Lead role; also executive producer Key Television series that have not yet been released Denotes television series that have not yet been released Theatre Theatre credits Year Title Role Venue Ref. 1999 Orphans Phillip International City Theatre [52] 2002 Fallen Pascal Liberty Hall Lowell [53] 2003 Lobby Hero Jeff WHAT Harbor Stage [54] 2003 Ghosts Oswald Alving Shakespeare Theater [55] 2004 Gizmo Love Ralph WHAT Harbor Stage [56] 2005 Lorenzaccio Piero Strozzi The Lansburgh Theatre [57] 2005 Hamlet Horatio Boston Common Parade Ground [58] 2006 Beauty of the Father Karim Manhattan Theatre Club [59] 2006 Based on a Totally True Story Michael Sullivan Manhattan Theatre Club [60] 2006 Macbeth Ensemble / Bloody Sergeant / Murderer 2 Delacorte Theater [61] 2007 Some Men Fritz / Mendy / David Goldman / RandyHunk / Zach / Lewis / Mel / Nurse Jack Second Stage Theater [62] 2007 Hamlet Horatio The Lansburgh Theatre [63] 2008 Sand Performer Women’s Project Theater [64] 2008 Old Comedy After Aristophane's Frogs Dionysus Classic Stage Company [65] 2009 The Miracle at Naples Tristano The Virginia Wimberly Theatre [66] 2010 Flaca Loves Bone Writer / Director Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre [67] 2011 Dark Matters Enamorado The Blank's 2nd Stage Theatre [68] 2011 Maple and Vine Roger Playwrights Horizons [69] 2011 Yosemite Director Rattlestick Playwrights Theater [70] 2014 Much Ado About Nothing Don John Public Theater [71] 2019 King Lear Edmund James Earl Jones Theatre [72] Music videos Music video credits Year Artist Song Ref. 2015 Sia "Fire Meet Gasoline" 2020 Gal Gadot "Imagine" [73] Video games Video game credits Year Title Voice role 2016 Dishonored 2 Paolo Awards and nominations Awards and nominations received by Pedro Pascal Award Year Work Category Result Ref. Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015 Game of Thrones Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with cast) Nominated [74] Teen Choice Awards 2018 Kingsman: The Golden Circle Choice Fight (shared with Colin Firth and Taron Egerton) Nominated [75] Imagen Foundation Awards 2016 Narcos Best Actor - Television Nominated [76] 2021 Wonder Woman 1984 Best Actor - Feature Film Nominated [77] Fargo Film Festival 2019 Prospect Best Actor Won [78] Critics' Choice Super Awards 2021 The Mandalorian Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series Nominated [79] Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards 2022 The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Best Supporting Actor Runner-up [80] MTV Movie & TV Awards 2021 The Mandalorian Best Duo Nominated [81] Best Hero Nominated [81] 2023 The Last of Us Best Duo (shared with Bella Ramsey) Won [82] Best Hero Won [82] References