Pedro Pascal

José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal, born on April 2, 1975, is a Chilean and American actor who gained widespread recognition for his impactful roles in both television and film. After nearly two decades of undertaking small roles, Pascal rose to prominence with notable performances in various projects.


He first captured attention by portraying Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones in 2014. His compelling portrayal of the character earned him acclaim and marked a turning point in his career. Following this success, Pascal took on the role of Javier Peña in the Netflix crime series Narcos, further solidifying his status as a talented actor.


Pascal's success extended to the big screen with appearances in films such as 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).
Since 2019, Pascal has taken on the titular role in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian, a role that has earned him widespread acclaim and popularity. He continued to portray the character in The Book of Boba Fett (2022), further expanding his presence in the Star Wars universe.


In 2023, Pascal took on the role of Joel Miller in the HBO drama series The Last of Us, a performance that garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award and nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. His achievements and impact in the entertainment industry were recognized when Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023. Pascal's versatile talent and ability to bring depth to his characters have established him as a prominent figure in the world of entertainment.


José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal, born on April 2, 1975, in Santiago, Chile, comes from a family with diverse roots and a rich history. His parents are Verónica Pascal Ureta, a child psychologist, and José Balmaceda Riera, a fertility doctor. With an older sister named Javiera, a younger brother named Nicolás, and a younger sister named Lux, who is an actress and transgender activist, Pascal's family is a blend of unique backgrounds and experiences.


Pascal's paternal grandmother, born in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, adds a touch of Spanish heritage to his lineage. Notably, his mother was the cousin of Andrés Pascal Allende, who was the nephew of socialist Chilean President Salvador Allende. Andrés Pascal Allende played a role in the Movement of the Revolutionary Left, a militant far-left organization.


When Pascal was just nine months old, his family sought refuge in the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago, later obtaining political asylum in Denmark. Eventually, the family settled in the United States, where Pascal spent his formative years in San Antonio, Texas, before moving to Orange County, California, at the age of 11. Despite the distance, Pascal's family maintained connections with Chile, regularly visiting to spend time with his extensive network of cousins.


Pascal's journey into the world of acting began at the Orange County School of the Arts, where he graduated in 1993. He continued his education at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, earning his degree in 1997. After the passing of his mother, Pascal adopted her surname professionally as a tribute, and also because he believed that Americans found difficulty pronouncing his original surname, Balmaceda.


The diverse cultural influences, coupled with Pascal's commitment to his craft, contribute to the unique and multifaceted actor that he has become.


In 2014, Pedro Pascal entered the spotlight with his captivating portrayal of Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of HBO's acclaimed series, Game of Thrones. His performance as the passionate Prince of Dorne earned him widespread praise, and Pascal expressed his excitement at joining a show he was already a fan of. As part of the ensemble cast, he received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.


Expanding his reach, Pascal starred as the vampire Max in the 2015 movie Bloodsucking Bastards and co-starred with Heidi Klum in the music video for Sia's "Fire Meet Gasoline." His breakthrough continued in August 2015 with his role as Javier Peña in the Netflix crime drama series Narcos, where he portrayed the real-life DEA agent. Pascal's dynamic performance garnered him further recognition as the show explored the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar.


In 2016, Pascal took on the role of mercenary Pero Tovar in the fantasy action film The Great Wall, directed by Zhang Yimou. Despite mixed reviews, Pascal admired Yimou's work and appreciated the film's ambitious scope. His career continued to flourish as he portrayed Jack Daniels, aka Agent Whiskey, in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and starred as Dave York, the main antagonist, in The Equalizer 2 (2018).


Pascal showcased his versatility with roles in Prospect (2018), If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), and a Broadway debut in an adaptation of King Lear (2019). Since 2019, he has been captivating audiences as the title character in The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars television series on Disney+. Pascal also starred in the Netflix heist drama Triple Frontier (2019) as Francisco "Catfish" Morales.


His foray into the DC Extended Universe came with the role of Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Pascal's diverse career continued to thrive in 2022 with his praised performance alongside Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. He also appeared in Judd Apatow's The Bubble and starred in the short film House Comes With a Bird, part of Miu Miu's Women's Tales' series. In November 2022, Pascal was cast in Freaky Tales, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

References

1.  "Emmys 2023: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. July 12, 2023. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
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3. a b Shanfeld, Ethan (December 11, 2023). "Golden Globes 2024: Full Nominations List (Updating Live)". Variety. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
4. ^ "Time 100". Time. April 13, 2023. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
5. ^ "Pedro Pascal Profile". Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
6. ^ Ito, Robert (March 28, 2014). "A Lethal Prince, Even if a Bit Clumsy: Pedro Pascal Becomes Red Viper on 'Game of Thrones'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
7. ^ Koblin, John (February 3, 2017). "Pedro Pascal: Making It at 41". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
8. ^ Palma, Redacción (September 21, 2017). "El pasado mallorquín del agente Peña de Narcos". Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
9. ^ ""Narcos" star Pedro Pascal on the mystery of Pablo Escobar's death". Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020 – via YouTube.
10. ^ Pascal, Pedro (April 10, 2019). "This is my brother, Nicolas". www.instagram.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.