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Uphill journey to stardom: How Pedro Pascal went from struggling actor to being Internet's 'daddy'

Pedro Pascal has stunned his fans with his portrayal of a father who tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic America in the HBO hit 'The Last of Us'

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

SANTIAGO, CHILE: Pedro Pascal has stunned his fans with his portrayal of a father who tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic America in the HBO hit 'The Last of Us'. The actor's real life, too, has not been easy. His journey to achieve his successful career has been full of hurdles. 

Pedro was born in Santiago, Chile, on April 2, 1975, to his parents Veronica Pascal, a child psychologist, and fertility doctor Jose Balmaceda. His parents left him and his sister with his aunt when he was four months old to avoid capture during then-dictator Pinochet's crackdown against his opposition. The couple managed to climb the walls of the Venezuelan embassy six months later and seek asylum. They eventually moved to Orange County, California, when Pedro was 11.

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'I didn't fit in and it was pretty lonely'

Pedro said he was severy bullied in school and he turned to films as an outlet. "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," he told Interview magazine.

While he studied at the University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, his father reportedly became involved in a fertility scandal. He was charged with mail fraud and income tax evasion. Orange County Register claimed he was caught "switching frozen embryos of women without their knowledge" at a fertility clinic that he helped run, along with two men. Jose plead guilty to tax fraud and surrendered himself years later in 2022. Pedro, however, continues to be close to his father.

Pedro Pascal's mother's tragic suicide

In 1999, Pedro's mother died by suicide. Recalling the tragedy, Pedro told in 2020, "She was always incredibly supportive, never a stage mom. I always felt like she knew something that I didn't. None of my success would be real if it weren't for her," as per People. "She was the love of my life." He further added, "I think about her every day. I don't pray, so I can't say I have a religious practice to feel close to her, but I live for her, even though she's gone. Losing the most important person in your life, and discovering that something like this is possible and that what you fear most in life can happen, is an unexplainable and permanent moment. There is a before and after her death."

Pedro made small guest appearances in shows like 'The Good Wife', 'Homeland', 'The Mentalist', and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'. His major break came in 2014 after he was cast as Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of 'Game of Thrones'. 

When Pedro Pascal almost gave up acting

Before the opportunity, Pedro almost gave up acting after trying and failing to make his place in the industry. "There were moments where I actually, truly, did formulate what I would do [if I wasn't acting]. You would start to put a fantasy together," he said, according to the Daily Mail. "You would call it 'the fantasy' but really what it felt like at the time were practical plans. I never knew what I could fall back on because we [actors] are stupid — we don't have any skills." After his 'Game of Thrones' success, there was no looking back for Pedro. He notably appeared in 'Narcos', 'The Great Wall', 'The Equalizer 2' and more.

Pedro Pascal captivated fans in 'The Last of Us'

Pedro's acting skills in 'The Last of Us', which has now concluded, have been praised by fans. The series traces the story of Pedro's character Joel and a young girl, Ellie, played by Bella Ramsay. The two are seen dramatically trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. The series is based off a PlayStation video game that goes by the same name, and critics have praised it as the best video game adaptation of all time.

Pedro Pascal is the Internet's 'Daddy'

While Pedro may not have children of his own, he is being called the Internet's 'Daddy' after he captured hearts by appearing as a father on screen - as bounty hunter Din Djarin in 'The Mandalorian' and as Joel Miller in 'The Last of Us'. Social media users gave him the sexually-charged title of 'Daddy' after his pseudo-parent performances. 

Pedro seems happy with the title, and the hashtag 'PedroPascalDaddy' has over 18 million views on TikTok. "Daddy is a state of mind, you know?" Pedro "Daddy is a state of mind, you know? "I'm your Daddy."