Pedro Pascal has stated that he does not follow any particular religion, describing himself as a “complete agnostic.” In interviews he has explained that he doesn’t know what he believes, if anything, and he hasn’t developed any personal relationship with faith or spirituality.
Quick Profile: Pedro Pascal
| Full Name | José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal |
| Date of Birth | April 2, 1975 |
| Nationality | Chilean and American |
| Profession | Actor |
| Notable Works | Game of Thrones, Narcos, The Mandalorian, The Last of Us |
| Religion | Agnostic |
What Religion Is Pedro Pascal?
Pedro Pascal has made it clear that he does not adhere to an organized religion. In one interview he remarked that “I don’t know what I believe in, at all, if anything – I am a complete agnostic.” This means he neither practices nor follows doctrines of any faith.
Pascal grew up in a secular household, his Chilean parents were active supporters of democratic socialism (followers of Salvador Allende) rather than religious leaders, and their lives were defined by political struggle under Chile’s military dictatorship. After his family fled Chile, Pascal spent his childhood in the United States, where religion did not become a part of his personal life. He has said that the idea of God can seem “quite silly” to him and that he places more importance on living ethically than on religious worship.
Early Life
Pedro Pascal was born José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal on April 2, 1975, in Santiago, Chile. His mother, Verónica Pascal Ureta, was a child psychologist, and his father, José Balmaceda Riera, was a fertility doctor. His family has notable political connections, Pascal is related to Chile’s Allende and Balmaceda families. When he was nine months old, his parents fled Chile to escape General Pinochet’s military regime, after being denounced as enemies of the state. The baby Pascal was even sheltered for several months inside the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago. The family then received asylum in Denmark before moving to the United States.
Growing up in the U.S., Pascal spent his early childhood in San Antonio, Texas, and later his adolescence in Orange County, California. He showed an early passion for the arts and attended the Orange County School of the Arts. After graduating high school in 1993, he won admission to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and earned his BFA in acting in 1997. Around this time, after his mother died in 2000, he decided to use her maiden name “Pascal” professionally (her full name was María Verónica Pascal Ureta) both as a tribute to her and to simplify his own name. This change coincided with his continued pursuit of an acting career in theater, film, and television.
Career Highlights
Pascal’s acting career began with small guest roles on American TV series and independent films through the late 1990s and 2000s. He appeared in single episodes of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, NYPD Blue, The Good Wife, Homeland, and others. He also worked steadily in theater and indie films during this time. After about two decades of hard work, his breakthrough finally came in 2014. That year he was cast as Prince Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. His charismatic performance as the vengeful “Red Viper” prince won him wide recognition and acclaim, marking a turning point in his career.
Following Game of Thrones, Pascal landed leading roles in several high-profile projects. He starred as DEA agent Javier Peña in the Netflix crime drama series Narcos (2015–2017), earning praise for bringing depth to the character of Pablo Escobar’s nemesis. In 2019, Pascal became the star of Disney+’s The Mandalorian, playing the armored bounty hunter (“the Mandalorian”) in the Star Wars universe; this role boosted his fame globally, even though his face was hidden behind a helmet for much of the series. He continued to expand his range with film work, appearing in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) and as the ruthless antagonist Max Lord.
In 2023, Pascal took on what many consider one of his most significant roles, Joel Miller, the rugged survivor in HBO’s adaptation of the video game The Last of Us. His portrayal of Joel, a father-figure in a post-apocalyptic world, earned critical acclaim and several major award nominations. Outside of television, he has joined blockbuster movie franchises notably, he was cast as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in the new Fantastic Four film slated for 2025. His rising popularity was reflected by Time magazine naming him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023. Overall, Pascal has become a versatile leading actor known for intense dramatic roles in both fantasy and contemporary settings.
Awards and Nominations
Pascal’s recent work has earned him several major award nominations and wins. His role in The Last of Us has been especially celebrated, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2023 for playing Joel, and he was nominated again in 2025 for the same category. That same portrayal won him the Screen Actors Guild Award in 2024 for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series. In 2024 he also took home the People’s Choice Award for Male TV Star of the Year, reflecting his popularity with audiences.
In addition, Pascal received a Golden Globe nomination in 2024 for Best Actor in a Television Drama (again for The Last of Us). He earned nominations from the Critics’ Choice Awards and Imagen Foundation Awards in previous years for his performances in Narcos and Wonder Woman 1984. He and co-star Bella Ramsey won an MTV Movie & TV Award in 2023 for Best Duo (playing Joel and Ellie). Earlier in his career, he was nominated as part of ensembles – for example, the Game of Thrones cast was nominated for a SAG ensemble award.
Endorsements and Earnings
As one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, Pedro Pascal commands a substantial income from his roles and endorsements. Industry reports indicate that he earned around $600,000 per episode for his work on The Last of Us, making him one of the highest-paid television actors at that time. For upcoming projects, media sources suggest he was paid between $7–10 million to play Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in Marvel’s Fantastic Four. These high salaries have contributed to a reported net worth on the order of ten million dollars or more, reflecting his top-tier status.
In the advertising world, Pascal expanded his profile through a notable brand partnership. In 2024 he was announced as the new global brand ambassador for Corona beer. He replaced Snoop Dogg as the face of Corona’s “La Vida Más Fina” marketing campaign, an effort to connect the brand with Latino heritage and a modern audience. This endorsement deal involves Pascal appearing in commercials and promotional materials for Corona. His cultural appeal and wholesome image made him an attractive choice for the company’s marketing shift.
Personal Life
Pedro Pascal keeps his personal life relatively private. He holds dual Chilean and American citizenship, having been born in Chile but raised largely in the United States. He is fluent in both English and Spanish, often using his bilingual background in interviews and roles. Pascal comes from a close family. He has two sisters and a brother, an older sister, Javiera (who works in television production), a younger brother, Nicolás, and a younger sister, Lux Pascal, who is an actress and transgender woman. Pascal has been publicly supportive of Lux’s gender transition and LGBTQ+ rights in general, celebrating her and speaking out against discriminatory actions.
As for romantic relationships, Pascal has not publicly confirmed any long-term partner or marriage. Celebrity media have speculated on various friendships and dating rumors, but he maintains a low profile about his love life. As of 2025, he has no reported children. Personality-wise, Pascal is often described as down-to-earth and warm. He honors the memory of his late mother in small ways, for instance, he has a tattoo of her signature on his wrist. He enjoys reading and has mentioned being influenced by literature since childhood. In social and charitable matters, he’s known to take a stand for causes he believes in, such as humanitarian relief efforts and social justice. Although he jokes about fans calling themselves part of “Pedro Pascal’s religion” (a meme on social media about how adored he is), in reality Pascal maintains that he is not religious; the admiration of his fans is kept separate from any spiritual belief.
