His real name isn’t Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal was born José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal. He began using "Pascal," his mother’s surname, professionally to honor her after she passed away

He was born in Chile but raised in the U.S.

Pedro was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1975. His family fled to the U.S. as political refugees during the Pinochet dictatorship and settled in Texas and later California

He trained at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts

Pascal is a classically trained actor. He graduated from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, where he honed his theater and acting skills

He has a strong theater background

Before becoming a screen sensation, Pascal performed in dozens of stage plays in New York and even won awards for his theater performances, including an L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award

He almost quit acting before Game of Thrones

Pascal considered giving up acting after years of small roles and rejections. His breakthrough came in 2014 when he played Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, a role that changed everything

He’s childhood friends with Sarah Paulson

Pedro and actress Sarah Paulson (of American Horror Story fame) have been close friends since the 1990s. She supported him emotionally and even financially during his struggling actor days

Auditioned for The Mandalorian without knowing what it was

When he auditioned for the Disney+ series, the project was so secretive, he didn’t even know it was Star Wars-related. He only found out later that he’d be playing the title character

He’s a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan

Pedro has publicly admitted that he was obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a show he later appeared on in a minor role back in 1999, which was one of his earliest TV gigs

He’s bilingual

Pedro Pascal speaks English and Spanish fluently, and has showcased his bilingual skills in both interviews and roles throughout his career

Lost his mother when he was 24

His mother, Verónica Pascal, died by suicide when Pedro was in his early 20s. Her death had a profound impact on his life, and he honors her by using her last name

He is a strong LGBTQ+ ally

Pedro is a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. His younger sister, Lux Pascal, is a transgender actress and activist, and he proudly supports her journey and rights

He doesn’t mind that The Mandalorian hides his face

Pedro has said he’s not bothered by wearing the helmet for most of The Mandalorian, joking that it's helped protect his privacy and gives him more freedom off-screen