The Heartbreaking Story Of Pedro Pascal's Mother's Death
The following article includes mentions of suicide.
You might know him as Joel from HBO's hit show "The Last of Us," or as the titular character in "The Mandalorian," but off-screen, Pedro Pascal's just a man who has had his own fair share of troubles. Born in Chile back in the '70s, Pedro's early life was marred by instability. When he was only 9 months, Pedro's parents Verónica Pascal and José Balmaceda fled to Denmark after an attempt on their life by the then military ruler, Pinochet. Subsequently, Veronica and Balmaceda moved to the United States where they raised Pedro and his three siblings. "They offered us political asylum in Denmark and shortly after they received a job offer in the U.S. For that reason, that opportunity, I grew up here," the "Narcos" star told Heraldo.
Growing up in the United States as an immigrant, Pedro faced some struggles. "There were two really, really rough years. A lot of bullying," he once recalled to Variety of his school days. This experience, however, eventually led Pedro to his dream career. "When I was in middle school, we had moved from Texas to Orange County. 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 recounted to Interview.
Despite the hard times, though, Pedro always enjoyed the support of his parents. "I was so well taken care of and shielded from it," he admitted to People. Until tragedy struck, of course.
Veronica Pascal died by suicide
In 2000, Pedro Pascal's mother, Veronica Pascal, died by suicide. At the time, Pedro was only 24, but despite the grief he was experiencing, Pedro, and his older sister Javiera had to step up and be there for their two younger siblings. "They were very young kids, so much younger than me and my older sister, so even if they hadn't lost a parent, we would still feel parental toward them," the actor explained to Esquire. "And I didn't naively think I could fill a space like that, but I just always wanted to be like, I'm here."
But, while providing support for his younger siblings might have been top of Pedro's mind at the time of Veronica's death, through the years, the actor has continued to struggle with the reality of his loss. "The circumstances of my mother's death made it very hard for us to keep her memory as the person she was," he confessed to Paula magazine. "It hurts so much. Sometimes I feel anguished and I try to deal with it the best way I can because I know my mother wouldn't want me to do otherwise." The "Narcos" actor has also since described Veronica as the most important person in his life, adding that her death made a permanent impact on him. "There is a before and after her death," he admitted.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Pedro Pascal's mother was his biggest supporter
She might not have been here to witness him become a Hollywood superstar, but Veronica Pascal will always remain Pedro Pascal's biggest fan. "She was always incredibly supportive, never a stage mom. I always felt like she knew something that I didn't," Pascal explained to People. "None of [my success] would be real if it weren't for her." Despite her tragic death, however, Pedro continued to carry his mother's legacy in his heart. The actor has since admitted that he thinks of Veronica all the time and despite not being spiritually inclined, he's inspired to continue living for her.
Not only does Pedro draw inspiration from his mother, but when faced with a challenge, he draws strength from her, too. In February 2023, the "Narcos" actor hosted NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and while many would agree he delivered excellently on his performance, Pedro spent the week fighting off nerves. His quick fix? Talking to Veronica. "And then I talked to her, and it was really comforting. I had sort of the realization that it would be nice to talk to her more," he recounted to Esquire. When asked what he said to her, Pedro revealed he only asked that she help with his confidence. "I love you. I miss you. Thank you. I'm scared. I would love it if you would help me believe in myself because I know you do. You know?" he recalled.