Pedro Pascal: Inside the Family of ‘The Last of Us’ Star
Hollywood may adore him, but for Pedro Pascal, family has always been his anchor.
The actor, who turned 50 this year, has spoken openly about the people who shaped him, parents who sacrificed everything, and siblings who continue to stand proudly by his side.
Pedro Pascal, born José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal, began life in Chile. His parents, Verónica Pascal Ureta and José Balmaceda Riera, were forced to flee the country with Pedro and his sister.
Pedro Pascal at the panel of ‘THE LAST OF US’ Season 2 during HBO Max Nominee Celebration Day pic.twitter.com/AQYM2EpAE0
— Pedro Pascal Daily (@pascalarchive) August 18, 2025
The family’s story is one of survival.
“They had to go into hiding for about six months” after becoming political refugees, Pedro revealed during a 2023 episode of the SmartLess podcast.
Their escape led them first to Denmark, before settling in the United States.
Reflecting on his parents’ courage, the actor added: “My parents they were just very young when they had my sister and myself. I wouldn’t say my parents were revolutionaries by any stretch of the imagination, but they were young, liberal college students.”
Pedro spent his early years in Texas, later moving to California when his father’s medical career required it.
But life was far from easy. At just 24, Pedro lost his mother, Verónica, who had been a child psychologist. Her death in 2000 was devastating.
“She was always incredibly supportive, never a stage mom,” Pedro shared with People in 2020. “I always felt like she knew something that I didn’t. None of [my success] would be real if it weren’t for her.”
To honour her, Pedro adopted her maiden name professionally, a tribute that has followed him to global stardom.
The Pascal family is a remarkable mix of talent, intellect, and quiet influence.
- José Balmaceda Riera – A fertility doctor whose career brought the family to California. He remains a proud supporter of Pedro, recently spotted at the Gladiator II premiere in London in 2024.
- Javiera Balmaceda Pascal – The eldest sibling, she built a strong career behind the camera. From investment banking in Chile to leading Amazon Studios’ local originals for Latin America, Javiera is proof that the Pascal drive runs deep.
- Nicolás Balmaceda Pascal – Pedro’s younger brother, who shuns the spotlight. He is dedicated to medicine, pursuing a PhD in paediatric neurology. As Pedro once joked on Instagram: “To punish him for being younger, smarter, and more handsome I thought I would announce this to the world.”
- Lux Balmaceda Pascal – An actress and transgender activist. Lux first appeared on screen in the 2011 film Baby Shower and has continued to build her career while championing visibility for the trans community since publicly coming out in 2021.
Pedro Pascal’s rise to fame, from Game of Thrones to The Last of Us and beyond, has been meteoric. Yet at the core of his story is family.
A mother whose influence he still carries. A father who celebrates his son’s achievements. Siblings excelling in their own fields.
It is a story stitched together with resilience, loss, and love.
Pedro Pascal may be one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, but to those who know him best, he’s simply Pedro, the brother, the son, the one who never forgot where he came from.
