The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal and his family have a history of resistance
As if the Internet didn’t have enough to obsess over Pedro Pascal already, it has now found out that The Last of Us star’s history of activism and support stems from a family with a rich socio-cultural and political background.
The Chilean-American actor is known for his roles in popular TV series such as Narcos, Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian and most recently The Last of Us. He was born on April 2, 1975, in Santiago, Chile, and raised in the United States.
His parents were political activists during the Pinochet regime in Chile - the child psychologist Verónica Pascal Ureta and fertility doctor José Balmaceda Riera.
Pascal's family was heavily involved in the political landscape of Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship, and as a result, they had close connections with various political figures, including former Chilean President Salvadore Allende.
Pascal’s mother was the cousin of the erstwhile socialist Chilean President Salvador Allende's nephew Andrés Pascal Allende. In order to topple Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship, Andrés served as an early leader of the urban guerrilla movement known as the Movement of the Revolutionary Left.
Chile's military staged a coup on this day in 1973. President Salvador Allende's government was overthrown and General Augusto Pinochet appointed himself the new President. https://t.co/kB4QJa7xAG pic.twitter.com/IYv273aCoD
— The New York Times Archives (@NYTArchives) September 11, 2020
Salvadore Allende was a socialist politician who served as the President of Chile from 1970 until his death in a military coup in 1973. He was a key figure in Chilean politics and a symbol of the fight against dictatorship and oppression. Allende's policies and ideals were a source of inspiration for many of the political activists in Chile, including Pedro's parents.
Pascal claims that his parents were ardent supporters of Allende and prominent members of anti-Pinochet guerrilla organisations. His family sought sanctuary in the Venezuelan embassy in Santiago nine months after his birth as a result, and was subsequently given political asylum in Denmark.
Pascal was eventually raised in Orange County, California, and San Antonio, Texas after the family emigrated to the US. His family was able to frequently travel back to Chile by the time he was eight years old to see his 34 relatives.
This political background has had a significant impact on Pedro's life and career and it is clear that Allende's legacy and the values he stood for continue to influence Pedro and his family to this day.
Pascal has an older sister named Javiera, a younger brother named Nicolás, and a younger sister named Lux, who is an actress and transgender activist.
A longtime queer ally, Pascal was supportive of his sister Lux when she came out as a transperson, about which she said,
Pedro has been an outspoken advocate for human rights, particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community. He has spoken out against discrimination and has used his social media presence to show his support for the LGBTQIA+ community, in particular the plight of Black transwomen, who face an epidemic of violence in the US and around the world.
It seems the Internet’s ‘Daddy’ cannot possibly get any more genuine and charming than he already is. And he has an incredible family to thank for.