10 Amazing Pedro Pascal Facts That Prove He’s Absolutely Fascinating

Pedro Pascal is known for his dynamic performances in both film and television. He rose to fame with Game of Thrones and has since starred in other popular shows, like The Mandalorian and The Last of Us. However, before he became an actor, Pedro Pascal was working as a server and was fired a dozen times. Read more about this and other fun facts about the actor.

1. He has a 30-year friendship with Sarah Paulson

Pedro Pascal developed a close friendship with actress Sarah Paulson soon after moving to New York City in 1993. The two met when Pascal was just 18 years old and starting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Their bond is so strong that during Pascal’s struggling years as an actor, Paulson financially supported him. “There were times when I would give him my per diem from a job I was working on so that he could have money to feed himself,” she told Esquire magazine.

The friendship endures today, with the pair often appearing together at red carpet events and even sharing the stage during Pascal’s Saturday Night Live hosting debut in 2023.

2. He has 34 cousins and left their WhatsApp group

Pedro Pascal has a huge extended family in Chile — specifically, 34 first cousins who were all part of a WhatsApp group called “Sinvergüenzas” (which means “Scoundrels” in Spanish).

However, Pascal recently revealed on Jwimmy Kimmel Live that he had to leave the group chat because it was overwhelming. “The phone was just blowing up every couple of seconds. And talking about like kids’ birthdays and pickups. I knew everything that was going on in 34 people’s daily routine.”

When Kimmel joked about the drama of leaving family group chats, Pascal laughed and said, “I’m too big now. I’m too famous, leave me alone!”

3. He is an LGBTQIA+ activist.

Pedro Pascal has been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. He regularly makes posts showing his appreciation for the community on Instagram.

It’s not a surprise though, as the actor has a transgender sister, Lux Pascal, who is also into acting. In 2021, he supported his sister by reposting her cover for a Spanish magazine. Pascal captioned the post with “cover girl,” indicating his pride and support for his sibling.

4. He was fired from waiting tables about 10 times

Pedro Pascal shared that during his struggling days as an actor, he worked as a server to earn a living. However, he acknowledged that he managed this job badly.

“I would say I was not a good waiter,” he revealed. “So many different reasons. If I liked you, I liked you. If I didn’t, I didn’t. And that didn’t necessarily go well with having a bunch of customers. I was fired often, upwards of maybe close to 10 times.”

5. He could’ve had a career as a swimmer.

In a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” thread with his fans in 2014, Pedro Pascal revealed that he used to be a competitive swimmer when he was a child. He mentioned that he even participated in the state championships in Texas when he was only 11 years old. However, when he discovered drama class, he abandoned his swimming career. Despite this, he stated that he still feels comfortable in the water, indicating that his swimming skills are still present.

6. He reportedly dated Lena Headey.

While starring alongside Lena Headey on the Game of Thrones series, there were rumors that the 2 were dating. Although they’ve never addressed the matter, the actors have been spotted together several times in public and were seen embracing each other. Pascal spoke highly of Headey, referring to her as one of his favorite people, adding, “Anyone who comes in contact with her develops an instant crush.”

7. He enjoys fan accounts devoted to him being a heartthrob

There are many dedicated Pedro Pascal fans on social media who have created accounts solely devoted to the actor being a heartthrob. They share photos and videos while expressing their admiration for his every action and characteristic. And the actor admitted he enjoys seeing these fan accounts that sometimes boost his mood on a difficult day.

8. Nicolas Cage had the biggest influence on him.

When asked about his biggest influence as an actor, Pascal always talks about Nicolas Cage. “I am his biggest fan,” Pascal gushed in one of his interviews while sitting next to Cage. “I knew I wanted to be an actor quite young. I came up with this fantasy because we would go to the movies so much as a family. So, as a child, the kinds of performances that were imprinted onto my experience were yours.”

For Pascal, one of the most surreal experiences was shooting The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent alongside Cage in 2020.

9. He’s known as “the daddy of the internet” (but his co-star worries about him)

It could be Pascal’s inherent affectionate disposition that has led him to often portray fatherly roles in his acting career. He has played characters such as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian, Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984, and, of course, Joel Miller in HBO’s The Last of Us, earning him a reputation as an unintentional father figure. Following all these roles, Pascal has even been named “the daddy of the internet.”

However, not everyone in his circle celebrates this internet fame. His “Last of Us” co-star Bella Ramsey expressed genuine concern about how the label might affect him. “I felt worried for him,” Ramsey told Vanity Fair. “I want to protect him from that whole joke of becoming the internet’s daddy. I was like, ’I don’t want everyone to refer to you as that and see you as that. You’re so much more.’”

This touching protective instinct from his younger co-star reveals how those closest to Pascal see beyond the memes and understand the person behind the phenomenon.

10. He puts his hand on his chest because of anxiety

You might have noticed that Pedro Pascal often poses with his hand over his chest in red carpet photos. This isn’t just a stylistic choice — there’s a touching reason behind it.

During a recent “Last of Us” event, when co-star Bella Ramsey noticed and mimicked this gesture, Pascal explained the meaning. “My anxiety is right here,” he said, patting his chest.

This simple gesture reveals how the beloved actor manages the overwhelming attention that comes with his newfound superstardom while staying authentic to himself.

Pedro Pascal continues to charm audiences not just with his incredible acting range, but with his genuine, down-to-earth personality.

Speaking of Hollywood success stories, Pascal isn’t the only actor whose journey from humble beginnings led to extraordinary stardom. Leonardo DiCaprio’s movies didn’t just make him a global star — they also made him very rich — let’s uncover the secrets behind his success!