Game of Thrones, Narcos, Kingsman, The Last of Us, The Mandalorian… This actor has become Hollywood's must-see star in just a few years, and yet it took time for his career to really take off. And while everyone knows him today, he made his acting debut in a cult 90s series.
Like Christophe Waltz, the incredible Colonel Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds, this actor is part of a very special group: those who burst onto the scene late in life. For good reason, it took him until he was 40, and a notable appearance in the series Game of Thrones, to become the darling of the general public.
If you haven't guessed it yet, we're obviously talking about Pedro Pascal! The Chilean actor, now just 50 years old, is a key figure in Hollywood. After his iconic role as Oberyn Martell in GOT, he went on to play a string of notable characters on the small screen.
DEA agent in Pablo Escobar's shoes in Narcos, bounty hunter/adoptive father in The Mandalorian, and then, of course, a perfect Joel Miller in the adaptation of The Last of Us. A prolific career on TV which paved the way for him on the big screen, notably in Kingsman 2, The Talent of Solid Gold, Wonderwoman 1984, Equalizer 2 and more recently Gladiator 2. Next step, joining the MCU in the Fantastic Four reboot as Reeds Richards.
This role in a cult series from the 90s saved Pedro Pascal's career
But as mentioned above, Pedro Pascal had a tumultuous career before reaching the top. Like many other actors/actresses before him, making a name for himself was no easy feat and resulted in long years of struggle.
The 90s were particularly complicated for him, as he explained in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight and reported by The Wrap: “Seeing a doctor, getting sick, having surgery, paying my rent when I had less than $7 in my account… A residual from a show came along and saved the day, and that's the reason I was able to keep going and not give up.”
But which show is he talking about? You probably know this show if you're over thirty. Because it was a big hit on M6's Saturday Trilogy with Charmed, and it's obviously about Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
Also read: The reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer could have never seen the light of day, here's why Sarah Michelle Gellar agreed to participate
In which episode can we see Pedro Pascal?
If you're curious about seeing a very young Pedro Pascal (he was only 24 at the time) in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you can see him in the very first episode of the 4th season. He plays a certain Eddie, a student who has just arrived on the university campus. Completely lost, he meets Buffy by chance and quickly becomes friends. She helps him find his way, and they then part ways with the firm intention of seeing each other again.
So, is there any reason to consider a possible romantic relationship between the two characters? Unfortunately, the show's writers didn't have that idea in mind. In the end, Eddie is attacked by vampires shortly after their meeting... Buffy will have no choice but to kill him.
Fun fact, Pedro Pascal still has a particularly clear memory of the shoot and especially of his partner at the time, Sarah Michelle Gellar: “I remember she had ice cream in her trailer and she gave me some. It was a night shoot and, at the time, I was doing a play in Long Beach and I had to miss the opening because we had to shoot this very, very short sequence. I remember everything. I could go on and on. I could tell you every detail, step by step. I had to eat with the vampire mask on. And she was incredibly kind,”he says.
Anyway, we can thank Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Who knows, without this role and the residual payments Pedro Pascal was able to receive afterward, the actor could have simply given up on his dreams... and deprived us of a great performer in the process. As a reminder, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is officially making its big comeback on the small screen. The good news was confirmed by Sarah Michelle Gellar herself last February. For the occasion, the series will introduce a brand new vampire slayer, who comes straight from the Star Wars universe!
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