Veronica Pascal: Everything To Know About Pedro Pascal’s Late Mother

Pedro Pascal of ‘Narcos,’ ‘The Mandalorian,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ and the latest, ‘The Last of Us,’ has credited a significant influence in his life – his late mother, Veronica Pascal. Here is what we know about Pedro’s mother, Veronica.

Her Early Life & Personal Background

Veronica Pascal hailed from Santiago, Chile, and she was a Chilean-American citizen. She was a child psychologist, and her husband, Jose Balmaceda Riera, was a fertility doctor. Together, the couple had three children: Lux, Pedro, and Nicolas.

Veronica also had a connection to figures in Chilean politics. She was the niece of Andrés Pascal Allende, who led the country’s Revolutionary Left Movement and also related to Salvador Allende, a notable figure in Chilean history.

Due to their opposition to the military during ongoing political disputes, Veronica and Jose started facing troubles. The military rose to power, pushing Veronica and her family into a corner. Seeking asylum became a necessity.

Initially, the family found refuge in Denmark when Pedro was nine months old. However, their journey didn’t stop there. After a job offer came through from the US, they decided to move again, settling in the US as refugees.

Here is how Pedro recalled those days:

“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. That is the power of our culture. People from all over the world come to this country to offer their skills.”

Veronica’s Influence on Pedro

While California became home for Pedro by the age of 11, his acting pursuits began at the Orange County School of the Arts. His educational journey continued as he enrolled at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1993. At that time, the family faced another turn as a scandal surrounding Jose led them to return to Chile.

In 2000, when Pedro was 24, Veronica took her own life. On her mother’s passing, the actor said:

“The circumstances of my mother’s death made it very hard for us to remember her as the person she was. It hurts so much…Sometimes, I feel anguished, and I try to deal with it in the best possible way because I know that my mother would not want me to do it any other way.”

Following this loss, Pedro made the decision to change his stage name from Pedro Balmaceda to Pedro Pascal.

Pedro has always spoken fondly of his mother’s support, citing numerous instances where her belief in him acted as a guiding light. Touching upon the support Veronica provided for him, Pedro told People in 2020:

“She was always incredibly supportive, never a stage mom. I always felt like she knew something that I didn’t. None of (my success) would be real if it weren’t for her.”

Memories of Veronica continued to be a source of comfort for Pedro, as seen in a tribute he shared on Instagram in 2021:

“Mom, here you are in Denmark at 22. Married, a refugee, and a mother of two. Years later, you would have two more, another son and another daughter. We are doing well; we are taking care of ourselves. Not a day goes by that you’re not with us, and we appreciate you.”

You can check out Pedro Pascal’s Instagram post here.