Pedro Pascal won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at the 2024 SAG Awards. The win came as a shock to him. Then his acceptance speech came as a shock to everyone … in a good way. He had a memorable night, to say the least.
The 48-year-old Chilean-born actor charmed viewers with his honesty when he confessed to being "a little drunk" while accepting the award for his role opposite Bella Ramsey in the acclaimed post-apocalyptic HBO TV show, The Last of Us,
“This is wrong for a number of reasons. I’m a little drunk. I thought I could get drunk,” Pascal said during his acceptance speech. Then he thanked his family and the show’s producers.
The charming actor's refreshingly candid acceptance speech is just more proof of why peers and fans simply love Pascal onscreen and off.
Pedro Pascal’s Memorable Night at SAG Awards
His award win and speech quickly made headlines, including Variety’s: “Pedro Pascal Says ‘I'm a Little Drunk' During Teary-Eyed SAG Awards Acceptance Speech: ‘I Thought I Could Get Drunk! I'm Making a Fool of Myself,’” and The Independent’s: “Sag Awards 2024: Pedro Pascal says he was ‘drunk’ as he picks up win for The Last of Us.” It was one of the evening’s best moments.
“Pedro Pascal is not one to deliver a status quo award show acceptance speech, and we couldn’t be happier about it,” CNN writes.
Backstage, after the show, he was asked how surprised he was that his name was called out for the Outstanding Actor award. Pascal answered: “I was very f*^king surprised. I wasn’t expecting it.
The star of hit shows like Game of Thrones and The Mandalorian said he had a few drinks during the award ceremony because he thought he was “safe.” He didn’t think he’d win the award and have to accept it on the stage, in front of his peers.
He said his drink of choice for the evening was tequila, which he said he wouldn’t have touched until after the show.
“I was completely shocked, and I probably left hundreds of people out I should thank," he told Access Hollywood backstage.
The Rise of Pedro Pascal: From Chilean Roots to Hollywood Stardom
Pascal, born José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal on April 2, 1975, is a Chilean-American actor. His career has spanned nearly two decades, during which he portrayed notable characters in both film and television.
In 2023, Time magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. His journey from small roles to global recognition showcases his talent and versatility.
“His interior light burns so bright, it’s simply taken some time for your eyes to adjust. But now that you’ve seen him, you know too,” Actress Sarah Paulson writes for Time magazine. “He’s the whole motherf-cking deal.”
Pascal’s personal life off screen is equally intriguing.
Born in Santiago, Chile, his family fled and moved to the United States, where he was raised in San Antonio, Texas, and then Orange County, Calif. His family’s history includes political asylum, activism, and personal tragedy. Pascal’s mother’s suicide led him to adopt her surname professionally as a tribute.
“Pascal said that, upon first hearing the news of his mom’s passing, he flew to Chile, where he was born and where his mother was when she died, in part to try to comfort his younger sister and brother,” Esquire magazine writes.
Pascal told Esquire magazine, “They were very young kids, so much younger than me and my older sister, so even if they hadn’t lost a parent, we would still feel parental toward them …And I didn’t naively think I could fill a space like that, but I just always wanted to be like, I’m here.”
Pedro Pascal’s Top Prominent Roles:
Pascal captivates audiences with his compelling performances and multifaceted career. Even his funny recurring role as an overbearing Latina mom on SNL is a hit, with over 6.5 million views.
The busy actor has been cast in a new reboot of Marvel’s Fantastic Four. When asked about it, Pascal said: “To be invited into a family like that is a dream come true.”
But here are the top 4 roles that have made Pedro Pascal a household name:
- Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2014). His portrayal of the charismatic and vengeful prince left a lasting impact on viewers.
- Javier Peña in the Netflix crime series Narcos (2015–2017). Pascal’s performance as the determined DEA agent navigating the world of drug cartels garnered critical acclaim.
- The Mandalorian in the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian (since 2019). As the enigmatic bounty hunter, he roams the galaxy far, far away.
- Joel Miller in the HBO drama series The Last of Us (2023). His portrayal of the survivor in a post-apocalyptic world earned him nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
