Pedro Pascal opens up on coping with his mother’s suicide and finding solace in his dog

Pedro knew he was already broken

Pedro Pascal told Vanity Fair that when he was trying to start his acting career in Los Angeles, he felt nothing could break him because he was “already broken.” He said this after his mother, Verónica Pascal, died by suicide when he was 24.

Pedro tried to keep going in Hollywood even while feeling empty inside. He shared that during those days, he just kept telling himself that losing out on acting jobs couldn’t hurt him any more than he was already hurting from his mom’s death.

Honoring his mom on SNL

On February 4, 2023, Pedro hosted Saturday Night Live on the anniversary of his mom’s death. He told everyone that he felt like his mom was there with him that night. During SNL rehearsals, he quietly said, “I love you. I miss you. Thank you. I’m scared. Help me believe in myself.”

Pedro said it felt like a complete transformation of a painful anniversary, turning it into something that honored his mom in front of millions of people watching the show.

Sarah Paulson changed everything

Sarah Paulson helped Pedro during the time he was struggling to survive in Los Angeles. She told Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff about Pedro’s work, and that led him to get the role of Oberyn Martell.

Pedro said he was broke and Sarah helped him by buying him groceries. He remembered how Sarah and other friends made sure he was fed and supported. Without Sarah stepping in, he said he might never have gotten the role that completely changed his career.

Gretta became his family

Right after his mother died, Pedro agreed to foster a rescue dog. On her first night with him, she jumped into his bed, and he decided to keep her. He named her Gretta after hearing a movie through his neighbor’s wall. Gretta was with him during double shifts and rejection in auditions.

Pedro told Vanity Fair, “She saved my life, that dog, because she gave me someone to go home to.” He said she was his only supporter when he was completely alone and struggling.

Family’s escape to the U.S.

Pedro’s family left Chile when he was nine months old to escape Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. They moved to San Antonio, Texas. His mom was studying child psychology, and his dad was working as a fertility doctor.

The family hoped to build a safe life in the U.S. Later, they moved to Orange County, California, which Pedro described as a place where “all the palm trees are the same height.” The family kept searching for a better life while Pedro was growing up.

Losing Gretta before his big break

Gretta died just before Pedro got his role on Game of Thrones. He said he thought a lot about the life she would have lived once he finally had money and success. He shared, “I think about the bougie life she would be leading with me now as opposed to then, and I grieve, I really do.”

Pedro explained that he missed Gretta deeply because she had been there during the worst days, giving him love when he felt like he had nothing else.

Getting bullied in middle school

Pedro remembered how awful middle school was for him after his family moved to Orange County. He said kids bullied him for being “a weird, sensitive kid” who loved art, movies, and theatre. He was made fun of for liking things other kids didn’t understand.

He said this bullying made him feel like an outsider. He never forgot how bad it felt to be teased for things he loved. Those memories stuck with him even when he started working in Hollywood.

Saying her name before shows

Pedro always remembered his mom by saying things like, “I love you. I miss you,” before big performances. He posted a photo of his mom at 22 years old on social media in 2021 with the words, “Not a day goes by that you are not with us.”

He kept her memory alive through these small moments. During interviews, he said these private words were his way of asking her for help and strength when he needed it most.

Tripping and coming home

At 16, Pedro took acid and called his mom to say he’d stay out. His mom told him she planned a family movie night. Pedro left to join them and “sat mute and paralyzed, tripping in the back seat” as they went to see John Sayles’s City of Hope.

Pedro said he didn’t want to miss the night with his mom. Even though he was on acid, he chose to go home to be with his family, showing how strong his connection was with his mom.

Celebrity grief like Pedro’s

Pedro’s grief rituals are like what other stars do for loved ones they’ve lost. Viola Davis dedicated her awards to her father. Keanu Reeves has quietly supported children’s hospitals. These famous people show that grief never fully goes away.

Pedro’s way of remembering his mom and Gretta showed he wasn’t alone in honoring lost family. These facts prove grief shapes lives in private and public ways, even for celebrities.

Sleepless nights reading Baldwin

Pedro said he had terrible insomnia when he was 18 to 20. He spent nights reading James Baldwin and watching movies like Once Were Warriors and Muriel’s Wedding. He described himself during those years as an “open wound to the reality of life.”

He remembered how hard it was to feel so raw while also trying to find acting work. Those nights felt endless, but he never gave up on his dream even when he thought it might never happen.

Gretta as emotional support

Pedro’s dog Gretta was more than a pet. She was an emotional support animal who helped him survive his mom’s death and his early career struggles. He had double shifts and barely enough money, but he still took care of her.

Pedro said Gretta made him feel like he had someone who needed him. Experts say emotional support animals can help people who are grieving or going through depression by giving them purpose and comfort.

Talking about anxiety

Pedro said, “Anxiety is something that I’ve lived with since I was a child… It’s part of what makes me, me.” He was open about his mental health struggles, even while getting more famous. He was also known for giving hugs and being close with his friends, like Oscar Isaac.

His actions showed he wasn’t afraid to share how he felt with others. Pedro often placed his hand on his chest during red carpets to ground himself when anxiety hit, which helped him get through stressful moments.

Friends who fed him

Pedro said friends like Sarah Paulson helped him by buying him food and groceries when he couldn’t afford anything. He remembered feeling grateful that people took care of him “well into my 30s” when he still struggled to find acting work.

He said that without friends stepping in, he might have had to leave acting. The support gave him a chance to keep going, even when he thought he would never get his big break.

Turning 50 with friends

Pedro avoided birthday parties for years because his mom’s death made them painful. But in 2025, he turned 50 and celebrated with a multi-day party with his closest friends. It was the first time he felt like birthdays could be happy again.

Sarah Paulson said hosting Saturday Night Live on his mom’s death anniversary was like “watching his life begin.” Pedro said celebrating 50 felt like he was finally able to enjoy life while still remembering his mom.

Interested in Phil Robertson’s journey through faith and health issues? See Phil Robertson’s faith and health struggles.

Feeling Joel’s pain

Pedro said playing Joel in The Last of Us made it hard for him to separate the character’s pain from his feelings. He said, “It’s hard for me to separate what the characters are going through and how it makes me feel. In a way that isn’t very healthy.”

He also said he was “pretty fiercely protective,” like Joel, and it sometimes affected his mindset. Before season two premiered on April 13, 2025, he admitted needing to look after his mental health while filming.

Wondering about Dolly’s heartfelt promise? Don’t miss Dolly Parton’s promise to her husband, a peaceful goodbye.

Do you relate to some part of Pedro’s journey? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.