Pedro Pascal’s Best Roles

Pedro Pascal has become one of the most recognizable and beloved actors in Hollywood. His career has been a slow burn that exploded into massive stardom, making him a household name and a fan favorite across many different genres. He has a unique ability to bring charm, depth, and intensity to every character he portrays whether he is a hero, a villain, or someone in between. His versatility is truly remarkable, allowing him to jump from big-budget blockbusters to critically acclaimed television dramas without missing a beat.

Looking back at his extensive body of work reveals a fascinating journey through television and film. He often played memorable guest roles in popular shows before landing the iconic parts that would define his career. From his early days to his current status as a leading man, Pascal has consistently delivered performances that capture the audience’s attention. He brings a level of humanity to his roles that makes even the most morally complex characters relatable and compelling.

‘The Great Wall’ (2016)

In this historical fantasy epic, Pedro Pascal plays Pero Tovar, a witty and cynical European mercenary. He and his companion, played by Matt Damon, are captured in China while searching for the secret to gunpowder. Tovar is a skilled warrior with a sarcastic streak who serves as a pragmatic counterpart to the more heroic lead. His main motivation is initially greed, but he gets caught up in a much larger conflict.

Tovar’s character arc sees him grappling with the choice between escaping with a fortune and staying to fight alongside the Chinese army against monstrous creatures. He provides much of the film’s comic relief, using his sharp tongue and roguish charm to navigate the dangerous situation. The role allowed Pascal to showcase his abilities in a large-scale action setting, demonstrating his screen presence in a major international production.

‘Prospect’ (2018)

Pedro Pascal takes on the role of Ezra, a charismatic and morally ambiguous prospector on a remote alien moon. The film is a gritty science fiction story where characters hunt for valuable gems in a toxic forest. Ezra encounters a teenage girl and her father, and their paths become dangerously intertwined after a violent confrontation. He becomes an unlikely and untrustworthy ally to the young protagonist.

Ezra is a complex character who is both charming and menacing, making it difficult to know his true intentions. He speaks with a distinctive, almost poetic-sounding accent that adds to his mysterious persona. The performance highlights Pascal’s ability to create a memorable character in a low-budget, character-driven story, relying on his acting skills rather than special effects to make an impact.

‘Triple Frontier’ (2019)

In this action-thriller, Pedro Pascal plays Francisco Morales, a former pilot nicknamed Catfish. He is recruited by his old Special Forces buddies for a dangerous heist in South America. Catfish is the pilot for the group’s mission to steal a massive fortune from a powerful drug lord. His skills are essential for both getting the team into the country and hopefully getting them out alive with the money.

Morales is dealing with the consequences of his past military service, including a suspended pilot’s license, which makes the mission a chance at redemption and financial security. The character is a key member of the ensemble cast, and Pascal brings a sense of weary experience to the role. He effectively portrays a soldier struggling with civilian life who is drawn back into the world he knows best.

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ (2017)

Pedro Pascal portrays Agent Whiskey, a suave and skilled American agent from the Statesman organization, the U.S. equivalent of the Kingsman. With his whip and lasso, he embodies a modern cowboy aesthetic. He partners with the British agents Eggsy and Merlin to take down a common enemy after the Kingsman headquarters is destroyed. Whiskey is confident, capable, and a formidable fighter.

The character initially appears to be a valuable ally, displaying incredible combat skills in several high-energy action sequences. However, his true allegiances and motivations are slowly revealed, adding a significant twist to the film’s plot. Pascal’s performance is full of swagger and charm, making him a standout in the star-studded cast and a memorable part of the spy-comedy sequel.

‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ (2022)

Pascal plays Javi Gutierrez, a billionaire superfan of the actor Nicolas Cage. Javi invites his idol to his private island in Mallorca for his birthday party, offering him a million dollars to attend. He is a genuine and lovable admirer who has even written a screenplay that he hopes Cage will star in. Their shared love for movies quickly sparks a real friendship between the two men.

Javi’s character is central to the film’s plot, as he is also suspected by the CIA of being a dangerous arms dealer. This puts Cage in the position of having to spy on his new friend, leading to a series of hilarious and action-packed situations. Pascal’s performance is filled with warmth and comedic timing, creating a wonderful chemistry with Cage that drives the entire movie.

‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ (2018)

In this critically acclaimed drama, Pedro Pascal has a small but significant role as Pietro Alvarez. He appears in a key scene where he helps the main character, Tish, secure a plea deal for her fiancé, Fonny, who has been falsely accused of a crime. Alvarez is a friendly and seemingly helpful individual who connects Tish with a key witness.

The scene is pivotal because it offers the characters a glimmer of hope in their fight against an unjust system. Pascal’s character facilitates a meeting that is crucial to the plot’s progression, even though his part in the film is brief. His warm and reassuring presence provides a moment of comfort and possibility in an otherwise tense and emotional story, showing his ability to make a strong impression with limited screen time.

‘Graceland’ (2013–2015)

Pedro Pascal joined the cast of this television drama as Juan Badillo, an FBI agent assigned to the Graceland house. The show follows a group of undercover agents from various law enforcement agencies who live and work together in a seized beach house in Southern California. Badillo is an experienced agent who is brought in to take charge of a complex case.

His character is a dedicated and serious officer who sometimes clashes with the other, more unorthodox agents in the house. The role was a recurring part that showcased Pascal’s ability to play authoritative figures within the crime genre. He brought a grounded intensity to the series, contributing to the show’s intricate storylines about the personal and professional lives of its characters.

‘The Mentalist’ (2008–2015)

In the crime procedural series ‘The Mentalist’, Pedro Pascal played Marcus Pike, an FBI agent specializing in art theft. He is introduced as a love interest for the main character, Teresa Lisbon. Pike is a charming, stable, and kind man who offers Lisbon a chance at a happy and normal life away from the dangers of her job and her complicated relationship with Patrick Jane.

Pike’s character represents a significant turning point for Lisbon, forcing her to choose between a future with him and her long-standing partnership with Jane. Pascal portrayed Pike with a genuine warmth and sincerity that made him a likable and compelling romantic rival. His story arc was an important part of the show’s later seasons, creating emotional stakes for the main characters.

‘Community’ (2009–2015)

Pascal had a memorable guest appearance in the cult-favorite comedy series ‘Community’. He played a character named Mr. Stone, a wealthy man who offers to pay for a fellow student’s education if she agrees to stop using a new social media app. This happens in an episode that parodies dystopian science fiction films, where society is ranked by a rating system.

His character is a quiet and somewhat awkward man who delivers a heartfelt plea, explaining how the rating system negatively impacted him. Pascal’s brief but funny performance was a perfect fit for the show’s quirky sense of humor. He demonstrated his comedic skills by playing the role with complete seriousness, which made the absurd situation even funnier.

‘The Last of Us’ (2023–)

In the adaptation of the acclaimed video game, Pedro Pascal stars as Joel Miller. Joel is a hardened survivor living in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal infection that turns people into aggressive creatures. He is a smuggler who has suffered immense personal loss and has become cynical and closed-off. He is tasked with escorting a teenage girl, Ellie, across the desolate United States.

Joel’s journey with Ellie forms the emotional core of the series as their bond slowly develops into a powerful father-daughter dynamic. Pascal’s performance captures the character’s deep grief, fierce protectiveness, and moments of vulnerability. He perfectly embodies the physical and emotional weight of a man trying to survive and find something to fight for in a broken world.

‘The Mandalorian’ (2019–)

Pedro Pascal stars as the title character, Din Djarin, a lone bounty hunter navigating the outer reaches of the galaxy. Also known as Mando, he lives by a strict creed that forbids him from removing his helmet in front of others. His life changes forever when a bounty leads him to a mysterious child named Grogu, whom he chooses to protect instead of turn in.

Despite his face being hidden for nearly the entire series, Pascal conveys a wide range of emotions through his voice and body language. He brings a great deal of heart to the stoic warrior, crafting a compelling character who becomes a reluctant father figure. The relationship between Mando and Grogu is the central element that has made the show a massive global phenomenon.

‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Pascal played Javier Peña, a real-life DEA agent, in this popular crime drama. The series chronicles the rise and fall of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the law enforcement officials who pursued him. Peña is a determined and often reckless agent stationed in Colombia who is dedicated to taking down the Medellín Cartel. He works alongside his partner, Steve Murphy, in a relentless and dangerous investigation.

The character is one of the show’s central figures and narrators, providing a grounded perspective on the chaotic and violent world of the drug trade. Pascal portrays Peña as a morally complex man who is willing to bend the rules to achieve his goals. His performance was widely praised for its intensity and for capturing the grit and determination of the agent he was portraying.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Pedro Pascal made an unforgettable impact as Oberyn Martell, the “Red Viper” of Dorne. He arrives in King’s Landing seeking justice for his sister, who was murdered years earlier by Ser Gregor Clegane, also known as The Mountain. Oberyn is a charismatic, witty, and dangerously skilled warrior with a reputation for his flamboyant lifestyle and expertise with a poison-tipped spear.

His character quickly became a fan favorite due to his charm, confidence, and righteous quest for vengeance. Oberyn’s storyline culminates in a dramatic and brutal trial by combat against The Mountain, a scene that remains one of the most shocking and memorable moments in the entire series. Although his time on the show was brief, Pascal’s performance was so powerful that it became a career-defining role.

Let us know your favorite Pedro Pascal performance in the comments below.