Veronica Pascal was the mother of Pedro Pascal, a Chilean-American actor who has starred in popular shows like “Narcos”, “The Mandalorian” and “The Last of Us”. She was a child psychologist who had to flee Chile with her husband and children due to political persecution. She died by suicide in 1999, when Pedro was 24 years old. Her death had a profound impact on Pedro’s life and career.
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Veronica Pascal’s Life and Exile
Veronica Pascal was born in Santiago, Chile. She was the niece of Andres Pascal Allende, the leader of the Revolutionary Left Movement and the nephew of Salvador Allende, the socialist president who was overthrown by a military coup in 1973. Veronica and her husband Jose Balmaceda, a fertility doctor, were part of the opposition movement against Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. They had to seek political asylum in Denmark when Pedro was only 9 months old. Later, they moved to the United States, where they settled in San Antonio, Texas.
Veronica was a supportive and loving mother to her three children: Lux, Pedro and Nicolas. She encouraged Pedro’s interest in acting and enrolled him in the Orange County School of the Arts when they moved to California. She also helped him cope with bullying at school due to his accent and ethnicity. She was proud of his achievements and always believed in his potential.
Veronica Pascal’s Death and Its Consequences
In 1993, Pedro enrolled at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts to pursue his acting career. Around that time, his father was allegedly involved in a scandal with his fertility clinic, which forced him to return to Chile with his wife and two youngest children. Pedro stayed in New York, but maintained a close relationship with his mother.
In 1999, Veronica Pascal took her own life. The circumstances of her suicide are not clear, but it is speculated that she suffered from depression and mental health issues. Her death devastated Pedro and his siblings. He changed his stage name from Pedro Balmaceda to Pedro Pascal as a tribute to his mother.
Pedro Pascal has admitted that his mother’s death affected him deeply and made it hard for him to remember her as the person she was. He said that he felt anguished and tried to deal with it in the best possible way, because he knew that his mother would not want him to do otherwise. He also said that none of his success would be real if it weren’t for her.
Pedro Pascal has dedicated some of his awards and achievements to his mother. He has also shared photos of her on social media on occasions like her birthday or Mother’s Day. He has described her as the love of his life and the most beautiful woman he ever knew.
Veronica Pascal’s Legacy
Veronica Pascal may not have lived to see her son become a famous actor, but she left behind a legacy of love, courage and inspiration. She taught him to be proud of his roots, to pursue his dreams and to overcome adversity. She also instilled in him a sense of social justice and human rights, which he has expressed through his support for causes like Black Lives Matter or refugees.
Veronica Pascal is remembered by her son and many fans as a remarkable woman who faced many challenges in her life and gave everything for her family. Her story is a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Her memory lives on in Pedro Pascal’s heart and work.
