Pedro Pascal is currently one of the most prominent actors in both the film and television industries. He has appeared in major films like Wonder Woman 1984 and is known for his roles in popular series such as The Mandalorian and The Last of Us. While his professional life might appear fortunate, Pascal has experienced personal tragedies in his family life.
Pedro Pascal was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1975 to parents Verónica Pascal Ureta, who worked as a child psychologist, and José Balmaceda Riera, a fertility doctor. The family left Chile shortly after his birth due to their political associations and subsequently sought asylum in Denmark before eventually establishing their residence in the United States.
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In 1993, Pascal relocated to New York City and joined NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Two years later, his family faced a scandal related to his father’s involvement in a fertility clinic alongside two other doctors.
Pascal’s Father Fled The Country
Dr. Balmaceda had gained worldwide recognition for his pioneering fertility procedures. However, in 1995, he and his associates faced allegations of unlawfully taking patients’ eggs and embryos and transferring them to other women without obtaining their informed consent.
Approximately 40 previous patients initiated legal actions against Balmaceda and his associate, and in certain cases, they also pursued legal action against other patients, aiming to gain custody of children they assert are genetically related to them.
Balmaceda, along with his wife and the two youngest children, returned to Chile, purportedly to evade the criminal charges and legal actions. He faced accusations of being a fugitive and was indicted on twenty counts of mail fraud related to insurance billing. Meanwhile, Pascal and his sister remained in New York, with the actor strongly asserting that his father was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Regrettably, the family’s difficulties did not end there. In 1999, Pascal’s mother tragically took her own life. In tribute to her memory, Pascal adopted her surname for his professional career. Then, in 2001, Balmaceda was apprehended at the Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and detained for potential extradition to the United States.
Pascal’s father was ultimately released with instructions not to leave Argentina but decided to return to Chile before his court hearing. Balmaceda expressed concerns that he wouldn’t receive fair treatment under Argentinian law. Currently, he holds the position of director at the Latin American Assisted Reproduction Network, where he supervises clinics in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. He continues to assert his innocence regarding all the charges against him.
Pascal maintains a close relationship with his father, and the family even has a WhatsApp group chat. However, he usually avoids discussing his parents and the family tragedies publicly. Many of Pascal’s dedicated fans are unaware of the hardships his family endured during his youth.
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