The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal says his Buffy role saved him from becoming homeless

Pedro Pascal as Joel in HBO's The Last of Us
(Image credit: HBO)

Pedro Pascal may now be one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but his career hasn't been all smooth sailing as the actor has recently revealed that he would have been either homeless or no longer an actor if it wasn’t for his small appearance in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight after his SAG award win for Best Male Actor in a Drama Series, Pascal opened up about the long road in his acting career leading to this very moment. "My entry-level lasted about 15 years, and we’re talking about not being able to see a doctor, getting sick, getting surgery, being able to pay my rent," explained The Last of Us star before mentioning his time on the hit ‘90s show. 

"I had less than $7 in my account and a residual from Buffy the Vampire Slayer showed up and saved the day, and literally is the reason I was able to stay in it and not give up." It sounds as though we have Buffy the Vampire Slayer to thank for Pedro’s illustrious career since. 

Released in 1998, the show stars Sarah Michelle Geller as Buffy Summers, a teenage girl trying to live a normal life whilst juggling her responsibilities as the chosen vampire slayer. Pascal appeared in the season 4 premiere titled The Freshman, which follows Buffy’s first few days at college where she meets charming fellow student Eddie (Pascal), only to find out he too is a vampire. Buffy kills Eddie and so Pascal’s vampy journey ends. Who would have thought that such a fleeting role would make such a difference to one's career? 

Since Buffy, Pascal has been on the rise starring in Netflix’s hit series Narcos and major Hollywood movies such as Wonder Woman 1984. The actor will soon reprise his role as Joel in HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us season 2, based on the second video game of the same name. Next year we will see Pascal make his MCU debut as Richard Reeds AKA Mister Fantastic in Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, which will hit theaters on July 25, 2025.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to watch in its entirety on Disney Plus. For more, keep up to date with new TV shows heading your way this year. 

Editorial Associate, GamesRadar+

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UAL. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.  

Read more
Pedro Pascal as Joel in HBO's The Last of Us
Before he landed that Buffy cameo, Pedro Pascal lied that he was going to be in Twin Peaks (and that he was Christian Bale, too)
Freaky Tales
Pedro Pascal seeks revenge in the first trailer for bloody new horror movie from Marvel directors
Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot news was always going to be divisive, but it could be exactly what TV needs right now
The Last of Us season 2 first look
Pedro Pascal says "beautiful" scene that made him want to join The Last of Us got cut, but it’ll thankfully appear in season 2: "He was like, ‘That’s half the reason I’m here!’"
Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar is more open than ever before to a Buffy revival – and the director of one of this year's best horror movies has already staked their claim on it
Iron Man
32 movies and TV shows that revitalized careers
Latest in Fantasy Shows
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson series gets unusually early renewal for season 3 before upcoming season 2 even airs
George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a new update on The Winds of Winter: "I wish it would come faster"
Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg and Peter Claffey as Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
HBO boss says new Game of Thrones spin-off's battles "match" the mainline series at a "fraction of the price"
Abubakar Salim in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon season 3's opening battle is "beastly", according to one of the show's stars
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things
The Rings of Power newcomer Jamie Campbell Bower has 'revealed' his season 3 character – but it could be a Sauron-style misdirect
Jamie Campbell Bower in Stranger Things 4
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 adds Stranger Things star and Eddie Marsan to cast
Latest in News
the last campfire screenshot showing the protagonist talking to a giant frog
Can't wait for the No Man's Sky dev's new game Light No Fire? Well, its latest and much smaller game is $1.49 in the Steam Spring Sale 2025
Avengers: Endgame
The Russo brothers reveal that Marvel has an ingenious way of working out which actors they can use for upcoming Avengers movies
Zone of the enders 2 screenshot showing mechs battling
One of Hideo Kojima's most overlooked games is under $6 in the Steam Spring Sale 2025 to make the wait for Death Stranding 2 more bearable
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams dancing during the Netflix series, Wednesday.
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega denies rumors of big Marvel role after her disappointing MCU debut 12 years ago: “I count that and I move on”
Silent Hill f key art showing the main character holding a pipe
Silent Hill f trailer suggests Konami’s newest nightmare will bring back an iconic weapon central to every game in the franchise
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson series gets unusually early renewal for season 3 before upcoming season 2 even airs