How Pedro Pascal’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer Role Saved His Career

Pedro Pascal explains how his brief appearance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer ensured that he could continue acting. Pascal guest-starred in the season 4 premiere episode, “The Freshman,” where he portrayed Edward, a potential college friend to Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) who becomes another unfortunate victim of the war between slayers and the forces of darkness. The actor has since gone on to play major characters in Game of Thrones, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Mandalorian, and The Last of Us.

While Pascal has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars throughout the 2010s and 2020s, the actor opened up to Entertainment Tonight at the SAG Awards about how his small Buffy the Vampire Slayer role in 1999 ensured he could continue to act. As Pascal was building up his career, residuals from Buffy prevented him from dealing with financial hardship. Check out Pascal’s recollection below:

My entry level lasted about 15 years. We’re talking about being able to see a doctor, getting sick, having surgery, paying my rent. I had less than $7 in my bank 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 [Hollywood] and not give up.

How Pedro Pascal Became One Of Hollywood’s Most Beloved Stars After Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The 2010s marked a major change for Pascal’s career. After various small television roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other shows, the actor portrayed Oberyn Martell, a member of Dorne’s ruling family who plotted against the Lannisters in Game of Thrones season 4. Though Oberyn met a bloody end in the same season, Pascal’s performance made him a mainstream star. However, the latter half of the decade and early 2020s saw Pascal step into his most recognizable roles in major franchises.

As Din Djarin on The Mandalorian, Pascal not only helped launch the Disney+ streaming platform, but also brought live-action Star Wars to the small screen. Further television success would come as he portrayed Joel Miller in The Last of Us, earning acclaim for his performance as the beloved video game character in HBO’s adaptation. Pascal has also crossed the boundaries of superhero universes by playing both DC’s Maxwell Lord and The Fantastic Four‘s Reed Richards in the MCU.

With Pascal leading the world’s biggest franchises while also earning praise for smaller roles, his part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer seems like a distant memory. Pascal’s recollection is not only a tale of how far he has come, but also a demonstration of how important residuals can be. Following the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, where actors fought for better residuals, Pascal’s story emphasizes how these behind-the-scenes deals can make or break even the biggest stars in their early careers.