In a world where Hollywood studios are constantly vying to cast Pedro Pascal in their latest productions, a surprising family in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, can now proudly declare, “Pedro Pascal is part of our household.” This weekend, George Gountas, a 42-year-old Brooklyn resident and father, participated in a Pedro Pascal impersonation contest held in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. His efforts earned him a $50 prize along with a year’s worth of burritos from Son del North, all for convincingly mimicking the star known for roles in Game of Thrones and The Last of Us.
“It’s amusing because he doesn’t even use social media,” Jenny Gania, Gountas’s wife, shared with the New York Post. “Now, suddenly, he’s going to be everywhere.” Gountas, who works as a lighting designer for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, mentioned that he doesn’t recall Pascal ever appearing as a guest during his time at the show. Interestingly, Pascal himself caught wind of the contest through an Instagram post and responded with a heartfelt comment: “👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻🥹❤️.”
Spotting the Most Convincing Celebrity Look-Alikes
Among recent celebrity impersonation contests, Gountas’s resemblance to Pedro Pascal stands out as one of the most striking. While some look-alike winners require a bit of imagination, Gountas’s features seem to align quite closely with Pascal’s-though a slight squint might be necessary. In contrast, after Timothée Chalamet’s appearance at a look-alike event in Washington Square Park last October, many men in their 30s started to believe they resembled Jeremy Allen White or Glen Powell. Meanwhile, winners of contests for Tom Holland or Miles Teller often leave spectators questioning whether anyone truly knows what these celebrities look like. Personally, I find the Shrek look-alike competitions more entertaining and creatively inspired.
From Fictional Characters to Real-Life Parodies
In Gountas’s case, he’s essentially the Luigi to Pascal’s Mario-an amusing and endearing comparison that captures the essence of his impersonation.
Gountas humorously recalled how his wife was visibly distressed when his character was killed off in Game of Thrones. “She was so freaked out she said, ‘I can’t watch this anymore. I feel like the guy is crushing your head,'” he joked in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Honestly, I think I look more like him than I do my own brother.”
What’s the Next Trend in Celebrity Impersonations?
Perhaps the next viral sensation could be a Baby Yoda look-alike contest-who knows? The world of celebrity impersonations continues to evolve, blending humor, creativity, and a touch of pop culture nostalgia to entertain audiences everywhere.
