Greg Gountas, who recently won a Pedro Pascal lookalike contest in New York on Father’s Day, has turned his victory into an earnest request for Pedro Pascal to meet his wife. The focus now shifts to whether this connection, sparked by a viral moment on ‘The Daily Show,’ will bring the genuine Pedro Pascal together with Gountas’s wife, Jenny Gania, fulfilling a personal wish linked to the contest’s celebrations.
Winning a Unique Contest and Making a Public Plea
Greg Gountas, a lighting designer on ‘The Daily Show,’ participated in and won the Pedro Pascal lookalike contest, securing not only $50 but also a year’s supply of burritos. The chance came about when the show’s stage manager encouraged him to enter, and, after pulling his look together with the last-minute help of a stylist from his building, he arrived at the event confident, supported by comments from organizers who suggested he was destined to win.
During his appearance on ‘The Daily Show,’ host Jon Stewart introduced Gountas to discuss his recent win and what the recognition meant for him. Amid the light-hearted conversation, Gountas revealed the main motivation behind his newfound attention revolved around a heartfelt wish from his wife, Jenny Gania.
“Her position is that ‘I’m cool with you getting all of this attention if I can meet Pedro Pascal,”
he said. —Greg Gountas, lighting designer
Seizing the TV spotlight, Gountas made a direct appeal to Pedro Pascal:
“Hey Pedro, this is Pedro #5 from New York, it would be a great, great gift if you could meet my wife Jenny, it would mean the world to her, we need to make this happen.”
—Greg Gountas, lighting designer
Family Encouragement and a Father’s Day Treat
Jenny Gania, Gountas’s wife, explained to the New York Post that people have been pointing out her husband’s resemblance to ‘The Last of Us’ star for several years. According to her, the comparisons began when ‘Game of Thrones’ first aired, with even children remarking on the likeness. When the lookalike contest opportunity presented itself, Gania nudged Greg to participate, treating the event as a unique Father’s Day celebration.
“It started when the ‘Game of Thrones’ came out the first time — that’s when we first heard it,”
she said. —Jenny Gania, wife of Greg Gountas
“Then some kids started noting it, too, so I was like, when we saw this [contest], I was like, ‘It’s Father’s Day. You have to go. It’s going to be your Father’s Day treat.”
—Jenny Gania, wife of Greg Gountas
Celebrity Lookalike Contests Capture Public Attention
The Pedro Pascal lookalike contest in New York joins a growing trend of celebrity doppelganger events, with participants from across the city eager to show off their resemblances to famous faces. These lively gatherings have captured the public’s imagination, especially when contestants like Greg Gountas win not only prizes but also a moment in the spotlight.
Notably, the city’s fascination with these events was highlighted last October when Timothée Chalamet surprised fans by attending his own lookalike contest, creating another memorable moment for local participants and viewers alike.
A Viral Appeal with Community Impact
Gountas’s story has resonated beyond the confines of the contest, as viewers of ‘The Daily Show’ and fans across New York witness the blend of humor and heartfelt hope behind his appeal. Support from family, including Gountas’s wife Jenny and encouragement from colleagues, underscores the personal connections that elevate such events.
With the playful yet sincere plea for Pedro Pascal to meet Jenny Gania now reaching a wider audience, all eyes remain on whether the actor will respond, making a fan’s dream come true and further connecting the community through shared enthusiasm for pop culture moments.
