The Last Of Us Star Troy Baker Talks Joel’s Death, Fatherhood, And The Scene He Fought Against (Exclusive)

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Before becoming a popular HBO show, The Last of Us was a critically acclaimed video game known for its compelling story, intense action, and emotional depth. Troy Baker, the original actor who played Joel, recently discussed the experience of portraying the character, particularly during the game’s most challenging moments. Baker is a well-known voice actor, having appeared in many famous franchises like Indiana Jones and Fortnite, among countless others.

Pedro Pascal is widely recognized for his role as Joel in the critically acclaimed game The Last of Us. Joel is a hardened survivor who experiences a devastating loss when his daughter, Sarah, dies at the beginning of a widespread fungal infection. After this tragedy, he navigates a dangerous new world until he meets Ellie, a young girl who is immune to the infection. This encounter sparks a powerful father-daughter bond, and together they face numerous challenging and often violent circumstances.

It really hit me hard when Joel finally got Ellie to the Fireflies, hoping they could use her immunity to make a cure. But finding out their ‘cure’ meant killing her… that was devastating. Joel just couldn’t let that happen, and he fought his way through them to save her. Honestly, that scene, and then seeing Joel’s brutal death at the hands of Abby – being bludgeoned with a golf club – was one of the hardest things I’ve ever watched in a game. I was really fascinated to hear Troy Baker talk about playing Joel through all of that at Comicon Napoli 2026. He shared his thoughts on the character and how becoming a father himself helped him connect with Joel on a deeper level, especially during those incredibly difficult scenes.

Troy Baker Has A Powerful Connection To Joel’s Journey

Despite now being famous for his role as Joel, the actor revealed he almost quit the project early on.

I almost didn’t get the part of Joel! I was actually leaving the audition because I didn’t think I fit the character at all. I looked around and saw a bunch of other actors who seemed perfect for the role – guys who actually looked like a grizzled, 50-year-old man. I felt too young and was frustrated with my agent for even suggesting I try out. Luckily, the casting director, Christina, stopped me as I was walking out. She called my name, and I went back in. She basically saved me from making a huge mistake, because I was letting my own insecurities and a bit of arrogance stop me from even trying for the role I’m now known for.

There was still a learning curve for the role even after that, Baker shared.

When I landed the role, I realized I needed to let go of trying to be Nathan Drake. I was such a fan of Uncharted that I put a lot of pressure on myself to live up to Nolan North’s performance and prove I was the right choice. It took me a while to understand what Ashley [Johnson] already knew – she was just focused on being Ellie. Eventually, I realized I wasn’t creating these characters; they already existed within the story. My job was to inhabit them and then share them with the audience. It’s like we’re all temporary caretakers of these stories, and it’s a lot of fun while it lasts.

But in terms of how much of himself he brings to the roles he plays, Baker was clear: “All of it.”

Baker believes it’s important to embrace and express all your feelings, even the uncomfortable ones. He argues against the idea of suppressing emotions, saying you should bring everything you’re experiencing – even something as simple as discomfort, like feeling something in your shoe – into what you do.

Joel’s brutal death also hit hard for Baker, he shared.

Dealing with Joel’s fate felt like going through the seven stages of grief – I went through denial, bargaining, anger, and depression, eventually reaching acceptance. It was a difficult process, and I even argued with Neil Druckmann about it, even though he’s a close friend. He asked me to trust his vision, and ultimately, he was right.

However, Baker revealed, Joel’s death wasn’t the scene that he and Druckmann fought about the most; it was the scene in which Joel confesses to what he’d done to the Fireflies.

I’ll never forget arguing with the director in my backyard about a particular scene. I told him, ‘We absolutely cannot do this, and he’s the one who has to live with that decision.’ I went into that conversation feeling really angry, even saying we shouldn’t be filming it at all. I realized I was too focused on my own feelings about the scene, instead of thinking about what made sense for the character. I wish I’d been more curious – asked why this was happening, or considered how my character would react. It would have been more interesting to explore that way.

In the end, Baker said, this actually became his favorite scene.

Baker firmly believes Joel was justified in his actions against the Fireflies.

When you’re faced with a situation involving your child, there aren’t easy answers or a ‘right’ thing to do. People often say they’d do anything for their kids, even something dangerous like stepping in front of a bus. It’s not about being a hero; it’s just the natural instinct a parent has.

This concept hits home for Baker as a father, as well.

I was so sure that when our son was born, he’d sleep in his own bed right away. My wife just agreed, but kids go through phases. He’d sometimes sleep in his room, then ask if he could come sleep with us, and we always said yes. Recently, he’s almost eight, and one night as we were getting ready for bed – my wife was already asleep – he finished reading, I finished reading, and he looked at me and asked, ‘Is tonight the last night?’ I asked if he wanted it to be, and he said he wasn’t sure, but thought he might be ready. I told him that before he was born, I’d pictured him sleeping in his own room, but then he arrived and I couldn’t imagine it. I could barely see his face in the dark, and I told him I couldn’t imagine him being any further away from me than he was at that moment. But I also told him he could sleep in his own room whenever he wanted, and he was always welcome to come back to our room too.

For Baker, this approach to parenthood is something he sees in Joel, too.

When I’m talking to my son, even when he’s young, I’m speaking to the man he’ll become at any age. And I want him to absolutely know he always has a place to come back to, no matter what he’s done. I want him to feel loved and supported, not afraid of our reaction. He can always call us first. I’d do anything for him. It wasn’t about whether his actions were right or wrong; he never intended to do something bad. He was driven by a desire to save someone, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get to that girl in the hospital.

Baker also noted that Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel in the HBO show, perfectly conveyed that same feeling.

People keep saying Joel’s actions were about making up for losing Sarah, and I think that reveals his true character. Pedro did a fantastic job stepping in because Joel completely shut down emotionally. He became detached, almost robotic. It’s like he activated a cold, precise, military-trained side of himself that he usually keeps hidden, and he just eliminated the threat – like a father cutting ties with someone. He’s simply moved on.

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2026-05-10 03:20