Which actor played Pablo Escobar in the Netflix series Narcos?

Wagner Moura played Pablo Escobar in the Netflix crime series Narcos. The Brazilian actor portrayed the Colombian drug lord during the show's first two seasons, which focus on Escobar and the Medellín Cartel.

Moura was already known in Brazil for playing Captain Nascimento in Elite Squad and its sequel. To prepare for Narcos, he learned Spanish because Portuguese was his native language, and he spent time in Medellín studying the language and local context. He also gained more than 18 kilograms for the role.

His performance brought him international attention and a Golden Globe nomination. Narcos combines dramatized storytelling with real historical figures and events, so Moura's performance is not a documentary depiction of Escobar but a fictionalized television portrayal.

Michael Peña and Diego Luna are associated with Narcos: Mexico, while Pedro Pascal played DEA agent Javier Peña in the original series. Those casting connections make them plausible distractors, but neither played Escobar.