Biography of Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito is an American actor who gained widespread recognition for his role as Gustavo "Gus" Fring in the crime drama "Breaking Bad" and its spin-off "Better Call Saul."His filmography also features the menacing Moff Gideon in the sci-fi action series "The Mandalorian," Stan Edgar, the head of the Vought corporation in "The Boys," and Leo Pap, the main character in the thriller "Kaleidoscope." Throughout his career, he's portrayed numerous villains, but the most ruthless one, according to Esposito himself, is the Latin American dictator Anton Castillo from the video game Far Cry 6.
Childhood, Youth, Family
Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (full name of the actor) was born in the spring of 1958 in Copenhagen, to a family of Giovanni (John) S. Esposito and Elizabeth (Liz) Foster. His father, a Naples native, worked as a carpenter and stagehand. His mother was an African American singer from Alabama with a classical music education. In the 1950s, she played leading roles in the touring production of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess."Giancarlo's parents met in a small opera theater in Milan when Elizabeth's tour was ending. According to Esposito, music always filled their home – his mother loved performing operatic arias for the family, and from an early age, he dreamed of becoming an artist.
The boy was five years old when the family first moved to Elmsford (New York), then to Cleveland (Ohio), and eventually settled in the heart of New York City – Manhattan.
A few years later, Giancarlo made his Broadway debut in the production of "Maggie Flynn."
"When I first started, I played an African American, a black child slave," Esposito recalled. For a long time, he was only offered such roles. He knew he wanted to play complex, emotional characters, but in the late sixties, roles available to black actors were extremely limited. That's when Giancarlo came up with a clever solution:
After finishing school, Esposito enrolled in the Radio and Television department of Elizabeth Seton College in New York.Even when I was little, I realized the power of my hair. I could slick it back, smooth it down, and look Latino. Thanks to my musical ear and language skills, I perfected a Spanish accent. It was hard, but I expanded my repertoire.
Acting Career
Giancarlo made his film debut in 1979 with a minor role in "Running." He also had small parts in the Canadian horror film "The Changeling," the drama "Taps," and the comedy "Trading Places."In the late '80s, the aspiring actor began collaborating with young screenwriter-director Spike Lee, who was working to amplify African American voices in film. Esposito landed one of the lead roles in Lee's second film, the musical "School Daze," which tackled pressing issues like racial and social inequality. Esposito's character, Julian, is a vain "alpha male" who treats his girlfriend Jane as an object.
"School Daze" was released in 1988, and in 1989, Esposito appeared in Lee's next drama, "Do the Right Thing." In this more commercially successful follow-up to "School Daze," Esposito played a secondary role as the agitator Buggin Out. About this role, the actor recalled:
Giancarlo's acting breakthrough was just around the corner – he landed a role in the cult crime drama "King of New York" alongside Laurence Fishburne and Christopher Walken.It was a revelation for African Americans, even though I'd started my career long before that. They recognized me, which, of course, was wonderful. I felt great. But in my soul, I was always Black. Black and Italian. My father Giovanni watched this film and said, 'Too much swearing, Giancarlo.' And I replied, 'Okay. What else did you see?' And then I realized he didn't understand what it's like to be in my skin.
He also starred with Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson in the musical drama "Mo' Better Blues." Throughout the '90s, he worked steadily, mostly playing stereotypical "villains." Audiences could see him in films like "Nothing to Lose" (Charlie Dunt), "Fresh" (Darryl), "Taps" (George), "Big City Blues" (Georgie), and "The Usual Suspects" (Jack Baer).
In the early 2000s, Esposito felt typecast, playing "someone else's vision" of what an African American is, as opposed to his own. He was still playing "a street thug and drug dealer."
Giancarlo appeared in various TV series and played lead roles in the films "Sherrybaby" and "Monkeybone," but he wanted to play completely different roles, such as Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. He recalled going to auditions and seeing the baffled expressions on casting directors' faces as they repeatedly turned him down:
Then, in 2009, Esposito landed the role of his most beloved villain, for which he was nominated for an Emmy – Chilean drug lord Gus Fring, a cold and cunning criminal leading a double life. He first appeared in the second season of the series "Breaking Bad," and was also a crucial character in its spin-off "Better Call Saul."Then I made a decision—I wanted to play people in general. I didn't want to play people of a certain skin color or race. I wanted to take on roles of ordinary people. And I'm not claiming that there are black actors, white actors, and Giancarlo Esposito. But maybe that's what I mean. So I started looking for roles that would allow me to play ordinary people.
He almost didn't get this role. Writer-director Vince Gilligan admitted that Esposito wasn't his first choice – mainly because Gilligan doubted he'd even say yes. But after the audition, he stated:
"Breaking Bad's" success opened doors for Esposito to tackle any role he'd dreamed of since his childhood Broadway debut. He brought his signature "mix of grace and fire" to diverse roles: the southern charm of Adam Clayton Powell in "The Godfather of Harlem," the stoic menace of villain Moff Gideon in "The Mandalorian," and the corporate ruthlessness of Stan Edgar in "The Boys."Watching Giancarlo's audition for the role of Gustavo Fring... I almost jumped out of my seat. I remember saying, 'My God, I didn't even know we had a chance to get this guy.' The moment we began watching, we thought, 'This is the guy.' The way he plays this character just blows your mind.
Director Eric Kripke spoke enthusiastically about Esposito's work in "The Boys," calling him "the most sparkling person on the planet":
One of Esposito's most recent prominent roles is thief Leo Pap in the crime thriller "Kaleidoscope," starring alongside Rufus Sewell and Jai Courtney.I like how he conveys Edgar's upper-crust breeding, his polite cruelty, which makes the character simultaneously intimidating and absolutely charming.
He also created the intriguing character Stanley Johnston in Guy Ritchie's comedy series "The Gentlemen." The premiere took place in March 2024.
The Personal Life of Giancarlo Esposito
The actor stays out of tabloid headlines – he doesn't have affairs, secret relationships, or hide his four daughters from the public.In 1995, he married Joy McManigal. She's now CEO of The C4 Way, working as a motivational speaker and professional mentor. The couple was together for twenty years before divorcing amicably.
The couple has four daughters: Shayne (born in 1997), Kale (born in 1998), Syrlucia (born in 2000), and Ruby (born in 2003). They regularly communicate with their father, who never ceases to be amazed by their successes.
Giancarlo Esposito Now
2024 kept the actor incredibly busy. Fans eagerly awaited the release of two horror films featuring him: "Abigail" and "MaXXXine," plus the sci-fi action film "The Electric State."He also starred alongside Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker in Francis Ford Coppola's sci-fi drama "Megalopolis." The film depicts a dystopian future where disaster has destroyed New York, and progressive reconstruction plans clash with resistance from corrupt Mayor Frank Sisero. Details about Giancarlo's role are yet to be revealed.
Esposito will also play a leading role in the crime drama "Parish." His character, Gracian Gray Parish, is a taxi driver who gets swept into a dangerous whirlwind of events after agreeing to give a ride to a Zimbabwean gangster. Esposito also became one of the film's producers.
In addition, he expressed interest in playing Professor X from the famous "X-Men" comic series. Giancarlo shared his thoughts on how he would portray the character:
It would be great to play Professor X in a different form – not just in a wheelchair because the physical reality of being in a wheelchair every day doesn't appeal to me. I just don't feel that old, and I don't like sitting so much... Of course, we could figure something out. Professor X wasn't always in a wheelchair; it's part of his character's evolution. I've thought about it for a while, but not too long. Maybe one day I'll have an epiphany... and I would play this character with power, grace, and calmness. Someone who controls chaos but can also lift spirits and inspire.
Interesting Facts
- Giancarlo Esposito once starred in the stunning music video "California" by Mylène Farmer, playing dual roles as both a pimp and the heroine's boyfriend. Looking back on that period, the actor reflected nostalgically: "I played a dominant, aggressive, sexual character. There's tension in the video – it's rough but also very romantic. Abel Ferrara directed it, and we wrapped in four days. I recently saw a photo of Mylène and me in a French magazine – it was an unforgettable time."
- Esposito is inspired by actor Sidney Poitier, the first black actor to win an Oscar.
- He can binge-watch "Peaky Blinders" and even bought himself a cap like Thomas Shelby's.
- The actor admits his weakness is ice cream, but since he can't skip his daily workouts, he forgives himself this indulgence. He used to run five miles a day, bike at least six miles, and swim laps in the pool.
- The actor believes that everyone should spend more time on themselves and their connection with the Universe.
- If stranded on a deserted island, he would take a soccer ball, Tom Hanks as a "specialist," a bottle of water, and a knife.