His parents, working in Europe at the time of his birth, settled in Manhattan by the time he was 6, and that's where he grew up. He appeared in New Amsterdam and CSI: Miami. . He has a more established brother named Vincent. His other film credits include Trading Places (1983) and Maximum Overdrive (1986). Esposito played Robert Fuentes, a Miami businessman with shady connections, on the UPN television series South Beach. Photographs by Victor Llorente for The New Yorker. Being an actor doesn't shield you from having a conscience. I find its healing for me, he said. It was crushing. At one point, he considered suicide to secure a life-insurance payout for his family. Besides his own films, he has produced The Keeper (1995) and Stuck (2017). Giancarlo has dated - Joy McManigal (1994-2015) - Giancarlo began dating Joy McManigal in 1994 and they got married in 1995. These days, its not enough for an actor to simply make good films. Height. I suffered in that middle ground that got squeezed in the industry, he said. Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (Italian:[dakarlo duzppe alessandro espzito]; born April 26, 1958) is an American actor. They soon married, and Giancarlo was born in 1958, in Copenhagen, where Elizabeth was performing in a split bill with Josephine Baker. Vincent Esposito is the sibling of the universally eminent Giancarlo Esposito who is a well-known American entertainer. Esposito began his life as a roving child of the stage. And I realized, 'Oh, okay, this is an opportunity.' During the 1990s Giancarlo, when not starring in films such as The Usual Suspects and Bob Roberts, went around college campuses and prisons as part of a motivational speaking circuit talking about racism, color-blind casting, and human empowerment. Photo: Newsday. Hes also been known to share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, inspirational tales about his show-biz journey, and more personal stories about his experiences as a bi-racial actor in the industry. He has also directed the 2017 drama film The Show. Over the years, hes lent his name, face, and money to various charitable organizations, most of which have had some affiliation with the environment, the arts and education. In 1979, he had his big screen debut in the sports drama Running. The Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT), the Broadway and Off-Broadway archive of live theater on video situated in the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, has the original stage productions of Balm in Gilead (1984) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), starring Giancarlo Esposito. For his outing as Gus Fring, he received the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama award at the 2012 Critics' Choice Television Awards. All rights reserved. Parents: There is no information about the parents of Joy. By day, Gus owns and operates a fast-food chain, Los Pollos Hermanos, where, all smiles and pious platitudes, he works shifts alongside his staff and caters charity events for the Albuquerque police department. 62 Vincent Esposito Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE Collections Project #ShowUs Creative Insights EDITORIAL VIDEO BBC Motion Gallery NBC News Archives MUSIC BLOG BROWSE PRICING ENTERPRISE VisualGPS INSIGHTS BOARDS CART SIGN IN Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO Rebellion involved dropping out of high school to develop a night-club act in California, and, when that failed, bussing tables at a dinner theatre back home. 10 Things You Didnt Know About Zuri Adele, Tell Us You Dont Want This J. Jonah Jameson Spider-Man Toy, Five Things You Didnt Know about Shaun Sipos, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Olivia Taylor Dudley. His TV credits include Sesame Street, The Guiding Light, Miami Vice, Spenser: For Hire, and The Equalizer in the 1980s. He is best known for his performance as drug lord Gus Fring in the AMC shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Offering to pay for trauma counselling, he explains the attack as a futile attempt by old Mexican acquaintances to extort an innocent businessman in a land where the righteous have no reason to fear.. He played bit parts in Lees later films, appearing briefly as an assassin in Malcolm X. There was a standout performance in Jim Jarmuschs Night on Earth, and a promising stint as a detective on NBCs Homicide, followed by years of small roles in soap operas and gangster dramas, which soured him on playing street toughs. With new projects such as The Mandalorian and Harley Quinn in the works, nows never been a better time to find out 20 things you didnt know about Giancarlo Esposito. Guss appeal has many dimensions, including the Zen-like quality of his compartmentalization and the dark comedy of his immigrant success story. [7] He was also a member of the youthful cast of the Stephen Sondheim-Harold Prince collaboration Merrily We Roll Along, which closed with 16 performances and 56 previews in 1981. Gus is the answer to the question: What if the pressure for Black men to act nonthreatening created the perfect cover for a kingpin? and for me, what I do is pay so much attentionto my breathing, to my tone of voice. Every morning, he woke up at five to serve as an altar boy, and he considered a priestly vocation before realizing that he wanted to wear those vestments inside.. Giancarlo Esposito was born as Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito on 26 April 1958 in He is Movies (Actor) by profession. 75 kg or 165.5 lbs. 108-Year-Old American Woman And Her 101-Year-Old Brother To Naturalise And Become Ghanaian Citizens. It was Lee who first gave full expression to Esposito's aptitude for lawful evil. The actor is married to Joy McManigal, his starsign is Taurus and he is now 64 years of age. In the weeks before John Wayne Gacys scheduled execution, he was far from reconciled to his fate. Table of Contents Movies and TV Shows Giancarlo Esposito. To this day, he continues to be an active member of the Atlantic Theater Company, an off-Broadway, non-profit theater whose mission is to empower simple and honest storytelling that fosters greater understanding of our shared world. The company was founded in 1985 by playwright, David Mamet, fellow actor and Shameless star, William H Macy, and 30 students from New York University. In 1988, he landed his breakout role as the leader ("Dean Big Brother Almighty") of the black fraternity "Gamma Phi Gamma" in director Spike Lee's film School Daze, exploring color relations at black colleges. Of course, Esposito isnt only the big name to have graced the show over the years. He encountered racism and prejudice early on in his life. He studied violin at Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music. Esposito's other major films include Taps (1981), King of New York (1990), Bob Roberts (1990), Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991), Fresh (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), Ali (2001), Last Holiday (2006), Gospel Hill (2008), Rabbit Hole (2010), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), The Jungle Book (2016), Money Monster (2016), Okja (2017), Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), and Stargirl (2020). But a reporter discovered that behind the faade of innovation were lies and links to Russian intelligence. Plus: each Wednesday, exclusively for subscribers, the best books of the week. [20], He was raised Catholic and considered becoming a priest. All I wanted was to study his blood, Gideon tells Mando (Pedro Pascal), the masked hero, in a climactic rescue sequence; menacing the gurgling green infant with an energy blade, Esposito achieves a degree of campy malevolence not seen since silent-movie villains tied damsels to train tracks. Along with her skills as a performer, Baker was also known for her contributions to the war effort: her work with the French Renaissance was rewarded with a Croix de Guerre by the French Military, while her title of Chevalier of the Lgion dHonneur was awarded by French President General Charles de Gaulle. He won the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama award at the 2012 Critics' Choice Television Awards and was nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award at the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards, but lost to co-star Aaron Paul. I made my living on that little tinge of anger inside me, that allowed me to be an angry young Black man and rob some white lady onscreen, he told me. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/giancarlo-esposito-44462.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities. film school grad named Spike Lee. A native of Copenhagen, Esposito relocated to the United States when he was six years old. . A new era of strength competitions is testing the limits of the human body. That gnawed at my guts. His punctilious menace so mesmerized viewers that Gus became one of the principals, attaining such popularity that AMC advertised the spinoff series Better Call Saul (2015-22) with a travelling pop-up version of Los Pollos Hermanos. Esposito was raised in Copenhagen (along with his older brother, Vincent) until the age of six. Motown. During the 1980s, Giancarlo spent less time singing and dancing and doing more dramatic roles. Lived in Europe, New York City, and Cleveland until he; his older brother, Vincent; and their parents moved to Manhattan when Giancarlo was six. The experience was also cathartic for Esposito as a Black Italian American, forcing him to confront the tensions between his communities. Slim. While he'll go down in history as one of the greatest villains in television history, Gustavo "Gus" Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) was never . They seriously thought, Hes going to fade away to nothing, because he never stops. Esposito, a man of strict routines, wasnt emotionally prepared for the disruption. He is also known for his appearances in several Spike Lee films, such as School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990), and Malcolm X (1992). Giancarlo Esposito, who considers himself "an Italian black" that can also pass for Latino, encountered racism early on in his life and more subtler shades of prejudice while auditioning. In recent years, he has appeared in films like the Maze Runner movies, Money Monster (2016), Brother Nature (2016), and Okja (2017). He and his brother Vincent starred as orphaned children of refugee slaves in the 1968 musical Maggie Flynn opposite showbiz legends. Esposito has an impressive career that spans nearly 6 decades in film, TV, and stage credits (not forgetting his many nominations and award nods, which include a Critics Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2012 and a National Board of Review Award in 1995). The young Esposito didnt just admire Lancaster for his acting chops, however: during the 1950s, Lancaster made a series of widely acclaimed films (including Sweet Smell of Success (1957) and Separate Tables (1958) with his production company Hect-Hill-Lancaster, proving himself to be just as much a success behind the camera as in front of it. Some of his other TV roles are of Sidney Glass / Magic Mirror in ABCs fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time (2011-17), Tom Neville in NBCs post-apocalyptic series Revolution (2012-14), and the narrator on Netflixs comedy-drama series Dear White People (2017-present). His mother was an opera diva. In 2006 Esposito starred in Last Holiday as Senator Dillings alongside Queen Latifah. Esposito says only five words in as many minutes: Well? The 45-year acting veteran married Joy McManigal in 1995 having four daughters, Ruby, Shayne, Syrlucia and Kale before divorcing. (Even on Sesame Street, where, in his early twenties, he guest-starred as a camp counsellor, Esposito laid down the law for a homesick Big Bird.) Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Giancarlo Esposito Biography Birth Name: Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Birth Place: Copenhagen, Denmark Profession Actor, producer, director Fast Facts Is half African-American, half Italian. Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore's family say the actor, 61, has 'no further hope' after going into a coma as they make 'end-of-life plan'. Giancarlo Esposito got his start as an actor on stage. I am from Detroit. More recently, hes achieved a new level of success with his role as drug kingpin Gus Fring in the hugely popular AMC shows, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Giancarlo Esposito (or to give him his full name, Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito) was born April 26th, 1958 in Copenhagen, Denmark to father Giovanni Esposito, an Italian carpenter/stagehand, and mother Elizabeth Foster, an African-American opera singer from Alabama. She was not young. Girlfriend / Spouse. Before the siren call of TV came beckoning, Esposito was carving out a successful career as a stage actor. Of his decision, Esposito says, I figured if I never made It as an actor, I could go to Alaska, be a cameraman, and collect a paycheck. What he does share with his characters is an old-fashioned sense of masculine responsibility. He has appeared in over 60 films so far in his career. Highlights from the week in culture, every Saturday. He made his 2 million dollar fortune with S.W.A.T. Over the course of his career, he has appeared in films like Fresh, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, The Usual Suspects, and King of New York. The film starred Esposito alongside Danny Glover, Angela Basset, and Samuel. The role of Zooman represents a broad departure from Giancarlo's previous roles. In recent years, Esposito has branched into voice-over work. I started to realize that you have to fall in line, but Ive never wanted to fall in line, Esposito told me. Photo: Gerry Goodstein. 20 Things You Didnt Know about Giancarlo Esposito, 2,523rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Ian Alexander, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Stephanie Pratt, Johnny Galeckis Best Work Prior to The Big Bang Theory, 10 Things You Didnt Know about David Anthony Higgins, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Shaylee Mansfield, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Amanda Cerny, Five Things You Didnt Know about Tori Roloff, 10 Things You didnt Know about Lucky Blue Smith, Disneyland Tickets Are Now Averaging Over $200 with Avengers Opening. Perhaps his most celebrated monologue, from Breaking Bad, is addressed to Guss then protg Walter White (Bryan Cranston), an ex-chemistry teacher whos wavering on his decision to enter the drug trade. I scrapped everything for a few weeks and said, figure out how to be with yourself outside of the world, outside of people handing me my validation.. He also portrayed American Baptist pastor and politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the TV series Godfather of Harlem (2019present) and appeared in Westworld (2016). Who told you to be in my neighborhood? Watching him grandstand, sermonize, womanize, and blackmail Dixiecrats in Congress, I found myself wishing that more directors would let him flex his talents as a showman. He played J. C. Pierce, a cadet in the 1981 movie Taps.[8]. The award was announced by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler, who stated We are thrilled to have this triple threat on our Walk of Fame. "My mother tried to commit suicide once, my uncle committed suicide, and I found myself at the . He played jazz with the Marsalis brothers. My mother says, Now. After he offered her the rose, Baker took Espositos hand and pulled him onstage, singing the next verse directly to him. He acted alongside Nicole Kidman in the 2010 film Rabbit Hole. Esposito played FBI agent Mike Giardello on the TV crime drama Homicide: Life on the Street. Esposito says that it was leaving the stage and hearing the sound of the audiences applause that ignited his passion:- I came offstage and heard the applause of the theater audience and felt a sense of accomplishment the actor has revealed. When I saw Esposito at MOMA, he was enjoying a break from a shoot for Francis Ford Coppolas sci-fi epic Megalopolis, in Atlanta. His both parents are from the entertainment business, so its no surprise that Esposito decided on a career in the industry. [14] Esposito and Favreau would work together once again in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian in which Esposito appears in a starring role, while Favreau acts as an executive producer for the series and as its writer. The series, created by Vince Gilligan and set amid the anomie and adobe subdivisions of Albuquerque, New Mexico, follows Walter White from the quiet desperation of a cancer diagnosis through his Nietzschean rebirth as a crystal-meth kingpin. I did it all with my eyes, he said. Esposito also appeared in Community as a guest star for the episode titled "Digital Estate Planning". He also had a recurring role in the first season of The Get Down on Netflix. Between 1971 to 1977, he served as a singer on The Electric Company, a childrens show that aired on PBS. The character Gus Fring was created as a fill-in villain. Giancarlo Esposito is a German-born American actor. He is best known for portraying Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad, from 2009 to 2011, as well as in its prequel series Better Call Saul, from 2017 to 2022. who manufactures superheroes in Amazons Marvel satire The Boys? He was in Toronto, travelling with his mother, when she realized that her old acquaintance was performing at their hotel. In the 1980s and 90s, he starred in multiple high-profile films and gained critical acclaim for his stage work. Giancarlo Esposito is known and loved by millions thanks to the extensive and varied work of his 6-decade career. His father, Giovanni, was a stagehand and carpenter who was born and raised in Italy. Giancarlo and his more established sibling Vincent appeared on Broadway in 1968 in the melodic Maggie Flynn with Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. As a child, Espositos hero was Burt Lancaster, the legendary actor who won worldwide acclaim (and multiple Academy and Golden Globe nominations) for his appearances in such classics as Elmer Gantry, Atlantic City and Zulu Dawn. READ ALSO: John Bishop Life After Deaf Esposito first worked with acclaimed director, Spike Lee, on the filmmakers 2nd feature film, School Daze. In later years, he would star in Lee's School Daze and became a household name for the character Buggin' Out in Do The Right Thing. Starsign is Taurus and he is best known for his stage work Statement and Your California Privacy Rights Statement! Her the rose, Baker took Espositos hand and pulled him onstage, singing next! Giancarlo Esposito # x27 ; s aptitude for lawful evil of Contents Movies and TV giancarlo! Departure from giancarlo & # x27 ; s previous roles innovation were lies and links to Russian intelligence that! 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