Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito is an American actor and filmmaker, best known for his role as Gus Fring in the popular AMC shows ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’. Originally from Copenhagen, Esposito moved to the United States at a young age and studied radio and television communications at Elizabeth Seton College in New York. He began his stage career at the age of eight and made his big screen debut in 1979. Throughout his career, he has appeared in notable films such as ‘Fresh’, ‘The Usual Suspects’, and ‘King of New York’. Esposito also served as a singer on the children’s show ‘The Electric Company’ and has directed two films. His portrayal of Gus Fring earned him the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama award at the 2012 Critics’ Choice Television Awards.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito
- Age: 65 Years, 65 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Joy McManigal (m. 1995–2015)
- Father: Giovanni Esposito
- Mother: Elizabeth Foster
- Siblings: Vincent Esposito
- Children: Kale Lyn Esposito, Ruby Esposito, Shayne Lyra Esposito, Syrlucia Esposito
- Born Country: Denmark
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm), 5’7″ Males
- Ancestry: Italian American
- Notable Alumni: Elizabeth Seton College
- City: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Education: Elizabeth Seton College
Childhood & Early Life
Giancarlo Esposito was born on April 26, 1958, in Copenhagen, Denmark. His father, Giovanni Esposito, was a Neapolitan stagehand and carpenter, while his mother, Elizabeth Foster, was an African American opera singer. He has a brother named Vincent. After spending the first six years of his life in Denmark, Esposito and his family relocated to Manhattan, New York. He attended Elizabeth Seton College in New York, where he earned a two-year degree in radio and television communications.
Career
Esposito began his acting career on stage, making his first Broadway appearance at the age of eight in the musical “Maggie Flynn”. He then worked as a voice actor in the short film “Et Salammbo?” in 1970. From 1971 to 1977, he was a young singer on PBS’ children show “The Electric Company”. In 1979, he made his cinematic debut in the sports drama “Running”.
Esposito’s breakout performance came in the 1988 film “School Daze”, directed by Spike Lee. He went on to work with Lee in several other films, including “Do the Right Thing” (1989), “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990), and “Malcolm X” (1994). He also appeared in TV shows such as “Bakersfield P.D.” and “Homicide: Life on the Street”. Esposito has had a successful career in both film and television, with notable roles in “The Usual Suspects” (1995), “Law & Order”, “Once Upon a Time”, “Revolution”, and “Dear White People”.
In recent years, Esposito has appeared in films such as the “Maze Runner” series, “Money Monster” (2016), “Brother Nature” (2016), and “Okja” (2017). He has also provided the voice for Akela in Disney’s 2016 version of “The Jungle Book”. Esposito has several upcoming projects, including James Franco’s “The Long Home”, Cinemax’s “Jett”, and the TV series “The Mandalorian”.
Esposito made his directorial debut with the 2008 film “Gospel Hill” and has also directed the 2017 drama film “The Show”. He has also produced films such as “The Keeper” (1995) and “Stuck” (2017).
Major Works
One of Esposito’s most notable roles is that of Gustavo “Gus” Fring, a powerful drug lord, in the TV series “Breaking Bad” (2009-2011) and its prequel series “Better Call Saul” (2017-present). His performance earned him critical acclaim and a nomination for an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award at the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Family & Personal Life
Esposito was married to Joy McManigal in 1995, but they have since divorced. They have four daughters together: Kale Lyn Esposito, Shayne Lyra Esposito, Ruby Esposito, and Syrlucia Esposito.