About
Giancarlo Esposito
Overview
Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (born April 26, 1958) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad (2009–2011) and the prequel series Better Call Saul (2017–2022). For this role he won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and earned three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Esposito's other television roles include Federal Agent Mike Giardello in the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street (1998–1999), Sidney Glass / Magic Mirror in the ABC supernatural drama series Once Upon a Time (2011–2017), Tom Neville in the NBC science fiction series Revolution (2012–2014), Dr. Edward Ruskins in the Netflix comedy-drama series Dear White People (2017–present), Stan Edgar in the Amazon Prime Video superhero drama series The Boys (2019–present), and Moff Gideon in the Disney+ space western drama series The Mandalorian (2019–present), the lattermost of which earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He also portrayed American Baptist pastor and politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the TV series Godfather of Harlem (2019–present). Esposito also portrays Antón Castillo, the main antagonist of the video game Far Cry 6, released in 2021.
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). Esposito's other major films include Taps (1981), King of New York (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).
Known for
Acting |
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| 2025 | The Electric State | Actor | Colonel Bradbury | N/A N/A |
| 2025 | Captain America: Brave New World | Actor | Seth Voelker / Sidewinder | N/A N/A |
| 2024 | Please Don’t Feed the Children | Actor | 58 Average |
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| 2024 | Megalopolis | Actor | Mayor Cicero | 57 Average |
| 2024 | MaXXXine | Actor | Teddy Knight, Esq. | 62 Fair |
| 2024 | Abigail | Actor | Lambert | 65 Fair |
| 2024 | Parish | Actor | Gracián 'Gray' Parish | 69 Fair |
| 2023 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | Actor | Baxter Stockman (voice) | 68 Fair |
| 2023 | Kaleidoscope | Actor | Leo Pap | 69 Fair |
| 2022 | Euphoria | Actor | Taxi Driver | N/A N/A |
| 2022 | Breaking Kitchen | Actor | Gustavo | 70 Good |
| 2022 | Bonnie | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2022 | Beauty | Actor | Beauty's Father | 58 Average |
| 2021 | Armin Mueller-Stahl - Ein Gaukler in Hollywood | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2021 | Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine | Actor | Self - Narrator (voice) | 70 Good |
| 2021 | The Long Home | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2020 | Unpregnant | Actor | Bob | 63 Fair |
| 2020 | The Broken and the Bad | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2020 | For NYC | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| 2020 | Stargirl | Actor | Archie Brubaker | 66 Fair |
| 2020 | Coda | Actor | Paul | 59 Average |
| 2019 | Line of Duty | Actor | Tom Volk | 58 Average |
| 2019 | Creepshow | Actor | Doc (segment "Gray Matter") | N/A N/A |
| 2019 | Jett | Actor | Charlie Baudelaire | 69 Fair |
| 2019 | Stuck | Actor | Lloyd | 59 Average |
| 2018 | Dallas & Robo | Actor | Victor Goldsmith | 69 Fair |
| 2018 | The Nagano Tapes | Actor | Self - Narrator | 59 Average |
| 2018 | Maze Runner: The Death Cure | Actor | Jorge | 70 Good |
| 2017 | Miracle on 42nd Street | Actor | self | N/A N/A |
| 2017 | The Show | Actor | Mason Washington | 58 Average |
| 2017 | Okja | Actor | Frank Dawson | 72 Good |
| 2017 | Unacknowledged | Actor | Narrator | 59 Average |
| 2017 | Dear White People | Actor | Narrator | 64 Fair |
| 2017 | Rebel | Actor | Charles | 69 Fair |
| 2017 | Breaking Bad: The Movie | Actor | Gustavo 'Gus' Fring | N/A N/A |
| 2016 | PAYDAY THE MOVIE | Actor | The Dentist | 59 Average |
| 2016 | Brother Nature | Actor | Congressman Frank McClaren | 58 Average |
| 2016 | The Get Down | Actor | Pastor Ramon Cruz | 72 Good |
| 2016 | On Meditation | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2016 | Money Monster | Actor | Captain Powell | 63 Fair |
| 2016 | The Jungle Book | Actor | Akela (voice) | 68 Fair |
| 2016 | The Pills: Sempre meglio che lavorare | Actor | Il Boss | 58 Average |
| 2015 | Enzian: When the Lights Go Up | Actor | Self (archive footage) | N/A N/A |
| 2015 | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials | Actor | Jorge | 66 Fair |
| 2015 | Better Call Saul | Actor | Gus Fring | 86 Very good |
| 2015 | I Did Not Forget You | Actor | Dr. Sabian | N/A N/A |
| 2014 | Poker Night | Actor | Bernard | 59 Average |
| 2014 | Batman: Assault on Arkham | Actor | Black Spider / Eric Needham (voice) | 68 Fair |
| 2014 | Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2014 | Son of Batman | Actor | Ra's al Ghul (voice) | 66 Fair |
| 2014 | Requiem for the Big East | Actor | Narrator | 59 Average |
| 2013 | Timms Valley | Actor | Pruit Normings | 59 Average |
| 2013 | No Half Measures: Creating the Final Season of Breaking Bad | Actor | Self | 63 Fair |
| 2013 | They Die by Dawn | Actor | Rufus Buck | 58 Average |
| 2013 | Blood River Crossing | Actor | Narrator | N/A N/A |
| 2013 | Long Distance Revolutionary: A Journey with Mumia Abu-Jamal | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2013 | Over/Under | Actor | Oliver Ohrt | 58 Average |
| 2012 | Alex Cross | Actor | Daramus Holiday | 54 Average |
| 2012 | Revolution | Actor | Major Tom Neville | 64 Fair |
| 2011 | Certainty | Actor | Father Heery | N/A N/A |
| 2011 | Dreaming American | Actor | Daytona LeMans | N/A N/A |
| 2011 | S.W.A.T.: Firefight | Actor | Inspector Hollander | 58 Average |
| 2010 | Rabbit Hole | Actor | Auggie | 63 Fair |
| 2009 | PoliWood | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2008 | Chelsea on the Rocks | Actor | Tip | 59 Average |
| 2008 | Gospel Hill | Actor | Dr. Palmer | 58 Average |
| 2008 | Xenophobia | Actor | Young | N/A N/A |
| 2007 | Mano | Actor | Nino | N/A N/A |
| 2007 | Feel The Noise | Actor | Roberto Vega | 57 Average |
| 2007 | The Box | Actor | Dwayne Burkhalter | 58 Average |
| 2006 | Sherrybaby | Actor | Parole Officer Hernandez | 59 Average |
| 2006 | Rain | Actor | Ken Arnold | 58 Average |
| 2006 | Last Holiday | Actor | Senator Dillings | 66 Fair |
| 2006 | South Beach | Actor | Robert Fuentes | 68 Fair |
| 2005 | Derailed | Actor | Detective Church | 62 Fair |
| 2005 | Carlito's Way: Rise to Power | Actor | Little Jeff | 57 Average |
| 2005 | Back in the Day | Actor | Benson Cooper | 58 Average |
| 2005 | I Will Avenge You, Iago! | Actor | Director | N/A N/A |
| 2005 | Chupacabra Terror | Actor | Dr. Peña | 58 Average |
| 2005 | Hate Crime | Actor | Detective Esposito | 59 Average |
| 2004 | Doing Hard Time | Actor | Captain Pierce | 58 Average |
| 2004 | A Killer Within | Actor | Vargas | 58 Average |
| 2004 | 5ive Days to Midnight | Actor | Tim Sanders | 67 Fair |
| 2004 | NYPD 2069 | Actor | Lt. Garner | N/A N/A |
| 2004 | Noise | Actor | Hank | 58 Average |
| 2003 | Blind Horizon | Actor | J.C. Reynolds | 58 Average |
| 2003 | Ash Tuesday | Actor | Karl | 59 Average |
| 2002 | Girls Club | Actor | 70 Good |
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| 2001 | Ali | Actor | Cassius Clay, Sr. | 65 Fair |
| 2001 | Piñero | Actor | Miguel Algarin | 59 Average |
| 2001 | Monkeybone | Actor | Hypnos | 55 Average |
| 2000 | The $treet | Actor | Tom Divack | 68 Fair |
| 2000 | Homicide: The Movie | Actor | Mike Giardello | 59 Average |
| 2000 | Josephine | Actor | Spike | N/A N/A |
| 1998 | Thirst | Actor | Dr. Lawrence Carver | 58 Average |
| 1998 | Naked City: Justice with a Bullet | Actor | Chaz Villanueva | 58 Average |
| 1998 | Where's Marlowe? | Actor | Blind Man (uncredited) | 59 Average |
| 1998 | Phoenix | Actor | Louie | 58 Average |
| 1998 | Creature | Actor | Lt. Thomas Peniston / Werewolf | 58 Average |
| 1998 | Peter Benchley’s Creature | Actor | Lt. Thomas Peniston | N/A N/A |
| 1998 | Twilight | Actor | Reuben Escobar | 59 Average |
| 1998 | Stardust | Actor | Mr. Peavey | 58 Average |
| 1997 | Trouble on the Corner | Actor | Darryl | 58 Average |
| 1997 | Five Desperate Hours | Actor | Joseph Grange | 59 Average |
| 1997 | Big City Blues | Actor | Georgie | 58 Average |
| 1997 | Nothing to Lose | Actor | Charlie Dunt | 62 Fair |
| 1997 | The Maze | Actor | Henry Kunitz | N/A N/A |
| 1997 | The People | Actor | Anthony Rivera | N/A N/A |
| 1996 | The Tomorrow Man | Actor | Jonathan Driscoll | 58 Average |
| 1996 | Mylène Farmer: California | Actor | 59 Average |
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| 1995 | Waiting to Exhale | Actor | David Matthews (uncredited) | 59 Average |
| 1995 | Reckless | Actor | Host Tim Timko | 59 Average |
| 1995 | Blue in the Face | Actor | Tommy Finelli | 60 Fair |
| 1995 | The Keeper | Actor | Paul Lamont | 58 Average |
| 1995 | The Usual Suspects | Actor | Jack Baer | 80 Very good |
| 1995 | Smoke | Actor | 1st OTB Man / Tommy | 65 Fair |
| 1995 | Klash | Actor | Stoney | 58 Average |
| 1994 | Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1994 | Fresh | Actor | Esteban | 62 Fair |
| 1994 | Benders | Actor | Jack | N/A N/A |
| 1993 | Seven Songs for Malcolm X | Actor | Autobiography Reading (voice) | N/A N/A |
| 1993 | Bakersfield P.D. | Actor | Detective Paul Gigante | 70 Good |
| 1993 | Amos & Andrew | Actor | The Reverend Fenton Brunch | 57 Average |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Actor | Michael Giardello | 76 Good |
| 1993 | Mood Indigo | Actor | Arthur Sistrunk | N/A N/A |
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Actor | Thomas Hayer | 71 Good |
| 1992 | Bob Roberts | Actor | Bugs Raplin | 60 Fair |
| 1991 | Night on Earth | Actor | YoYo | 69 Fair |
| 1991 | Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | Actor | Jimmy Jiles | 60 Fair |
| 1990 | Mo' Better Blues | Actor | Left Hand Lacey (Piano) | 60 Fair |
| 1990 | King of New York | Actor | Lance | 63 Fair |
| 1989 | Making 'Do the Right Thing' | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1989 | Do the Right Thing | Actor | Buggin Out | 72 Good |
| 1988 | School Daze | Actor | Julian 'Dean Big Brother Almighty' Eaves | 58 Average |
| 1987 | Heartbeat | Actor | Gang Member #1 | 59 Average |
| 1987 | Sweet Lorraine | Actor | Howie | N/A N/A |
| 1986 | Maximum Overdrive | Actor | Videoplayer | 58 Average |
| 1986 | Roanoak | Actor | Simon Fernandes | N/A N/A |
| 1986 | Rockabye | Actor | Marcus | 59 Average |
| 1985 | Desperately Seeking Susan | Actor | Street Vendor | 59 Average |
| 1985 | Finnegan Begin Again | Actor | Intruder | 59 Average |
| 1985 | Go Tell It on the Mountain | Actor | Elisha | 58 Average |
| 1984 | The Cotton Club | Actor | Bumpy Hood | 61 Fair |
| 1984 | The Brother from Another Planet | Actor | Man Being Arrested (uncredited) | 60 Fair |
| 1983 | Trading Places | Actor | Cellmate #2 | 70 Good |
| 1983 | Enormous Changes at the Last Minute | Actor | Julio | 58 Average |
| 1981 | Taps | Actor | Cadet Captain J.C. Pierce | 62 Fair |
| 1981 | The Gentleman Bandit | Actor | Jamie | 58 Average |
| 1979 | Running | Actor | Puerto Rican Teenager | 59 Average |
| 1979 | Tutti a squola | Actor | 58 Average |
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| 1970 | Et Salammbo? | Actor | N/A N/A |
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| The Residence | Actor | A.B. Wynter | N/A N/A |
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Directing |
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| 2017 | The Show | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
| 2008 | Gospel Hill | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
Production |
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| 2024 | Parish | Production | Executive Producer | 69 Fair |
| 2020 | The Broken and the Bad | Production | Executive Producer | N/A N/A |
| 2017 | The Show | Production | Producer | 58 Average |