Giancarlo Esposito is a Danish-born American actor and director who has a net worth of $8 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He is best known for portraying Gus Fring in the award-winning television show Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul, as well as Moff Gideon in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. He has also appeared in several Spike Lee films, such as Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and School Daze.
Early Life and Career
Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito was born on April 26, 1958, in Copenhagen, Denmark, to an Italian father and an African-American mother. His father was a stagehand and carpenter from Naples, Italy, and his mother was an opera and nightclub singer from Alabama. When he was six years old, his family moved to New York City, where he grew up.
He made his Broadway debut at age 8, playing a slave child in the musical Maggie Flynn. He continued to act in Broadway and off-Broadway productions throughout his childhood and adolescence. He also sang for the educational children’s television show The Electric Company and played a camp counselor on Sesame Street.
He attended Elizabeth Seton College in New York and earned a two-year degree in radio and television communications. He then pursued a career in film and television, appearing in movies such as Taps, King of New York, Trading Places, and The Usual Suspects. He also had roles in TV shows such as Miami Vice, Law & Order, NYPD Blue, and Homicide: Life on the Street.
Breakthrough Roles
Esposito gained recognition for his collaborations with director Spike Lee, who cast him in several of his films, such as School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, and Malcolm X. He played diverse characters, such as a radical student leader, a racist pizza delivery man, a jazz trumpeter, and a Nation of Islam minister.
He also worked with other acclaimed filmmakers, such as Brian De Palma (Carlito’s Way), John Sayles (Lone Star), Ridley Scott (American Gangster), Jon Favreau (The Jungle Book), and Bong Joon-ho (Okja).
However, his most iconic role came in 2009 when he was cast as Gus Fring, a mild-mannered fast-food restaurateur who secretly runs a drug empire, in the AMC series Breaking Bad. His performance earned him critical acclaim and several awards and nominations, including a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
He reprised his role as Gus Fring in the prequel series Better Call Saul, which began airing in 2015. He also starred as Tom Neville in the NBC series Revolution, Sidney Glass/Magic Mirror in the ABC series Once Upon a Time, Stan Edgar in the Amazon series The Boys, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem, and Moff Gideon in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
Personal Life
Esposito was married to Joy McManigal from 1995 to 2015. They have four children together: daughters Shayne Lyra, Ruby Esposito, Kale Lyn Esposito; and son Syrlucia Esposito. He also has an older brother named Vincent Esposito.
Esposito holds dual citizenship of the United States and Italy. He is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, French, German and Danish. He is also a vegetarian and practices yoga and meditation.
Conclusion
Giancarlo Esposito is one of the most versatile and talented actors working today. He has a net worth of $8 million as of 2023. He has starred in numerous films and TV shows that have showcased his range and skill. He is best known for playing Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as well as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. He is also a director and producer who has worked on projects such as Gospel Hill and This Is Your Death. He is a father of four children and holds dual citizenship of the US and Italy.