Giancarlo Esposito Biography
Born: April 26, 1958
Versatile American actor Giancarlo Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, but grew up in Manhattan from the age of six. His mother was an African-American nightclub singer (who once shared a bill with Josephine_Baker) and his father was an Italian stagehand. In show business most of his life, Esposito made his Broadway debut in a 1966 production of +Maggie Flynn. His other stage credits include +Sacrilege, +Miss Moffatt, and +Balm in Gilead. He won a 1981 Theatre World Award for his performance in +Zooman and the Sign.
On the big screen, Esposito started appearing in Spike_Lee films during the late '80s in a wide range of roles with great character names. He was the frat leader Julian "Big Brother Almighty" in School_Daze, the outspoken reactionary Buggin' Out in Do the Right Thing, the dandy pianist Left Hand Lacey in Mo'_Better_Blues, and the criminal Thomas Hayer in Malcolm_X. Esposito's other film roles include an investigative journalist in Bob_Roberts, an activist in Amos & Andrew, and a game show host in Reckless. In 1995, he earned an Independent Spirit award nomination for his supporting role of doting drug dealer Esteban in Boaz_Yakin's debut drama Fresh. Esposito also appeared in Wayne_Wang and Paul_Auster's Smoke, along with the sequel Blue in the Face. The next year, he turned briefly to producing with the independent prison film The_Keeper, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
On television, Esposito appeared on NYPD Blue, Law & Order, and the short-lived Fox comedy Bakersfield, P.D. In 1999, he earned an Image award nomination for his role as FBI Agent Michael Giardello on Homicide: Life on the Street. He also has contributed to the Fox television dramas The_treet and girls club. While teaching at the Atlantic Theatre Company, Esposito found time to portray real-life figures in the biopics Ali (as Cassius Clay Sr.) and Piñero (as Miguel_Algarin). Projects for 2004 included James_Hunter's feature Back in the Day and the television movie NYPD 2069. Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
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