Biography
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, All Movie Guide