GIANCARLO ESPOSITO |
BIRTHDATE: April 26, 1958 BIRTHPLACE: Copenhagen, Denmark MARITAL STATUS: Married, two children WHY HE DESERVES HIS BIG BREAK: Like his counterpart Don Cheadle, Giancarlo Esposito has chosen the high road for African-American actors, taking roles in such films as The Usual Suspects and Twilight instead of stuff like Booty Call and I Got the Hookup. His intensity and consistently strong performances rank him in the same level as Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. Born in Denmark to an Italian father and an African-American mother (similar to his character on TV's Homicide), Giancarlo Esposito has actually been acting in film as early as 1979, appearing as an extra in the Michael Douglas film Running. He knocked around in numerous TV movies and low budget features for several years (even playing the victim of a crazed video game in Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive), until Spike Lee cast him as Julian, a snobbish college student who looks down upon his darker-skinned classmates in 1988's School Daze. He appeared in four Spike Lee films, including Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and Malcolm X. Esposito's most memorable roles have included playing police detectives in The Usual Suspects and Twilight, but he really hit his stride playing Baltimore detective Mike Giardello on TV's Homicide. Though he only joined the cast of television's greatest drama series of all time for the last two seasons, Esposito made an amazing impact as the intense, hot-headed son of police captain Al Giardello (played by Yaphet Kotto). Sadly, Homicide went off the air in 1999, but Giancarlo Esposito has been working steady since then, appearing in the bizarre fantasy Monkeybone and in the biography Miguel Pinero. |
FILMOGRAPHY Films highlighted in yellow present Giancarlo at his best Piņero (2001)--Miguel Algarin Ali (2001)--Cassius Clay Sr. Monkey Bone (2001)--Hypnos Cadillac Tramps (2000)--???? Josephine (2000)--Spike Speak Truth to Power (2000)--???? "The $treet" (TV Series--2000)--Tom Divack Homicide: The Movie (TV Movie--2000)--Mike Giardello "Touched by an Angel" (2000)--Antonio (TV guest appearance) Big City Blues (1999)--Georgie Where's Marlowe? (1999)--Blind Man "Nash Bridges" (1999)--Arnold & Gordon Keller (TV guest appearance) Naked City: Justice with a Bullet (TV Movie--1998)--Chaz Stardust (1998)--Mr. Peavey Thirst (TV Movie--1998)--Dr. Lawrence Carver Phoenix (1998)--Louie Creature (TV Movie--1998)--Thomas Peniston/Werewolf Twilight (1998)--Reuben Escobar "Homicide: Life on the Street" (TV Series--1998)--Mike Giardello "NYPD Blue" (1998)--Jamaal (TV guest appearance) The Maze (1997)--Henry Kunitz The People (1997)--Anthony Rivera Trouble on the Corner (1997)--Darryl Five Desperate Hours (TV Movie--1997)--Joseph Grange Nothing to Lose (1997)--Charlie Dunt California (1996)--???? Loose Women (1996)--Gay Hairdresser The Tomorrow Man (TV Movie--1996)--???? "Law & Order" (1996)--Mr. Baylor (TV guest appearance) "Living Single" (1996)--Jackson Turner (TV guest appearance) "NYPD Blue" (1996)--Ferdinand Hollie (TV guest appearance) "Chicago Hope" (1996)--???? (TV guest appearance) Kla$h (1995)--Stoney Blue in the Face (1995)--Tommy Finelli The Keeper (1995)--Paul Lamont Reckless (1995)--Fast Tim Timko The Usual Suspects (1995)--Jack Baer Smoke (1995)--1st OTB Man Tommy Waiting to Exhale (1995)--David Johnson "New York Undercover" (1995)--Adofo Guzman (TV guest appearance) Fresh (1994)--Esteban Amos & Andrew (1993)--The Reverend Fenton Brunch Seven Songs for Malcolm X (1993)--Narrator "Bakersfield P.D." (TV Series--1993)--Detective Paul Gigante Simple Justice (TV Movie--1993)--???? Relentless: Mind of a Killer (TV Movie--1993)--Arthur Sistrunk Bob Roberts (1992)--Bugs Raplin Malcolm X (1992)--Thomas Hayer Night on Earth (1991)--YoYo Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)--Jimmy Jiles Mo' Better Blues (1990)--Left Hand Lacey King of New York (1990)--Lance Do the Right Thing (1989)--Buggin' Out School Daze (1988)--Julian Heartbeat (1987)--Gang Member #1 Sweet Lorraine (1987)--Howie "Leg Work" (1987)--Tyson (TV guest appearance) "Spenser: For Hire" (1987)--Ramos (TV guest appearance) Roanoak (TV Movie--1986)--???? Maximum Overdrive (1986)--Videoplayer Rockabye (TV Movie--1986)--Marcus Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)--Street Vendor Finnegan Begin Again (TV Movie--1985)--Intruder "Miami Vice" (1985)--Adonis Jackson (TV guest appearance) The Cotton Club (1984)--Bumpy Hood Go Tell It On the Mountain (TV Movie--1984)--Elisha "Miami Vice" (1984)--Luther (TV guest appearance) Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1983)--Julio Trading Places (1983)--Cellmate #2 Taps (1981)--J.C. Pierce The Gentleman Bandit (TV Movie--1981)--Jamie Running (1979)--Puerto Rican Teenager |
OTHER GIANCARLO ESPOSITO WEBSITES Uh-oh! Anybody out there interested in creating the first Giancarlo Esposito website in existence? |
Giancarlo off-screen |
Homicide: Life on the Streets |
The Usual Suspects |
Monkey Bone |