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Giancarlo Esposito Biography

Birth Name:Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito

Birth Place:Copenhagen, Denmark

Profession Actor, Producer, Director, Soundtrack, Music department

Fast Facts

  • Received an Obie Award for his performance in "Zooman and the Sign․"
  • Was a member of the Sundance Film Festival's dramatic jury in 1997
  • Was drawn to the stage at a young age and made his Broadway debut at the age of eight in "Maggie Flynn․"
  • Quote: "Accumulating money has never been a real goal for me․ Rather, I think about how to make every moment of my life mean something․"
  • Quote: "My advice for achieving success is to make a career choice that reflects your passion․"
  • Frequently takes on the role of a villain or characters who are entangled in crime
  • Is a member of the Atlantic Theater Ensemble, a company started by William H․ Macy and David Mamet
  • Was born to a mother who performed in a nightclub alongside legendary entertainer Josephine Baker
  • Was one of the chorus children singing the theme song to the 1971 version of "The Electric Company․"
  • Lived in Europe until he was 6 years old and his family moved to Manhattan

Awards

  • 1995ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
  • 1995Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
  • 1995NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Jury Award-Seashell Best of Fest: winner
  • 2009Rosetta Miller Perry Award-: winner
  • 2011Saturn Award-Best Guest Performance in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2011IGN Award-Best TV Villain: winner
  • 2011IGN People's Choice Award-Best TV Villain: winner
  • 2011Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2013Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor on Television: nominated
  • 2013TV Guide Award-Favorite Villain: nominated
  • 2014CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
  • 2015BTVA Special/DVD Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: nominated
  • 2015BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Short: winner
  • 2017BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
  • 2019Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: winner
  • 2020Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Saturn Award-Best Guest Performance in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2021Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2021MTV Movie + TV Award-Best Villain: nominated
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2022Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2022Black Reel-Outstanding Directing, Drama Series: nominated
  • 2022HCA Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama: winner
  • 2022Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2023Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2023Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2023Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2023Image Award-Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2024Saturn Award-Best Guest Star in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2024Image Award-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025Razzie Award-Worst Screen Combo: nominated
  • 2026Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, or Movie): nominated
  • 2026Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated