History Creator / GiancarloEsposito

** The corpo Faraday in ''Anime/CyberpunkEdgerunners'' is a fixer who hands out jobs to various gangs across Night City who are willing to make some cash, but everything he does is to climb his way up the corporate ladder. He's as much of a greedy backstabbing BigBad as you would expect in a series that hammers home the troubles of runaway capitalism.

He is active in film and television since the age of six. He's been seen in films such as ''Film/DoTheRightThing, Film/TheUsualSuspects, Film/MalcolmX, Film/MaximumOverdrive, Film/TradingPlaces'' and ''Film/KingOfNewYork''. He is also a familar face on television with regular and recurring roles on ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet, Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''Series/{{Revolution}}'', and in 2019 joined the ''Franchise/StarWars'' franchise as former Imperial Security Bureau Moff Gideon on ''Series/TheMandalorian''. He is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Chilean-American drug kingpin [[Characters/BreakingBadGustavoFring Gustavo 'Gus' Fring]] on the hit series ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''Series/BetterCallSaul''.

* 2024: ''Film/{{Maxxxine}}''

He is active in film and television since the age of six. He's been seen in films such as ''Film/DoTheRightThing, Film/TheUsualSuspects, Film/MalcolmX, Film/MaximumOverdrive, Film/TradingPlaces'' and ''Film/KingOfNewYork''. He is also a familar face on television with regular and recurring roles on ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet, Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''Series/{{Revolution}}''. He is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Chilean-American drug kingpin [[Characters/BreakingBadGustavoFring Gustavo 'Gus' Fring]] on the hit series ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''Series/BetterCallSaul''.

* PlayingAgainstType: Baxter Stockman in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMutantMayhem''. While Stockman in most adaptations is a villainous MadScientist, and the Stockman in ''Mutant Mayhem'' is indirectly responsible for the main villains of the movie, he is [[AdaptationalHeroism more or less a good person]], as well as less physically imposing or dominating than Esposito's usual roles.

** A variant in ''{{Film/Okja}}'': he's an intelligent and suave CorruptCorporateExecutive, but as TheDragon to Nancy Mirando, quietly working against her sister [[ALighterShadeofBlack Lucy]].

[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/220px-Giancarlo_Esposito_2012_cropped_9779.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:220:[[Series/BreakingBad He hides in plain sight, just like you.]]]]

Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (born April 26, 1958) is an American[[note]]albeit born in UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}[[/note]] actor of part Italian, part African-American descent active in film and television since the age of six. He's been seen in films such as ''Film/DoTheRightThing, Film/TheUsualSuspects, Film/MalcolmX, Film/MaximumOverdrive, Film/TradingPlaces'' and ''Film/KingOfNewYork''. He is also a familar face on television with regular and recurring roles on ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet, Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''Series/{{Revolution}}''. He is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Chilean-American drug kingpin [[Characters/BreakingBadGustavoFring Gustavo 'Gus' Fring]] on the hit series ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''Series/BetterCallSaul''. He has four daughters with his ex-wife, Joy [=McManigal=].

Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (born April 26, 1958) is an American[[note]]albeit born in UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}[[/note]] actor of part Italian, part African-American descent active in film and television since the age of six. He's been seen in films such as ''Film/DoTheRightThing, Film/TheUsualSuspects, Film/MalcolmX, Film/MaximumOverdrive, Film/TradingPlaces'' and ''Film/KingOfNewYork''. He is also a familar face on television with regular and recurring roles on ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet, Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''Series/{{Revolution}}''. He is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Chilean-American drug kingpin Gustavo 'Gus' Fring on the hit series ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''Series/BetterCallSaul''. He has four daughters with his ex-wife, Joy [=McManigal=].

** Giancarlo voices ComicBook/LexLuthor in ''WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019'', though unlike the other roles above, he's more AffablyEvil with a cool demeanor, rather than outright calm and calculating at all times.

** In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'', he voices the Phantom Blot.

* 2016 ''Film/TheJungleBook2016'' as Akela

* 2019–present ''Series/TheBoys2019'' as Stan Edgar

* 2019 ''WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019'' as ComicBook/LexLuthor
* 2020 ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' as The Phantom Blot

** The corpo Faraday in ''Anime/CyberpunkEdgerunners'' is a fixer who hands out jobs to various gangs across Night City who are willing to make some cash, but everything he does is to climb his way up the corporate ladder. He's as much of a greedy backstabbing BigBad as you would expect in a series that hammers home the troubles of runaway capitalism.
** In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMutantMayhem'', he voices scientist Baxter Stockman.

** Definitely plays an evil live-action {{Expy}} of Lex Luthor in ''Series/TheBoys2019'', who can intimidate the Superman expy and his superteam like children.

** The corpo Faraday in ''Anime/CyberpunkEdgerunners'' is a fixer who hands out jobs to various gangs across Night City who are willing to make some cash, but everything he does is to climb his way up the corporate ladder. He's as much of a greedy backstabbing BigBad as you would expect in a series that hammers home the troubles of runaway capitalism.

Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (born April 26, 1958) is an American[[note]]albeit born in UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}[[/note]] actor of part Italian, part African-American descent active in film and television since the age of six. He's been seen in films such as ''Film/DoTheRightThing, Film/TheUsualSuspects, Film/MalcolmX, Film/MaximumOverdrive, Film/TradingPlaces'' and ''Film/KingOfNewYork''. He is also a familar face on television with regular and recurring roles on ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet, Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''{{Revolution}}''. He is perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Chilean-American drug kingpin Gustavo 'Gus' Fring on the hit series ''Series/BreakingBad'' and ''Series/BetterCallSaul''. He has four daughters with his ex-wife, Joy [=McManigal=].

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Esposito plays some the most ruthless and memorable villains in modern media, but he's a genuinely nice person, and an {{Otaku}} in his own right [[JustForFun/OneOfUs who fully embraces the pop culture scene.]]

* 2023 ''Series/{{Kaleidoscope}}'' as Leo Pap

* IronyAsSheIsCast: Esposito, who is Italian-American, plays characters in ''Film/DoTheRightThing'' and ''Series/GodfatherOfHarlem'' who are incredibly hostile towards Italians.
* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Esposito plays some the most ruthless and memorable villains in modern media, but he's a genuinely nice person, and an {{Otaku}} in his own right who fully embraces the pop culture scene.
* PlaysGreatEthnics: His earlier roles has him usually playing black guys, while his later ones (especially after ''Series/BreakingBad'') are usually Hispanic. He is Black and Italian.

** A variant in ''{{Film/Okja}}'': he's an intelligent and suave CorruptCorporateExecutive, but as TheDragon to Nancy Mirando, quietly working against her sister [[ALighterShadeofBlack Lucy]].

* 1996-2005 ''Series/LawAndOrder'' as Mr. Baylor and Rodney Fallon

* 2019-present ''Series/TheBoys2019'' as Stan Edgar

* 2019 ''Series/TheBoys2019'' as Stan Edgar

** Definitely plays an evil live-action {{Expy}} of Lex Luthor in ''Series/TheBoys'', who can intimidate the Superman expy and his superteam like children.

* StarMakingRole: His role as Gustavo Fring, the terrifyingly cold and efficient leader of a drug smuggling operation from ''Series/BreakingBad'' more or less made him a household name, and has reappeared in similar roles since.

* TheStoic: His intense, ominous, blank stare is famous for being able to terrify other characters and the audience. It's practically his signature move (one ''Far Cry 6'' used in its advertising).

** ''Series/TheMandalorian'' has him basically playing Gus Fring as an {{Expy}} of [[Film/ANewHope Grand Moff Tarkin]], with a little Darth Vader thrown in for good measure.

* [[Characters/BreakingBadUniverseGustavoFring Gustavo "Gus" Fring]]