Giancarlo Esposito is an American actor and director. He has played Gustavo "Gus" Fring on the AMC shows Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, a role for which he won the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama award at the 2012 Critics' Choice Television Awards and was nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award at the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards.
He has appeared in Spike Lee films such as Do the Right Thing, School Daze, and Mo' Better Blues. His other film appearances include Fresh, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, The Usual Suspects, and King of New York. He has portrayed Sidney Glass/the Magic Mirror on ABC's Once Upon a Time and Major Tom Neville in the NBC series Revolution. He has had roles in two Netflix original series: The Get Down, wherein he portrays Pastor Ramon Cruz, and Dear White People, which he narrates.
Chazz has appeared in over 50 films and is best known for his performances in A BRONX TALE, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, MULHOLLAND FALLS, DIABOLIQUE, RUNNING SCARED, and his Academy Award nominated role for Best Supporting Actor in Woody Allen’s smash hit BULLETS OVER BROADWAY.
Chazz wrote the acclaimed one-man show, A BRONX TALE, which depicted his bruising childhood in great detail. Three years later, he wrote the screenplay and Robert DeNiro took it to the silver screen. A BRONX TALE, featuring Palminteri starring opposite DeNiro, was a critical and commercial success. And he later teamed up again with DeNiro in the hit ANALYZE THIS.
On television, Mr. Palminteri has starred in a number of high profile roles, including USA Network series KOJAK, TNT’s BOSS OF BOSSES, and RIZZOLI & ISLES. Most recently, Mr. Palminteri can be seen on the award-winning television series, MODERN FAMILY, as Shorty.
Mr. Palminteri has directed several projects including an episode of OZ for HBO and the made for TV movie, WOMEN VS. MEN for Showtime starring Joe Montegna and Christine Lahti. He also directed the Feature Film, NOEL, starring Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz and Paul Walker.
