Working on stage and screen, Giancarlo Esposito emerged from the indie-film movement of the 1990s to become one of his generation's most respected actors. Raised in Europe by his theatrical, ethnically diverse parents, Esposito was brought to New York at the age of six and first performed on Broadway two years later. More lauded work in various stage productions soon made way for the young Obie Award-winning actor's growing list of film credits, most notably a series of collaborations with filmmaker Spike Lee that began with "School Daze" (1988) and "Do the Right Thing" (1989). Throughout the 1990s, Esposito was an in-demand performer with other independently-minded filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch in "Night on Earth" (1991) and actor-director Tim Robbins for a prominent role in "Bob Roberts" (1992). Looking to distance himself from the street thug roles he was most frequently offered, Esposito became just as well known for portrayals of law enforcement officers in such projects as "The Usual Suspects" (1995) and "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC, 1993-99). Later, he lent his prodigious talents to a pair of insightful biopics with "Ali" (2001), opposite star Will Smith and "Piñero" (2001), alongside Benjamin Bratt. Nearly a decade later, the busy actor garnered some of the strongest notices of his career with his nuanced performance of Machiavellian drug kingpin Gus Fring on the acclaimed crime series "Breaking Bad" (AMC, 2008-2012). Equally adept at comedy or high drama, Esposito never failed to bring something unique to each and every role.