He may be best known as one of TV’s most chilling villains in “Breaking Bad,” but off-screen, Giancarlo Esposito is a devoted father and longtime Hollywood favorite. Esposito turned heads as he walked the red carpet for the New York premiere of Spike Lee’s upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowest”, which opens on August 15.
Esposito Shows Off Fresh Look While Supporting Spike Lee’s Latest Project
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)The 67-year-old star sported a black shirt under a black wool blazer paired with white slacks. He added bold, thick-framed glasses that changed up his familiar look, along with a longer silver hairstyle than usual.
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)While Esposito doesn’t appear in “Highest 2 Lowest”, he has collaborated with Lee before on Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X.
A Spike Lee & Denzel Washington Reunion
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at the August 11 premiere, Lee revealed that Highest 2 Lowest is a reimagining of the 1963 Akira Kurosawa film High and Low. Written by Alan Fox, the project stars Denzel Washington as David King.
Washington, who brought the script to Lee, said, “The material came to me first. When I read it, I said, ‘This is so New York.’ I called Spike immediately.” Lee noted that Washington had secured the rights before reaching out, adding, “I read it right away. Called him up. I think the next day, I said, ‘Let’s go.’”
The film marks Lee and Washington’s first collaboration since 2006’s “Inside Man”.
Life Beyond Villain Roles
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)The Emmy-nominated actor shares four daughters, Shayne, Kale, Syr, and Ruby, with ex-wife Joy McManigal. The couple divorced in 2015 but remain on good terms.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)In an April 2024 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Esposito praised McManigal, calling her “Mama Joy” and saying, “She has shown up for them and has really been the one, in so many ways, we’ve raised them together.”
Staying Connected as a Father
Esposito also opened up about the strong bond he shares with his daughters, explaining that it comes from mutual honesty and growth. “I realized I was still looking at them as if they were 3, 4, 5 years old,” he said. “I started to listen to who they really are … and I’m not afraid to show them who I really am. And who I have been in my life.”
The actor’s rare public appearance not only gave fans a glimpse of his new look but also highlighted his continued connection to both his craft and his family.
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PHOTOS: Iconic ‘Breaking Bad’ Star, 67, Debuts Stylish New Look