A slew of steady stage work followed, and Esposito soon found his niche playing mostly black characters in the critically acclaimed films of Spike Lee, including School Daze (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990) and Malcolm X (1992).
Other notable feature film credits include supporting roles in Bob Roberts (1992), The Usual Suspects (1995), Ali (2001), Derailed (2005), Last Holiday (2006) and Sherrybaby (2006), in which he plays the title character's parole officer.
Feel the NoiseWhen a gang of thugs threatens the life of Harlem rapper Rob (Omarion Grandberry), he's sent to Puerto Rico to live with the father he's never known. Once there, he's introduced to the sound of reggaeton and forms a group with his half brother (Victor Rasuk) and a girl named C.C. (Zulay Henao).... Read More
FreshClever 12-year-old Fresh (Sean Nelson) runs drugs for local dealers to survive and support himself and his sister in this moving drama. Motherless and living with an alcoholic father (Samuel L. Jackson) who spends his days playing chess in the park, Fresh has to depend on himself. But when he... Read More
School DazeThrough the microcosm of campus life, director Spike Lee's offbeat comedy explores the biases, anxiety and frustration of black students at a faux university. Laurence Fishburne plays a devoted political activist, while his wanna-be frat-boy cousin (Lee) endures any degradation to pledge Gamma Phi.... Read More
Beyond the AshesJim Hersheider directs this poignant portrait of New Yorkers in a post-Sept. 11 world. Liz (Janeane Garofalo) has been a shut-in since she watched the planes fly by her window that fateful day, but street poet Karl (Giancarlo Esposito) is intent on drawing her out. Meanwhile, Judy (Nikki Hansen)... Read More
