Giancarlo Esposito Is Father of 4 Daughters with His Ex Joy McManigal with Whom He Stayed ‘Dear Friends’

Giancarlo Esposito plays daring roles on TV and the silver screen, but his characters are distinct from the family man with four daughters and a cordial ex-wife. 

“Breaking Bad” star Giancarlo Esposito popularized the character of the formidable Gustavo Fring in the 2008 drama series. Although his perfect portrayal could earn him a few frowns from fans, his kids will surely beg to differ.

Away from TV and the boisterous nature of Hollywood, Giancarlo is the father of four young ladies, whom he shares with an ex-wife that remained a good pal after divorce. Here’s a quick look through his fatherhood ideals and what his daughters think of his villainous TV roles. 

Giancarlo Esposito is seen at “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on April 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

GIANCARLO SPEAKS OF HIS DAUGHTERS 

Once in an interview with AV Club, Giancarlo opened up about his role on ”Breaking Bad,” the dynamics of playing a drug kingpin, and how he relates to his real-life role as a father.  

The now-63-year-old actor talked about what it entailed to play Gustavo “Gus” Fring, as well as being able to slip away from the role when needed. Giancarlo also recalled how his daughters understood the difference between him and Gustavo. 

He narrated how one of the girls, named Ruby, once visited him on set and saw his glasses lying fallow. Giancarlo stated that he told her they did not belong to him after she pointed it out. The actor recalled saying:

“She looked at me quizzically, and then she understood. She knew they were mine, and I said, “No, they’re not mine, they’re Gus’ now.”

This was his explanation of how his daughters understood and separated his authentic self and villainous TV character. In the same vein, Giancarlo’s daughters appreciate his job and are often interested in learning some of the obscure interpretations. 

INSIDE GIANCARLO’S FAMILY 

Giancarlo shares the raising of his daughters with his former wife, Joy McManigal, and after separation, the two remained friends amid co-parenting. The actor has shared that his ex-wife was quite supportive, and she often watched “Breaking Bad” when it aired. 

He stated that she had been part of the influences that made him take the Gustavo Fring role. Giancarlo added that his family was his biggest cheerleaders, and his oldest daughter joined their mom in watching the show. 

ON FATHERHOOD

For the “Better Call Saul” actor, being a good dad entailed knowing when to remain silent. In a column for Men’s Health, the star elaborated on his ideology with a vivid story.

He recalled a time when his third child, Syr Lucia, asked his ex-wife to buy her a puppy for her 12th birthday.

Due to the amicable relationship between both parents, Giancarlo joined his family for dinner and was opportune to meet the new puppy, which caused some drama that night.

The actor explained that the dog was locked in a room, and it ended up chewing up the base of the door. Then, to show corrective measures, the star dad tried whipping the dog with a rolled newspaper.

Giancarlo noted that Syr was not happy with this as she pointed out that he did not raise her and her siblings in such a manner.

The “Do The Right Thing” star realized at that moment that he should have been calmer. This brought about the realization that a good dad could use some silence in sensitive situations. 

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