Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Giancarlo Esposito experienced a profound life change with his breakthrough role in Breaking Bad, after considering drastic measures due to financial struggles.
While his name might not immediately ring a bell, Giancarlo Esposito has become a recognizable face across games, films, and television series.
Prior to his roles in The Boys, Abigail, or The Mandalorian, Esposito became well-known for his portrayal of Gus Fring in the acclaimed series Breaking Bad.
Before joining the cast of the AMC show, Esposito was facing significant financial difficulties.
In an interview on the Jim and Sam Show earlier this year in April, the actor shared insights into his life before Breaking Bad.
Esposito recounted his challenges as an ‘everyman’, mentioning that his accountant once informed him he had roughly ‘eight months’ before facing bankruptcy.
At his lowest in 2008, following a foreclosure, Esposito contemplated ending his life to secure a life insurance payout for his family.
Explaining his search for a ‘way out’ of financial distress, Esposito shared: “The first thing that had me think there was a way out, was my wife’s father — God rest his soul — Pops McManigal was in insurance.”
“I asked [my ex-wife], I started poking around [asking], ‘How much am I insured for?’ And then she told me.
“My way out, in my brain, was, I said, ‘Hey, do you get life insurance, if someone commits suicide, do they get the bread?’ And my wife said, ‘Well, that’s kind of tricky’.”
As a result, Esposito began devising a plan to have someone kill him.
“If I got somebody to knock me off, death through misadventure, they would get the insurance,” he said. “I had four kids. I wanted them to have a life. It was a hard moment in time.
“I literally thought of self-annihilation so that they could survive. That’s how low I was.”
However, upon further reflection, Esposito recognized the emotional pain his death would cause his family.
He continued: “I started to think, that’s not viable because the pain I would cause them would be lifelong, and lifelong trauma that would just extend the generational trauma with which I’m trying to move away from.
“The light at the end of the tunnel was Breaking Bad. I had a few little things before to start to recover, but Breaking Bad was the light.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741