My advice for achieving success is to make a career choice that reflects your passion. Then work your craft a little bit each day-even if someone's not paying you to do It. Try to balance your social life with your educational (or professional) life, and have patience.
Accumulating money has never been a real goal for me. Rather, I think about how to make every moment of my life mean something. What's been my barometer for success is my creative and spiritual growth - I measure my success by the quality of my work. Last year I sat down and re-examined things. I asked myself if I wanted to do anything and everything just to get a lot of money. I decided I'd rather work and collaborate with people at the top of their craft. And my dream has come true. This year I'm doing a picture with four Academy Award winners: Director Robert Benton, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, and Paul Newman." - 1997
I started in the acting business at age 8, so I feel it's my experience and social skills for example, how to be charismatic, how not to lose your temper - that have helped me the most to succeed. But I did develop a plan: I wanted to work with good people who had a passion for what they did. Still, at age 17, I made the decision to study the technical part of the business as well. I got a two year degree in radio and television communication at Elizabeth Seton College in Yonkers, New York. I figured if I never made It as an actor, I could go to Alaska, be a cameraman, and collect a paycheck. It would be something to fall back on, but something I still enjoyed.
I first felt successful when I was 13 and in a show called Seesaw. I came offstage and heard the applause of the theater audience and felt a sense of accomplishment. Around that time my role model for success was Burt Lancaster. He was one of the first actors In Hollywood to start his own production company, and I respected him because he created something he believed in. Nowadays I look to spiritual people, such as Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama, since I'm always asking myself, 'What do I have to give?'
He is half African-American, half Italian. His mother was an opera singer, and his father was a stagehand/carpenter from Naples, Italy.
His mother was doing a nightclub gig on a split bill with Josephine Baker in Copenhagen around the time he was born.
Lived in Europe, New York City, and Cleveland until he, his older brother, Vincent, and their parents moved Manhattan when Giancarlo was six. During the boys' teens, the family lived in Elmsford (Westchester County), New York.
Two children, with McManigal, Shayne (b. 1997) and Kale (b. 1998)
Is a member of the Atlantic Theater Ensemble. Atlantic Theater is the theater company started by David Mamet and William H. Macy.
He has won two Obie Awards for his performances in Distant Fires and Zooman and the Sign.
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.
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