This Breaking Bad Actor Nearly Planned His Own Murder — Then Came The Role That Changed Everything

Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad, starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in the lead roles, is often hailed as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. The iconic crime drama has won sixteen Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, among numerous other accolades. But behind the scenes lies a story that’s just as dramatic and shocking. One of the show’s key actors was in such a severe financial crisis that he once reportedly considered arranging his own murder. And no, we are not talking about Bryan Cranston or Aaron Paul. Read on to find out which actor it was and what role he played in Breaking Bad.

The Breaking Bad Actor Who Considered Arranging His Own Murder

That actor was Giancarlo Esposito. According to a report by Variety, the Emmy-nominated star revealed on an earlier episode of SiriusXM’s Jim & Sam show that he was so broke before landing his role in Breaking Bad that he once considered arranging his own death. The idea came from the hope that his children could claim the life insurance money and live a financially secure life. Eventually, he decided against it when he thought of the lifelong trauma his death would cause his family. You can watch the interview here.

This happened in 2008, a year before the premiere of Breaking Bad Season 2, which introduced the character of Gus Fring. Giancarlo Esposito’s brilliant portrayal of the calm and calculating Gus Fring made the character one of the most iconic villains in the history of television. Later, he reprised his role in the Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, and eventually starred in other popular shows like The Mandalorian, The Boys, and Poker Face, among others.