He is half African American, half Italian. His mother was an opera singer, and his father was a stagehand and carpenter from Naples, Italy.
His mother was doing a nightclub gig on a split bill with Josephine Baker in Copenhagen, Denmark, around the time he was born.
Is a member of the Atlantic Theater Ensemble, the theater company started by David Mamet and William H. Macy.
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 in Westchester County, New York.
Two children, with McManigal, Shayne (b. 1997) and Kale (b. 1998)
Was a member of the dramatic jury at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.
Won two Obie Awards for his performances in "Distant Fires" and "Zooman and the Sign.".