RIYADH (Dispatches) – American actor Giancarlo Esposito, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Gus Fring in the television series Breaking Bad, has embraced Islam during his stay in Saudi Arabia, according to the head of the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority.
Turki al-Sheikh said Esposito recited the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, and joined members of his production team in prayer at a mosque while filming the major production “Seven Dogs” in the Kingdom. 
According to al-Sheikh, the actor’s decision followed positive experiences and his interactions with Muslims while working on the production. Esposito reportedly expressed appreciation for the community and hospitality he encountered during filming.
A video shared on social media showed Esposito praying alongside members of the production team inside a mosque.
Esposito, who has enjoyed a decades-long career in film and television, is also known for his performances in Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian, and The Boys. His portrayal of the stoic, calculating drug lord Gus Fring earned him international acclaim and multiple award nominations.
The actor joins a growing list of celebrities who have embraced Islam, including Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali, comedian Dave Chappelle, rapper Ice Cube, and music legend Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens).
Esposito’s conversion comes amid broader trends of rising interest in Islam in the West, according to recent studies and demographic data.
According to Imam Shamsi Ali, a prominent American Islamic figure, the U.S. Muslim population has reached 10 to 15 million – more than double official government figures, which estimate between 5 and 7 million. 
“Currently, approximately 20% to 25% of Muslims in the United States are converts,” Shamsi Ali said. He noted that while converts were initially predominantly African-American and Latino, “the wave of conversions has also begun to come from a group previously rarely associated with Islam: white Americans”. 
Research from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding confirms that one in five American Muslims was not raised in the faith.
In the United Kingdom, a study by the London-based Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life found a sharp surge in conversions to Islam following the Gaza war and increased international conflicts. 
The study polled 2,774 British citizens who had adopted a new religion or renounced organized faith, with 20% citing the impact of global conflicts as a factor in their conversion. Researchers noted that themes of justice, patience, compassion, and resilience — highlighted during the Gaza war — drew many toward Islam.
Officials at the East London Mosque, one of Europe’s largest Islamic centers, confirmed that dozens of non-Muslim visitors come daily seeking information about Islam. “Interest has grown substantially in the last two years,” an official said.
“Seven Dogs,” in which Esposito is starring, represents one of Saudi Arabia’s largest film productions to date as the Kingdom expands its entertainment sector and seeks to attract international talent.