---
name: "David Costabile"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-costabile"
fi1m_id: "david-costabile"
imdb_id: "nm0182345"
tmdb_id: 82167
wikidata_id: "Q2680038"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "9 January 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-09-20T07:43:38.567800+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Costabile

## Identity

David Costabile

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-costabile
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-costabile
- **IMDb ID:** nm0182345
- **TMDB ID:** 82167
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2680038
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Costabile, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2680038, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182345/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/82167

Actor. Born 9 January 1967 in Washington, D.C., USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 9 January 1967, Washington, D.C., USA
- **Active:** 2000–2017
- **Also known as:** 大衛·哥斯塔比爾, دیوید کاستابیل
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 72 (3), 2010s 76 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 70 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Crime 3, Comedy 2, History 2, Action & Adventure 1, Family 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $864m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Costabile, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2680038, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182345/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/82167

## Coming up

- *Hershey* (2026-11-25), as Tobias Thornhill

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Flight of the Conchords*](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md) (84)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Side Effects*](https://film.one/film/side-effects.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Costabile

> David Costabile makes supporting characters distinct in body and voice. We rate his precision, and his willingness to look ineffectual; the reservation is that smaller parts do not always give us enough time with him.

David Costabile’s Doug is the hapless husband of an obsessive fan in *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), a promising position for an actor willing to look ineffectual. Doug gives us someone whose predicament is already funny, without needing to be the centre of the programme. We laughed at the songs because they made Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement’s deadpan performances funnier still. Costabile fits the comedy’s modest scale, though the ordinary plots sometimes leave too much waiting between numbers.

His television work became more prominent through a succession of professional men: Thomas Klebanow, the Baltimore Sun’s managing editor, in *The Wire* (2008), then chemist Gale Boetticher in *Breaking Bad* from 2010 to 2011. Gale brought wider recognition, and Costabile returned to the part in Vince Gilligan’s *Better Call Saul*. The mild-mannered chemist is a useful example of his care with body and voice. We rate that precision, which gives a supporting character something more particular than a job to do in the plot.

In Steven Soderbergh’s *Side Effects* (2013), he plays Carl, but this is a less useful starting point for watching Costabile at work. Rooney Mara is the remarkable presence in a thriller we like with reservations. Its first hour takes depression seriously; the later potboiler is efficiently built but cares less about the pills than the opening suggests. It is worth an evening for the pharmaceutical intrigue, though we would not choose it chiefly for Costabile.

*Billions* (2016–2023) gave him a main role as Mike ‘Wags’ Wagner, Axe Capital’s chief operating officer, after years of recurring appearances elsewhere. That is a welcome expansion of the opportunities for an actor so often employed in somebody else’s story. There is a limit to how much we can learn from the smaller parts, however precisely he distinguishes them. Start with Doug if dry comedy is the attraction; choose Wags if the wish is to spend longer with him.

## Biography

David Costabile is an American actor. He was born on 9 January 1967 in Washington, D.C., and studied at Tufts University before earning an MFA from New York University in 1998.

He is known for recurring television roles such as Gale Boetticher in *Breaking Bad* (2008–2013) and *Better Call Saul* (2015), Mike "Wags" Wagner in *Billions*, Daniel Hardman in *Suits* (2011), and appearances in *The Wire* and *Damages*. Film credits include *Side Effects* (2013) as Carl, *Lincoln* (2012) as James Ashley, *The Post* (2017) as Art Buchwald, and *13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi* (2016).

Costabile has also worked in Broadway theatre, including originating roles in productions by Tony Kushner.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *The Post* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Art Buchwald — [page](https://film.one/film/the-post.md)
- *Side Effects* (2013), Fi1m 70, as Carl — [page](https://film.one/film/side-effects.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), Fi1m 82, as James Ashley — [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Person of Interest* (2011), Fi1m 78, as Samuel Gates — [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Damages* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Detective Rick Messer — [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Doug — [page](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md)
- *How the Grinch Stole Christmas* (2000), Fi1m 54, as Biker Who — [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas.md)

## Complete filmography (59)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Hershey* (2026), as Tobias Thornhill
- *Suits LA* (2025), series, as Daniel Hardman
- *Snack Shack* (2024), as Judge
- *Tracker* (2024), series, as Felton
- *Obliterated* (2023), series, as Maddox
- *Waco: The Aftermath* (2023), series, as Judge Walter Smith
- *Interview with the Vampire* (2022), series, as Leonard Michael
- *Incomplete* (2022), as Officer Schwarts
- *FBI: International* (2021), series, as Ray Lockhart
- *Soulmates* (2020), series, as David Maddox
- *Little Birds* (2020), series, as Grant Savage
- *The Gene: An Intimate History* (2020), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *The Turner Exhibit* (2019), as Alex Turner
- *The Dirt* (2019), as Doc McGhee
- *The Post* (2017), as Art Buchwald — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-post.md)
- *Billions* (2016), series, as Michael 'Wags' Wagner · Director
- *13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi* (2016), as Bob
- *Chicago Med* (2015), series, as James Frost
- *Better Call Saul* (2015), series, as Gale Boetticher — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/better-call-saul.md)
- *Foreclosure* (2014), as Neurologist
- *Runner Runner* (2013), as Professor Hornstein
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Dr. Linus Creel — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Low Winter Sun* (2013), series, as Simon Boyd
- *Somewhere Slow* (2013), as Robert Thompson
- *Side Effects* (2013), as Carl — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/side-effects.md)
- *Ripper Street* (2012), series, as Daniel Judge — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/ripper-street.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), as James Ashley — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Danilo Gura
- *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Samuel Gates — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Unforgettable* (2011), series, as Dr. McCardle
- *Suits* (2011), series, as Daniel Hardman
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, as Richard Tafflinger
- *The Bounty Hunter* (2010), as Arthur
- *Henry's Crime* (2010), as Arnold
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Zachary Hines — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Solitary Man* (2009), as Gary Porter
- *Afterschool* (2009), as Mr. Anderson
- *Lie to Me* (2009), series, as Dr. Mitch Grandon
- *Notorious* (2009), as Mr. Webber
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), series, as Gale Boetticher — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Damages* (2007), series, as Bearded Man, Detective Rick Messer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), series, as Doug — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md)
- *Prime* (2005), as Jason
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Mr. Braddock
- *The Office* (2005), series, as Eric Ward — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Robot Chicken* (2005), series, as Itzhak stern/gandalf the grey
- *House* (2004), series, as Phil — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Without a Trace* (2002), series, as Scott Asher
- *The Wire* (2002), series, as Thomas Klebanow — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wire.md)
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Professor Roth
- *How the Grinch Stole Christmas* (2000), as Biker Who — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas.md)
- *Isn't She Great* (2000), as Junior Editor
- *Cradle Will Rock* (1999), as Federal Theatre - Beaver Man
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Bruce Clarkson
- *The Siege* (1998), as Fingerprint Expert
- *Will & Grace* (1998), series, as Man
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Glen Dolan — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *The Roman*, series, as Bill Saverick
- *The Underneath: In Fortune's Shadow*, as Mr. Gross

## Gallery

- ![David Costabile](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-7c8e13b2a947.jpg) David Costabile — chrisjortiz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/David_Costabile.jpg/1280px-David_Costabile.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![American actor David Costabile at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-4bad1baa2e88.jpg) American actor David Costabile at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. — chrisjortiz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/David_Costabile_%28cropped_v2%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![American actor David Costabile at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-f548cc397739.jpg) American actor David Costabile at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. — chrisjortiz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/David_Costabile_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- !["Dig", 2014 US television show, panel - writer Carol Barbee, co-creator Gideon Raff, producer Richard Rothstein, co-creator Tim Kring, director S.J. Clarkson, D](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-f674baa3dbac.jpg) "Dig", 2014 US television show, panel - writer Carol Barbee, co-creator Gideon Raff, producer Richard Rothstein, co-creator Tim Kring, director S.J. Clarkson, D — chrisjortiz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Dig_Panel_at_Comic-Con_2014.jpg/1280px-Dig_Panel_at_Comic-Con_2014.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Costabile](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-5c27089c9b1f.jpg) David Costabile — Image via TMDB
- ![David Costabile](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-611e49b97e74.jpg) David Costabile — Image via TMDB
- ![David Costabile](https://film.one/media/person/9401/gallery-f33c74fae481.jpg) David Costabile — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-costabile