David Costabile

David Costabile is an American actor whose television work includes Gale Boetticher in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and Mike “Wags” Wagner in Billions.

Wags is an especially enjoyable change of register for anyone who knows Costabile as Gale. He gives Axe Capital's chief operating officer an appetite for excess and a cheerful lack of embarrassment. The performance can be broadly funny while still suggesting somebody who understands the business around him.

His recurring television roles also include Thomas Klebanow in The Wire, Detective Rick Messer in Damages and Daniel Hardman in Suits. Those characters make quite different uses of his ability to sound assured, bureaucratic or quietly obstructive.

Costabile's comedy work includes Doug in Flight of the Conchords and a guest appearance as Eric Ward in The Office. His films include Lincoln, in which he played James Ashley, and The Dirt, where he played music manager Doc McGhee.

Read the Billions review for more on Wags and the ensemble around Axe.