‘Billions’ star David Costabile on how he takes care of Wags’ mustache

David
Costabile as Mike “Wags” Wagner on “Billion”
Showtime

• David Costabile, who plays Mike “Wags” Wagner on
  Showtime’s “Billions,” revealed to Business Insider how he
  takes care of Wags’ signature twisty mustache.
• “There’s a double dose of waxing a day,” Costabile said
  — and he does it all himself.
• “It’s got to be Wags length,” he added.
• He also revealed the fan reaction after the first
  season aired when he knew that “Billions” would be a
  hit.

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Mike “Wags” Wagner, the loud-mouthed COO of Axe Capital on
Showtime’s “Billions,” has one of the best mustaches on TV, and
it’s especially known for its curl.

The actor behind Wags, David Costabile, revealed to Business
Insider that to get the perfect “Wags mustache,” it involves a
lot of waxing.

“For the twisty mustache, there’s
a double dose of waxing a day,” Costabile told Business Insider
while promoting his cameo on this week’s “Better Call
Saul.” “There’s a wax in the morning and a wax throughout the
rest of the day. Two separate waxes.”

And Costabile does it all
himself.

“
I’m in charge of the ‘stache and the goatee,”
Costabile said. “They’re precisely measured and calibrated. Can’t
go too far, can’t go too small. It’s got to be Wags
length.”

“Billions” wrapped up its third
season in June, and Showtime has already renewed it for a fourth
season. It follows U.S. attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti),
who turns his sights on the arrogant Wall Street billionaire
David Axelrod (Damien Lewis), who he suspects of insider trading
and bribery. Wags is Axelrod’s right-hand man at Axelrod’s New
York-based hedge fund, Axe Capital.

When asked how often “Billions”
fans approach him in New York City, Costabile said it happens a
lot on Wall Street and at Grand Central. But there’s one fan
reaction in particular that sticks out in his mind. After the
first season had aired, Costabile said that a garbage man in his
neighborhood shouted enthusiastically at him. 

“
A guy collecting garbage was driving by in my
neighborhood and he leaned out and yelled, ‘Yo, I love your
f—ing show, you’re the best f—ing character on TV!'”
Costabile said. “At that point I was like, ‘Wow we’ve got a hit.
When this guy is screaming out at Wags, that’s when you
know.'”