Born in Rome, Sbragia graduated at the Silvio d’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1947, and debuted on stage at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan, with the theatrical company of Giorgio Strehler.

[1][2] He debuted as a playwright in 1953 with the play Le veglie inutili, and in 1956 he debuted as a stage director with the drama Ricorda con rabbia.

[1][2] Between 1958 and 1959 he worked with the theatrical company of Michelangelo Antonioni and Luca Ronconi, and in 1960 he was co-founder, together with Enrico Maria Salerno and Ivo Garrani, of the stage company "Attori Associati".

[1][2] Sbragia was first married to the actress Princess Esmeralda Ruspoli.

[4] Media related to Giancarlo Sbragia at Wikimedia Commons