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He left his hometown as a child, coming to the southeast, where, as a young adult, he had plans to become a diplomat by pursuing a law degree at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), during which period he also participated in amateur theater. in 1947, close to his graduation, he signed up for an audition for the role of 'Hamlet' and, despite many hopefuls, he was selected for the part. On January 6, 1948, at the age of 22, he debuted on stage, to great success. After only three weeks' work as a lawyer, Cardoso opted for the arts, starting one of the greatest careers in 20th century Brazilian theater history.
In 1949 he created, together with his fellow actors from his amateur days, the 'Teatro dos Doze', a theater company that would stage great classics, such as Carlo Goldoni's "Harlequin Servant of two Masters" (Il servitore di due padroni, 1745). In the same year, he joins another group, the 'Teatro Brasileiro de Comédia (TBC)', in São Paulo, where he achieves a new triumph in Jean-Paul Sartre's "No Exit" (Huis Clos, 1944).
in 1954, together with his wife, they founded the 'Nydia Licia-Sérgio Cardoso Company', presenting a national repertoire such as Rachel de Queiroz's "Lampião" (1953), and Ernani Fornari's "Sinhá Moça Chorou" (1941). The couple also buys the old 'Espéria' Cinema, which would be the company's headquarters. To refurbish the building, Cardoso agrees to appear in the new and incipient medium of television. In 1956, the brand-new stage is inaugurated as 'Teatro Bela Vista', (nowadays, the 'Sérgio Cardoso Theater'), with William Shakespeare's "Hamlet".
Starting in 1964, he appears on Tupi TV's telenovelas, playing heartthrob leading roles to great viewership approval, culminating with his performance on Antônio Maria (1968). In 1969, he moves Globo TV, where he would appear in his only performance shot in color (Meu Primeiro Baile (1972)). Later, on O Primeiro Amor (1972), after 200 episodes already produced, he died unexpectedly, prompting a special appearance of the whole cast, after his last recorded scene aired, with an emotional farewell message and introducing the new actor, who would play Cardoso's role for the remaining 28 episodes.
His death created great commotion in Brazil, and approximately twenty thousand people attended his funeral at São João Batista Cemetery in Rio de Janeiro.
