Biography
Julio Cesar Rocha, one of Brazil's most acclaimed young actors, was born in Sao Paulo. He is the second son of Anna Maria and Eduardo Porto, an engineer. As a child, Julio was highly active and curious, participating in various sports and activities, including trumpet lessons and dedicating much time to his passion for soccer.
Julio faced a difficult challenge early in life when his older brother, Jose Eduardo, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.
Despite his condition, their parents endeavored to make Jose Eduardo's life joyful, and Julio was determined to support his brother in any way he could. At age nine, Julio volunteered for research led by molecular biologist Mayana Zatz, hoping to find a cure for Jose Eduardo’s disease. Sadly, Jose Eduardo passed away in 1992 at just sixteen. Though devastated, the family persevered. Julio has since collaborated with Mayana Zatz to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy. Though gone, Jose Eduardo remains deeply cherished by the family, inspiring them to live better lives.
Julio’s acting journey began when the principal of his elementary school, impressed by his performance in the play "Our Life in Family," encouraged his parents to enroll him at a performing arts high school. Julio was accepted into the prestigious Celia Helena High School in Sao Paulo, where his talent flourished. There, he freely expressed himself and took part in numerous productions, honing his craft while completing his education.
His career was further refined by Raul Cortez, a renowned Brazilian actor who visited Celia Helena and mentored Julio as he began his professional path.
After graduation, Julio took on various stage roles in Sao Paulo and improved his comedic skills through stand-up performances at bars and clubs, facing some of Brazil’s toughest audiences. In 2000, Raul Cortez returned to guide Julio when he invited him to audition for the role of the King of France in Shakespeare’s "King Lear." The successful audition opened doors to more significant roles and productions. Having established himself on stage, Julio turned to Brazil’s vast television industry. In 2003, he was named Best Stand-Up Comedian of the Year by Terca Insana (Crazy Tuesday Project). That year also saw him appear in national commercials for major brands like Mitsubishi, Ford, Honda, and Mastercard, along with modeling work and public appearances.
In 2006, Julio landed small roles in the popular mini-series "Bang Bang" and "A Diarista" (Housekeeper). Shortly after, he was cast as the arrogant chef Wagner Alencar in the hit TV series "Paraiso Tropical" (Tropical Paradise). The following year, he secured a major role as wealthy entrepreneur Leo in "Pe na Jaca," followed by a lead role in the successful series "Duas Caras" (Two Faces), earning a nomination for Most Promising Actor in 2007. Within a year, Julio had become one of Brazil’s top TV actors, amassing millions of fans. The finale of "Duas Caras" attracted over 100 million viewers, one of the largest audiences in Brazilian television history.
Since then, Julio has maintained a busy schedule, starring in series such as "Casos e Acasos" (Cases and Coincidences), "Guerra e Paz" (War and Peace), "Faca sua Historia" (Make Your History) as the humorous taxi driver Jackson, and "Caras & Bocas" (Faces and Mouths) as Edgar, a scheming art dealer and ladies' man. He has also found time to write and produce two plays: "A prima de Susan Boyle" (Susan Boyle's Cousin) and "Jezebel," the latter still in production as of 2010.
Julio splits his time between his homes in Sao Paulo and New York City, where he pursues theater work and independent film projects.
