 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".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".Between the 1960s and the 1970s Sbragia was also very active on television series, notably playing Napoleon in the successful drama series "I grandi camaleonti".