After being rejected by Antunes Filho, at age 18, he moved to Belgium and lived with his cousin. During one year he worked as a crooner in night clubs of Bruxelles (during weekdays) and in Paris (in weekends). Every week he made a one hour trip by TGV, the French high speed train.
During one year he studied theater in São Paulo under the renowned director Antunes Filho. Before the opening of a play, Antunes considered him "not ready yet", which made him depressed.
He has a Brazilian-Belgian heritage.
Lost his mother as a young child and went to live with his Belgian grandparents at a small farm in Atibaia, São Paulo, where he grew up. His grandfather, also a cabinet-maker, used to sing opera while working.