Richard Brancatisano

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Richard Brancatisano
Richard Brancatisano (8674144959) (cropped).jpg
Brancatisano at the Star Trek Into Darkness Australian premiere, 2013
Born
Richard Peter Brancatisano

(1983-10-29) 29 October 1983 (age 41)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Education The King's School, Parramatta
Theatre Nepean
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2002–present
Known for Power Rangers Mystic Force
The Elephant Princess
Home and Away
Underbelly: Razor

Richard Peter Brancatisano (born 29 October 1983), also known by his stage name Richie Branco, [1] is an Australian television actor and musician, best known for his roles as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force [2] and Dominic Russo on the ABC Family drama series, Chasing Life . [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Brancatisano was born in Sydney to a Calabrese-Italian father [4] and an Australian mother. His interest in the dramatic arts began at an early age, and he appeared in several musicals and plays at his high school, The King' School in Parramatta. [5]

He studied acting for three years at Sydney's Theatre Nepean. [4]

Career

Acting

Brancatisano played Corey in the 2005 season of Boyband: The Musical, staged by Ricochet Working Productions, which premiered at Sydney's Seymour Centre. It opened a return season in 2006, but he did not reprise the role. [6] He also performed in the theatre production Vin, as the lead character, Vin.

In 2006, he came to prominence portraying Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger in the children's series Power Rangers Mystic Force . [2]

He next appeared as Caleb in the second season of the international children's TV series The Elephant Princess [7] and as Prince Vittorio Secca in Home and Away . [3] He had previously appeared twice, in the latter series. [4] He had roles in Underbelly: Razor (the 2011 fourth season of anthology series Underbelly ), White Collar Blue [3] and Forensic Investigators . [7] He also played a doctor, Rick, on the adventure drama series Reef Doctors , alongside Lisa McCune. [8]

In 2013, Brancatisano secured his first American role in the drama series Chasing Life (an adaptation of a Mexican television series) after the pilot, Terminales (its previous name) was given the green light by America's ABC network. He played Dominic, the male lead. [3] The same year, he played Rhys in the third season of Dance Academy . [9]

Brancatisano was the main protagonist in the 2015 big screen adaptation of the hit Australian stage play Alex & Eve , written by Alex Lykos – a modern take on Romeo and Juliet . Directed by Peter Andrikidis, it depicted a synchronous multicultural dating landscape between a Greek Orthodox Alex and a Muslim Lebanese Eve, played by Andrea Demetriades. [10] The film also starred Tony Nikolakopoulos, Zoe Carides and George Kapiniaris.

In 2022, Brancatisano appeared in miniseries After the Verdict as Dom, and in feature film Carmen as Pablo. The same year, he played Michael Sleiman in drama series The Twelve . [2]

Music

In music circles, Brancatisano uses his stage name, 'Richie Branco'. [1]

He played in a four-member indie rock covers band called Black Diamond Hearts, [4] followed by a band called Flux. [11]

He toured with New Zealand artist, Gin Wigmore.

He released his debut single "Fight Me" on 10 July 2018. [12] He later released a single titled "Don’t Hold Your Love In". [13]

Public appearances

Brancatisano was one of the guests of the Power Morphicon, the first Power Rangers convention, in Los Angeles in June 2007 and August 2014.

He also appeared at the 2023 Supanova Expo, a comic and gaming convention in Melbourne. [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006This Girl in the DesertHorned ManShort film
2009WhitelineThommoShort film
CupidCupidShort film
2011Things to DoPeteShort film
2012 Bait 3D RoryFeature film
2015Hamish Anderson: Little LiesTalk Show HostVideo short
Alex & Eve AlexFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003 White Collar Blue Darcy WorthEpisode: "2.2"
2004 Double the Fist Gate TerroristEpisode: "Terrorism"
2006 Power Rangers Mystic Force Xander Bly/Green Mystic Ranger Main role
2007 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Xander Bly / Green Mystic RangerEpisodes: "Once a Ranger: Parts 1 & 2"
Home and Away Theo Barrett1 episode
2010 Home and Away Prince Vittorio SecaRecurring role
2011 The Elephant Princess CalebMain role, season 2
Underbelly: Razor Guido CallettiMain role
2012Dripping in ChocolateSaxon BlakeTV film
2013 Reef Doctors Dr. Rick D'AlessandroMain role
Dance Academy Rhys O'LearyRecurring role
2014–2015 Chasing Life Dominic RussoMain role
2016Struggling ServersActorEpisode: "The Coach"
2018 Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted to You Matt Lattanzi Miniseries
2018–2019 Harrow Sgt. Gabriel Capello2 episodes
2022 After the Verdict Dom6 episodes
2023 The Messenger Joe2 episodes
2024 Critical Incident Theo Leon3 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2002Hearts and DiamondsKing of Diamonds
2004The Wind in the WillowsRatty
2005Boyband: The MusicalCorey Seymour Centre, Sydney with Ricochet Working Productions [6]
VinVin

References

  1. 1 2 "Richard Brancatisano" (PDF). www.peakeventsandentertainment.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Richard Brancatisano". www.rangerstopatlanta.com. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Moran, Jonathon (26 April 2013). "Home and Away hunk Richard Brancatisano lands Hollywood gig in Chasing Life". www.news.com.au.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Myers, Matthew. "Third Time's the Charm" (PDF). www.thecelebritywhisperer.com. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  5. Foster, Kristina. "Richard Brancatisano" (PDF). pressfolios-production.s3.amazonaws.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Boyband". www.jasonlangley.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  7. 1 2 "The Elephant Princess: cast". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  8. Yeap, Sue (4 June 2013). "McCune shows sense of adventure". The West Australian .
  9. "Dance Academy: cast". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  10. "Alex and Eve the movie (film review)". www.joyhouseproductions.wordpress.com. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  11. "Richie Branco – Saturday 27th April 3:00pm". www.waverleygreens.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  12. "Fight Me – single". iTunes Australia . Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Richard Brancatisano". www.supanova.com.au. Retrieved 13 October 2025.