Firass Dirani (born ) is an Australian film and television actor best known for his roles in Power Rangers Mystic Force, Underbelly: The Golden Mile, and House Husbands.
Early life and education Firass Dirani was born in Blacktown in western Sydney in 1984 and grew up in the suburb of Werrington. He is of Lebanese descent. He worked in his family's shop for ten years. He attended St Paul's Grammar School and graduated in 2001.
He went on to study acting at the Actors College of Theatre and Television (ACTT) in Sydney, graduating from the Professional Actor Program in 2004.
Career Dirani played the main role of Nick Russell, the Red Mystic Ranger in Power Rangers Mystic Force in 2006. He then played the recurring role of Amen Salim in 2007 series Kick. He pursued his acting career in Hollywood before receiving a call to play the main role of John Ibrahim in Underbelly: The Golden Mile in 2010, the role which made him a household name in Australia.
In 2010, he was nominated for the Inside Film Awards 'Out of the Box' award and also won the GQ Australia Men of the Year ‘Best Television Actor’ award in the same year. In April 2010, Dirani was named Cleo Bachelor of the Year. In 2011, he won two Logie Awards – for Best New Talent and the Graham Kennedy Logie for Best Actor.
In 2012, Dirani went on to play Gary Montebello in drama series The Straits, before securing the ongoing main role of Justin in Logie-winning comedy drama House Husbands from 2012 to 2017.
In 2014 he briefly relocated to New York City where he undertook an intensive six week course of study at the Atlantic Theater Company.
In 2020, Dirani participated in Seven Network's reality program SAS Australia. He was given the 'villain edit', after repeatedly talking back and disrespecting the elite staff, prompting backlash from viewers on social media.
Dirani was selected to be a part of the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 squad announcement, where he narrated the football journey of the Socceroos over 100 years.
In 2023, Dirani was cast in the Australian version of British series The Office, but did not make it to the production stage.
Dirani's film credits include the award-winning drama The Black Balloon (2008), The Combination (2009) and 2012 thriller Last Dance. He has also starred in Hollywood fare such as sci-fi film Pitch Black (2000) opposite Vin Diesel, action film Killer Elite (2011) alongside an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Jason Statham, and Clive Owen and Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning biographical war epic Hacksaw Ridge (2015).
Personal life Dirani formerly dated fellow actor Melanie Vallejo whom he met when they worked together on Power Rangers Mystic Force.
Dirani was the subject of a finalist portrait in the Archibald Prize in 2021, painted by artist, Jeremy Eden.
In 2017, Dirani embarked on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya for two months to run a sports program, which saw him organise some football goalposts to be built while visiting a local charity, so that the kids could play with more suitable equipment.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2000Pitch BlackAliFeature film2000LostJohn SavvidesShort film2001My Husband, My KillerButchTV movie2002ChangeJoe ChangeShort film2005Small Claims: White WeddingPizza Delivery BoyTV movie2006The SilenceAnthony VassalioTV movie2006The MarineAl Qaeda LeaderFeature film2008The Black BalloonRussellFeature film2008Crooked BusinessStevieFeature film2009The CombinationCharlieFeature film2011Killer EliteBakhaitFeature film2012Last DanceSadiq MohammadFeature film2012In the ClearBrooklyn ThompsonShort film2013TaserEddieShort film2016Hacksaw RidgeVito RinnelliFeature film2016The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume OneClarence CarmelFeature film2017Bang! Bang!Felix HuskShort film2019Escape and EvasionWelshyFeature film
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1998Children's HospitalMarc 1 episode2000The Potato FactoryDavid Soloman 4 episodes2002White Collar BlueNick Zenopoulous 1 episode2003All SaintsJoe Malouf 1 episode2006Power Rangers Mystic ForceNick Russell (Red Mystic Ranger) 32 episodes (Main role)2007KickAmen Salim 13 episodes2007East West 101Talai 1 episode2010UnderbellyJohn Ibrahim 13 episodes2012The StraitsGary Montebello 10 episodes2012–17House HusbandsJustin 58 episodes2018SandoKevin Kenan 4 episodes2018Mr InbetweenDavros 2 episodes2018Orange Is the New BrownZain 4 episodes2019The Real Dirty DancingSelf TV series2020SAS Australia: Who Dares WinsSelf 10 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2003 Sydney Dream Ball Aerial Acrobat 2003 Stories 2003 A Midsummer Night's Dream Puck 2003 Kid Stakes / Other Times 2004 The Tempest Caliban University of Sydney, Theatre 3, Acton, Canberra, Lennox Theatre, Parramatta, Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford with Actors College of Theatre and Television 2018 The Effect Tristan Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney with Redline Productions
Awards Date Work Award Category Result 2010 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Inside Film Awards Media Super 'Out of the Box' IF Award 2010 Firass Dirani GQ Men of the Year Awards Best Television Actor 2010 Firass Dirani Cleo Bachelor of the Year 2011 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Logie Awards Most Popular New Male Talent 2011 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Logie Awards Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent 2011 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Firass Dirani FHM Heroes Award Best Television Actor 2013 The Straits Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor 2013 House Husbands Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor 2014 House Husbands Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2016 House Husbands Logie Awards Silver Logie for Best Actor
References
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