Richard Peter Brancatisano (born 29 October 1983), also known by his stage name Richie Branco, is an Australian television actor and musician, best known for his roles as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force and Dominic Russo on the ABC Family drama series, Chasing Life.
Early life and education Brancatisano was born in Sydney to a Calabrese-Italian father 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.
He studied acting for three years at Sydney's Theatre Nepean.
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. 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.
He next appeared as Caleb in the second season of the international children's TV series The Elephant Princess and as Prince Vittorio Secca in Home and Away. He had previously appeared twice, in the latter series. He had roles in Underbelly: Razor (the 2011 fourth season of anthology series Underbelly), White Collar Blue and Forensic Investigators. He also played a doctor, Rick, on the adventure drama series Reef Doctors, alongside Lisa McCune.
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. The same year, he played Rhys in the third season of Dance Academy.
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. 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.
Music In music circles, Brancatisano uses his stage name, 'Richie Branco'.
He played in a four-member indie rock covers band called Black Diamond Hearts, followed by a band called Flux.
He toured with New Zealand artist, Gin Wigmore.
He released his debut single "Fight Me" on 10 July 2018. He later released a single titled "Don’t Hold Your Love In".
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.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 This Girl in the Desert Horned Man Short film2009 Whiteline Thommo Short film Cupid Cupid Short film 2011 Things to Do Pete Short film 2012 Bait 3D Rory Feature film 2015 Hamish Anderson: Little Lies Talk Show Host Video short Alex & Eve Alex Feature film
Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 White Collar Blue Darcy Worth Episode: "2.2" 2004Double the Fist Gate Terrorist Episode: "Terrorism" 2006 Power Rangers Mystic Force Xander Bly/Green Mystic Ranger Main role2007 Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Xander Bly / Green Mystic Ranger Episodes: "Once a Ranger: Parts 1 & 2" Home and Away Theo Barrett 1 episode 2010 Home and Away Prince Vittorio Seca Recurring role2011 Caleb Main role, season 2 Underbelly: Razor Guido Calletti Main role 2012 Dripping in Chocolate Saxon Blake TV film2013 Reef Doctors Dr. Rick D'Alessandro Main role Dance Academy Rhys O'Leary Recurring role 2014–2015 Chasing Life Dominic Russo Main role 2016Struggling Servers Actor Episode: "The Coach" 2018 Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted to You Matt Lattanzi Miniseries 2018–2019 Harrow Sgt. Gabriel Capello 2 episodes 2022 After the Verdict Dom 6 episodes 2023 The Messenger Joe 2 episodes 2024 Critical Incident Theo Leon 3 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2002 Hearts and Diamonds King of Diamonds 2004 Ratty2005 Boyband: The Musical Corey Seymour Centre, Sydney with Ricochet Working Productions Vin Vin
References
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