The King's School. Photo: DeusMP at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_King%27s_School_Entrance.JPG)
The King's School. Photo: DeusMP at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_King%27s_School_Entrance.JPG)
Richard Brancatisano is an Australian actor and musician known for playing Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force, Dominic Russo in Chasing Life, and Alex in Alex & Eve. He has also appeared in Australian television dramas, children's series, feature films, theatre productions, and music releases under the name Richie Branco.
Background
Ethnicity:
His father was of Italian background and his mother was Australian.
Brancatisano was born on October 29, 1983, in Sydney, New South Wales, and grew up in Carlingford in Sydney's north-west. His father was a doctor of Italian background and his mother was an Australian schoolteacher.
His interest in performance developed during his school years. At The King's School in Parramatta, he appeared in musicals and plays before undertaking further acting training in Sydney. His family background later informed his work in Alex & Eve, a film concerned with cultural and religious difference in contemporary Sydney.
Education
Brancatisano attended The King's School in Parramatta, where he appeared in school musicals and plays. The King's School, founded in 1831, is one of Australia's oldest independent schools and has an Anglican educational tradition.
He subsequently studied acting for three years at Theatre Nepean in Sydney. The institution was associated with specialist training in theatre and performance, providing a practical setting for actors developing stage and screen skills.
Brancatisano began performing professionally in theatre, appearing as King of Diamonds in Hearts and Diamonds in 2002 and as Ratty in The Wind in the Willows in 2004. In 2005 he played Corey in Boyband: The Musical, presented by Ricochet Working Productions at Sydney's Seymour Centre, and performed the title role in Vin.
His screen career expanded through guest appearances in Australian television productions including White Collar Blue and Double the Fist. In 2006 he gained international recognition as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force, reprising the character in Power Rangers Operation Overdrive in 2007. The Power Rangers franchise combined serialized children's adventure storytelling with martial-arts performance and fantastical superhero conventions.
He continued to work across Australian television, appearing as Caleb in the second season of The Elephant Princess, Prince Vittorio Secca in Home and Away, Guido Calletti in Underbelly: Razor, Dr. Rick D'Alessandro in Reef Doctors, and Rhys O'Leary in Dance Academy. These roles placed him in children's television, soap opera, crime drama, medical drama, and youth-oriented serial storytelling.
In 2014 and 2015 he played Dominic Russo in the American drama series Chasing Life, his principal American television role. He then starred as Alex in Alex & Eve, a 2015 Australian romantic comedy directed by Peter Andrikidis and written by Alex Lykos. The film follows a Greek Orthodox man and a Lebanese Muslim woman whose relationship encounters family and cultural pressures.
Later credits included Sgt. Gabriel Capello in Harrow, Matt Lattanzi in Olivia: Hopelessly Devoted to You, Dom in After the Verdict, Michael Sleiman in The Twelve, Joe in The Messenger, and Theo Leon in Critical Incident. He has also appeared in feature films including Bait, Carmen, and the short film Things to Do.
As a musician, Brancatisano performs under the name Richie Branco. He has played in bands, toured with New Zealand singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore, and released the singles Fight Me, Christmas Time, Don't Hold Your Love In, The Man, and Nature's Symphony between 2018 and 2025.
Achievements
He gained international recognition as Xander Bly, the Green Mystic Ranger, in Power Rangers: Mystic Force and reprised the role in Power Rangers Operation Overdrive.
He played Dominic Russo in the American drama series Chasing Life from 2014 to 2015.
He starred as Alex in the Australian feature film Alex & Eve, which examined an intercultural relationship between a Greek Orthodox man and a Lebanese Muslim woman.
(Music single released under the name Richie Branco.)
2025
Religion
Brancatisano is Catholic. Catholicism is the largest tradition within Christianity and is organized around sacramental worship, the authority of the church, and a theological tradition shaped by scripture and church teaching.
His public work has included roles involving religious and intercultural themes. In Alex & Eve, he portrayed a Greek Orthodox man whose relationship with a Lebanese Muslim woman is challenged by family expectations, allowing the film to explore religious difference within Sydney's multicultural society.
Views
Brancatisano has spoken positively about stories that connect people across cultural and religious differences. His comments about Alex & Eve emphasize empathy, family relationships, and the possibility of love overcoming generational expectations.
Personality
In interviews, Brancatisano has described his parents as supportive of his career and has spoken with humor about the cultural differences explored in Alex & Eve.
Brancatisano has described Alex & Eve as a story about love overcoming generational differences and said that its depiction of Greek and Lebanese Muslim families encouraged audiences to understand both cultures.
Interests
Theatre, live music, songwriting, guitar, and participation in fan conventions connected with Power Rangers.
Music & Bands
He works as a singer and musician under the name Richie Branco and has released pop-oriented singles including Fight Me, Christmas Time, Don't Hold Your Love In, The Man, and Nature's Symphony.
Connections
Brancatisano has been associated with Australian singer-songwriter Erin Marshall. In an interview published during the promotion of Alex & Eve, he described Marshall as his girlfriend and identified her as an Australian singer-songwriter.
Partner:
Erin Marshall
Singer-songwriter associated with Brancatisano in interviews discussing their relationship.
References
Screen Australia: Alex and Eve
Documents the 2015 feature film, its creative team, cast, production status, and intercultural romantic premise.
Cafe Reporter: Richard Brancatisano
Interview discussing his family background, upbringing in Carlingford, education at The King's School, relationship to Alex & Eve, and acting career.
2015
Apple Music: Richie Branco
Lists music released by Brancatisano under the performing name Richie Branco, including Fight Me, Christmas Time, Don't Hold Your Love In, The Man, and Nature's Symphony.
IMDb: Richard Brancatisano biography
Provides the professional name, birth details, stage name, principal occupations, height, and summary of his acting and music career.
