Australian actor Richard Cawthorne was born in Hong Kong in 1976, the youngest of two, his mother Zelda was a journalist for the South China Morning Post, and his father Russell, a Marketing Executive for Hong Kong film company Golden Harvest Studios. After spending his final year of education boarding in the UK, Richard moved to Australia in the mid 90's. Training initially at St Martins Youth Arts Centre, Richard then went on to study at Melbourne's National Theatre where he graduated in 1999. Early guest appearances on Australian television paved the way to Richard earning his first semi regular role as 'Ruban 'Roo' Hausman' on the popular Australia soap