Douglas Jackson was born in the Bronx, New York – but it was a trip to Brazil during a vacation that truly changed his life. Based in L.A, already for many years, with his Brazilian wife and son, Douglas has become a bridge between American and Brazilian cultures, embracing samba, Portuguese, and farofa with equal passion.
Back in the early 1990s, Douglas was living and working in Los Angeles when he stumbled upon the Brazilian party scene in California. “I went to a Brazilian party in Encino Hills in 1993 and was instantly hooked,” he remembers. “Then I started going to Café Dansa on Fridays for some serious samba, and to Zabumba restaurant on Saturdays – these were the hot spots for the Brazilian community on the L.A west side.”
It was through these connections that Douglas became close friends with a carioca named Alex DeSouza. Later that same year, Alex encouraged him to visit Brazil – and set up an introduction to two friends in the city of São Gonçalo, nearby Rio de Janeiro: Lana and her partner Bia. That vacation in Rio was packed with music, laughter, and unforgettable energy. But the highlight? Meeting Lana.
The two stayed in touch, and by 1995, Lana had moved to Los Angeles. In 1996, their son Enrico was born. Douglas never needed to live in Brazil to feel at home in its culture. “I fell in love with the music – samba and pagode especially, but also the food: chicken stroganoff, black beans and rice, farofa, collard greens, fried banana, salpicão,” he says. “I even became a fan of Brazilian soccer.”
Doug Jackson with his wife in Rio de Janeiro
Douglas studied Theater at SUNY Oneonta, spent a year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, and later earned a master’s degree in Radio, TV, and Film in San Francisco. After relocating to L.A. for a job opportunity, his bilingual skills and cultural fluency opened doors at FOX TV, DirecTV Latin America, Sky Net, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he focused on Latin American and Brazilian markets.
His career later took him around the globe – living and working in Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, and London, but his base has always remained in Los Angeles. Today, he serves as Director of Technical Operations and Content at Sony Pictures Television in Culver City.
Despite being born in New York, Douglas feels deeply connected to Brazil. “Brazilians are warm, expressive, and full of life. They hug you like family – it’s something I truly admire,” he says. Over the years, he’s become an avid Flamengo fan and frequently visits the Região dos Lagos in Rio state, including Araruama (his wife’s hometown), Cabo Frio, Saquarema, and Rio das Ostras.
For Douglas Jackson, one spontaneous trip to Brazil turned into a lifetime of love, family, and cultural connection. He may be American by birth—but his heart will always dance to a Brazilian beat.
