Congrats to Angolan thespian, Monsieur Hoji Fortuna, who just banked his very first US television appearance.

The award-winning actor who some will recall as the menacing César, hellbent on recouping his gasoline booty in Djo Tunda Wa Munga's fiery Viva Riva!, tells me that he was featured in this past weekend's episode of ABC's new dramedy, Pan Am, which stars Christina Ricci, and others.

It's not a recurring role, so Hoji likely won't be back on the show; however, it's a start, considering that he'd been relatively unknown here in the west, prior to Viva Riva!, with a short career thus far that includes a lot of TV work in Portugal, with parts in some USA indie films.

His role in Viva Riva has been his most plump yet, and has provided him with more visibility than any of his previous parts.

Upcoming, he co-stars in Hal Hartley's next film, titled Meanwhile, which is currently in post-production, and which I've written about a few times on S&A.

So, we'll continue to follow his growth on this side of the Atlantic in coming years…

The episode of Pan Am he's featured in can be watched in its entirey on ABC's website HERE. I haven't had a chance to watch yet. 

It's not a major part, but as Hoji himself notes, "a debut is a debut."