Mister Gonzalez made a name for himself at a time when movie roles for Mexican Americans were highly limited. He made the best of a less-than-ideal situation. His strong stage presence was recognized by famous Hollywood celebrities such as Groucho Marx. John Wayne saw his appearance on that "You Bet Your Life" program and cast him as comic relief in a number of movies including "The High and the Mighty," "Rio Bravo" and Hellfighters.
