Maurice Jara

Latino actor-singer Maurice Jara, aka Mauricio, was born in Los Angeles, CA. During World War II Jara was stationed in Okinawa and was seriously wounded while serving in the United States Marines. After his return home, he joined the Padua Hill Theatre Players in Claremont California. While appearing in Serenata Tapatia he met his soon-to-be wife Hilda Ramirez, whom he married in 1947. Jara appeared in a series of Padua Hills Players stage productions, Vote Por la Reina and Festivales. It was in the latter play that he was selected by a talent scout and offered screen and vocal recording tests. In late 1949 director, Joseph Losey was shown the screen test and was impressed by his natural talent, dark good looks, and articulate voice. Jara was called in to read for a secondary role in the Paramount Studios Losey film The Lawless (1950). The film was based on Latino immigrants who crossed the Mexican border to work as fruit pickers in the fields. Under Losey's guidance arrangements were