Signed to a contract at Warner Bros. Studios in 1955.
Began his career on the New York stage in the early 1950s before coming out to Hollywood and played a number of ethnic roles, notably Hispanics and Indians.
Was featured as Lt. Lou Escobar in the 1974 classic Chinatown (1974) starring Jack Nicholson. He then reprised the role in the sequel, The Two Jakes (1990), which Nicholson directed as well as starred in.
Was of Puerto Rican descent.
He died of lung cancer at The Rehabilitation Centre of Beverly Hills in Beverly Grove, LA.