Maurice Jara, also known as Mauricio, was born in Los Angeles, California. During World War II, he served in the United States Marines and was stationed in Okinawa, where he was seriously wounded.
After his return home, Jara joined the Padua Hill Theatre Players in Claremont, California, and met his future wife Hilda Ramirez while appearing in the play Serenata Tapatia.
Jara's talent was discovered by a talent scout, and he was offered screen and vocal recording tests. He was then cast in the Paramount Studios film The Lawless (1950),directed by Joseph Losey.
The film was a success, and Jara went on to appear in several more films, including Crisis (1950),Apache Drums (1951),and Flying Leathernecks (1951).
In 1952, Jara auditioned for the role of Alessandro in the live play Ramona, which he played for the next 15 years.
Jara's most memorable portrayal was as Dr. Guerra in the film Giant (1956),alongside James Dean. He also hosted his own Latino variety show, Fandango, on Los Angeles television.
Throughout his career, Jara appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Walk the Proud Land (1956),The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958),They Came to Cordura (1959),and Rawhide.
In the 1960s, Jara continued to work in television, appearing on shows such as Lawman, Overland Trial, Bronco, Bonanza, and Ben Casey.
In 1966, Jara took on the directorial role of the Ramona Pageant, a position he held for nearly 30 years alongside his wife Hilda.
In the 1970s, Jara appeared in several more television shows, including Marcus Welby M.D., Bearcats, and Hec Ramsey.
Jara retired from acting in 1994 and became part of Ramona's history in their local museum in 1995.
