Jose began in show business as part of his family's act called "Las Perlitas" that toured southwest Texas.

He made his television debut in 1954 as Jose Gonzales de la Vega on two episodes of The Cisco Kid.

In 1962 He played Joze on the S2E28 in the 'Innocents Abroad' episode of My Three Sons He had a prolific career in both television and motion pictures concluding with his final performance as Mariachi in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991).

[1] After suffering for many years with myeloblastic anemia, he died as a result of a brain hemorrhage brought on by the disease.

Jose was survived by his wife of 55 years, Ventura; three daughters Rosalinda, Armandina, Miroslava; seven grandchildren: Jose Nicholas, Joseph Nicholas, Terry Tigner, Tessie Tigner, Miguel Reyes II, Christina Galvan, Armandina Galvan, and one great-grandchild Miguel Reyes III.