He took his name as a male homage to the actress Maria Montez, an important gay icon in the 1950s and 1960s.

His acting career started somewhat by chance when he met avant-garde filmmaker Jack Smith, who included him in his 1963 underground classic Flaming Creatures.

After moving to Florida, he quit entertainment altogether and remained out of the public eye until 2006 when he appeared in a documentary about filmmaker Jack Smith.

[3] In March 2010, Montez was honored by Columbia University's Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race: "Mario is considered one of the most gifted performers of the underground period.

"[3] In February 2012, Montez was honored with the Special Teddy Award 2012 at the Berlinale for his outstanding role in underground film history.