Jose De Vega Jr.; Actor Worked to Eliminate Ethnic Stereotypes

Jose De Vega Jr., an actor and choreographer who worked with the organization Great Leap to stamp out ethnic stereotypes in movies and television, has died of AIDS. He was 56.

De Vega died Sunday at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Westwood.

Born Jan. 4, 1934, in San Diego to a Filipino father and Colombian mother, De Vega began his career as the character Chino in the Broadway and film versions of “West Side Story.”

For the last nine years, De Vega had choreographed, directed and performed in concerts and productions of Great Leap, a Los Angeles group of Asian-American artists working to end entertainment stereotypes. He sang in the group’s “Talk Story” last year at the Los Angeles Theater Center.

He had appeared in the film “Blue Hawaii” and in the television series “Bonanza,” “Dynasty,” “Mission Impossible” and “Hart to Hart.”

De Vega is survived by his mother, Socorro De Vega, and a sister, Isabele Gorre.

Memorial services will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 19 at St. Victor’s Church, 8634 Holloway Drive, West Hollywood, and at 5 p.m. April 29, at Senshin Buddhist Temple, 1311 W. 37th St.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Hollywood Helps and AIDS Project L.A.