While filming "Undressed", Gonzalez heard about "Resurrection Blvd.", a Showtime project in development centering around a Latino family in East L.A. Too busy with "Undressed" to make it to initial casting sessions, Gonzalez was later called in to read, and landed the a role as a medical student turned professional boxer. Well-educated and well-muscled, he was a natural for the part of Alex, and brought his intelligence and passion to the appealing character. The first series of its kind to focus on a Latino family, "Resurrection Blvd." (2000-2002) was both unique and compelling, winning acclaim from critics and serving as an excellent showcase for Gonzalez's talents.

Having previously played the love child of Fidel Castro and a CIA agent in the Lifetime original movie "My Little Assassin" (1999), Gonzalez was cast by his "Resurrection Blvd." TV dad Tony Plana in "The Princess and the Barrio Boy" (2001), the elder actor's directorial debut. Playing Sol Torres, a young man from the wrong side of the tracks with a supportive and loving family opposite Marisol Nichols' wealthy young woman from an uncommunicative home, Gonzalez won over both the girl and the audience. Following this charming coming-of-age telepic, he made his feature film debut in the drama "Scenes of the Crime" (2001), starring Jeff Bridges, followed by a supporting turn in the grungy drug drama "Spun" (2002) before getting his first major screen role as part of the action ensemble in the horror-thriller "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid" (2004).