How Danny Trejo went from convicted con to Hollywood actor

Danny Trejo was born in Los Angeles, California in 1944. Both of his parents were Mexican American, and his father was a construction worker. During the 1960s, Trejo was always in and out of prison. His final prison sentence was approximately 5 years, and he even spent time in a juvenile detention centre. All in all, he was incarcerated at around six different Californian prisons until around 1972.

In San Quentin state prison, Trejo picked up boxing and was highly successful across lightweight and welterweight divisions. He also worked with a 12-step program to overcome his drug addiction. In 2011, he revealed that he had been sober from drugs for over 40 years.

Breaking into movies

While working as a youth drug counsellor, a patient of Trejo’s invited him onto the set of Runaway Train. Trejo was subsequently offered a role as an extra – ironically, in a prison scene. The screenwriter of the film, Edward Bunker, recognised Trejo since both had been incarcerated at San Quentin. Bunker was aware of Trejo’s boxing skills and subsequently asked Trejo to help train Eric Roberts for a boxing scene in the film.

After his work on the film “Runaway Train”, Trejo was offered supporting character roles in a range of other movies. His distinctive, thug-like appearance made him a desirable asset on films featuring criminals and nefarious characters. He has also collaborated with acclaimed American director, Robert Rodriguez, responsible for films like “Spy Kids”, the “Sin City” series and the “Machete” movies, in which Trejo plays the lead role. Ironically, Trejo and Rodriguez are second cousins; however, this was something that neither men knew about until later in their professional relationship.

Trejo currently resides in the San Fernando Valley and has two children with his former spouse, whom he divorced in 2009.