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Danny Trejo

Person · Actor

Danny Trejo

Born
May 16, 1944
From
Maywood, California, USA
  • Also:
  • Producer
435
Credits on file
6
Decades active

In short · Acting since 1973, 6 decades active, 435 credits.

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Biography

Danny Trejo was born Dan Trejo in Echo Park, Los Angeles, to Alice (Rivera) and Dan Trejo, a construction worker. A child drug addict and criminal, Trejo was in and out of jail for 11 years. While serving time in San Quentin, he won the lightweight and welterweight boxing titles. Imprisoned for armed robbery and drug offenses, he successfully completed a 12-step rehabilitation program that changed his life. While speaking at a Cocaine Anonymous meeting in 1985, Trejo met a young man who later called him for support. Trejo went to meet him at what turned out to be the set of Runaway Train (1985). Trejo was immediately offered a role as a convict extra, probably because of his tough tattooed appearance. Also on the set was a screenwriter who did time with Trejo in San Quentin. Remembering Trejo's boxing skills, the screenwriter offered him $320 per day to train the actors for a boxing match. Director Andrei Konchalovsky saw Trejo training Eric Roberts and immediately offered him a featured role as Roberts' opponent in the film. Trejo has subsequently appeared in many other films, usually as a tough criminal or villain.Trejo is of Mexican descent.

Family & relationships

Spouse
Debbie Trejo
Parents
Dan Trejo
Children
Danny Trejo

Filmography · 407 of 407

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Actor

227 credits

Producer

1 credit

Editor

179 credits

Originals

Streaming originals this person worked on.

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Additional credits28Show

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