Actor Danny Trejo has appeared in many Hollywood films. His specialty? Nameless bad guys but also a leading man. Now, he’s telling his life story in a new movie, and in Danny’s case, it’s kind of good to be bad.
Michelle Rodriguez: “This is a guy who’s seen death just to get to 16 years old.”
From ex-con to Hollywood star.
A new documentary “Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo” explores the actor’s unlikely rise to fame.
Danny Trejo: “Doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you end.”
Danny Trejo (in documentary): “My name is Danny Trejo. You might have seen me once in a while.”
In the film, Danny recounts his life of drugs and crime.
He also talks about his time in prison.
Danny Trejo: “I don’t think there’s any more lonely place in the world than prison. I survived. I mean, I was not a nice person, you know, but, but you have to, you have to kind of keep your sanity by going insane.”
After his release, he became a drug counselor, and that’s when Hollywood came calling.
Trejo got his first big break playing a convict in the 1985 film, “Runaway Train.”
After dozens of small parts, director Robert Rodriguez made him a leading man in “Machete.”
Danny Trejo: “God fooled me and gave me the rest of my life, and I’ve been saying his name every day, and I do whatever I can for my fellow man.”
Now, the 76-year-old is giving back to his community.
He’s donating meals from his restaurants to help LA healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Danny Trejo: “All I’m trying to do is give hope to a lot of people that feel hopeless.”
Danny Trejo (in documentary): “Everything good that has happened to me has happened as a direct result of helping someone else.”
“Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo” is available on digital and on-demand.
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