Danny Trejo is an American actor, activist, and author renowned for his distinctive appearance, philanthropic efforts, and extensive career as a character actor. Trejo has played more than 400 roles in film and television. This article delves into the various f of Trejo’s life, from his challenging early years to his successful career and personal life.
Danny Trejo Biography
Danny Trejo was born on May 16, 1944, in Maywood, California, U.S. He is the son of Mexican American parents, Dolores Rivera King and Dionisio “Dan” Trejo, a construction worker who was part of the 38th Street gang before Danny was born. During his youth, Trejo spent a significant amount of time with his uncle, who taught him the ways of a successful criminal from an early age.
Trejo had his first run-in with the police at the age of 10 and faced multiple arrests and incarcerations between 1956 and 1968 for crimes including assault, theft, and drug-related offenses. In prison, he gained a reputation and some status by managing contraband operations and collecting debts. He also developed a passion for boxing and managed a prison gym. In 1968, while in solitary confinement at Soledad State Prison and awaiting the possibility of a death penalty for his involvement in a prison riot, Trejo made the decision to embrace sobriety. He then became involved in the prison’s 12-step program, helping other inmates on their journey to sobriety.
After his final release from prison, Trejo committed himself to helping others by counseling youths facing drug charges and participating in various charitable causes, such as collecting food for food banks and distributing clothes to those in need. By 1973, he became actively involved in drug rehabilitation programs to support individuals struggling with substance abuse.
Danny Trejo Career Beginnings
Trejo met a young man at a Cocaine Anonymous meeting in 1985, who later contacted him for help. Danny met him on the set of “Runaway Train” (1985), where he was offered the role as a convict extra, most likely due to his rugged appearance. On site, Trejo was spotted by Edward Bunker, a well-known mystery author who also wrote the screenplay for “Runaway Train.” Bunker had already served time in San Quentin, so he recognized Danny and remembered Trejo’s boxing abilities. Bunker offered Trejo $320 a day to train one of the film’s stars, Eric Roberts, for a boxing sequence they needed to film. Andrei Konchalovsky, the film’s director, was delighted by Trejo’s performance and offered him a small role as a boxer.
Acting Career
Trejo is noted for his unique appearance, which includes facial scars, long hair, a mustache, and numerous tattoos. Since “Runaway Train,” he has had an extremely successful acting career. He has appeared in five or more films per year, spanning a variety of genres. Some of the major releases he had roles in include “Marked for Death” (1990), “Desperado” (1995), “From Dusk till Dawn” (1995), “The Replacement Killers” (1998), “Animal Factory” (2000), “Bubble Boy” (2001), “Spy Kids” (2001), “XXX” (2002), “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004), “Grindhouse” (2007), “Urban Justice” (2007), “Modus Operandi” (2010), “Machete” (2010), “Reaper” (2014), and “Range 15” (2016). In addition, his life is depicted in the 2005 independent biographical film “Champion.” Trejo produced his first picture, “Ambition,” in 2014, followed by “Bad Asses” the same year.
In addition to his cinematic work, Trejo has appeared in over 70 television episodes since 1990. Some of the most well-known of these shows include “Baywatch” (1991-1992), “NYPD Blue” (1996-1998), “The X-Files” (2000), “King of the Hill” (2003-2010), “Monk” (2004), “Desperate Housewives” (2005), “The Young and the Restless” (2008), “Breaking Bad” (2009-2010), “Modern Family” (2010), “Bones” (2011), “Sons of Anarchy” (2011-2012), “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2014), “Rick and Morty” (2017), “American Dad!” (2017-2019), “Brook Danny starred as the Ghost of Huet in the Disney+ Halloween special “Muppets Haunted Mansion” in 2021, and as Rancor in the Disney+ series “The Book of Boba Fett” in 2022.
Although Trejo frequently appears as a rough, thuggish figure, he has also starred in more sympathetic roles, such as “Spy Kids,” “Bubble Boy,” and “Monk.” His debut in season two of “Desperate Housewives” exemplifies him as a more sympathetic character, as he assists Gabrielle in dealing with the sadness of losing her unborn child.
Trejo has made numerous cameo appearances in music videos. A few examples are the videos for the songs “Got It Twisted” (2004) by Mobb Deep, “Double Blade” (2003) by Jay Chou, “Loco” (2013) by Enrique Iglesias, “Angel in Blue Jeans” (2014) by Train, and “Repentless” (2015) by Slayer.
Danny Trejo Net Worth 2024
Danny Trejo’s net worth in 2024 is estimated to be around $16 million. However, some reports, such as those from Celebrity Net Worth, indicate that Trejo’s current net worth might be significantly lower figure of $500,000.
This discrepancy could be due to recent financial difficulties, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in early 2023, prompted by substantial IRS debts of approximately $3 million. The bankruptcy has affected his financial situation, leading to speculation about his assets and liabilities.
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Danny Trejo Real Estate
Danny owns multiple homes in the Los Angeles area.
In June 1999, he bought a home in the L.A. suburb of Pico Rivera for $130,000. It appears that a relative currently occupies this home.
Since 2012, his primary residence has been in Mission Hills, California, which he purchased that year for $550,000. This home, now valued at $1.2 million, has played a central role in his bankruptcy proceedings. Additionally, Trejo inherited a property in Pacoima from his mother, valued at $750,000, which he may need to sell to settle his debts with the IRS.
Danny Trejo Other Ventures
Danny Trejo provided his voice for the video games “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002), “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006), and “Fallout: New Vegas” (2010). He has also appeared in the games “Call of Duty: Black Ops” (2010), “Taco Run!” (2018), and “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” (2019). In 2019, he took part in “Magic: The Gathering Arena” marketing and appeared in the DLC expansions “Far Cry 6: Danny and Dani vs. Everybody” (2021), “Olli Olli World” (2022), and “SCUM: Danny Trejo Character Pack” (2022).
Danny is also a successful restaurateur. He built his first restaurant, Trejo’s Tacos, in 2016, followed by Trejo’s Cantina and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts in 2017. Executive chef Mason Royal oversees the eateries.
Danny Trejo Personal Life
Trejo has been married and divorced four times and has three children: Danny (born 1981), Gilbert (born 1988), and Danielle (born 1990). His first marriage, to Laura in 1962, quit due to his drug usage and criminal lifestyle. He subsequently married Debbie (1971-1975), Joanne (1975-1978), and Debbie Shreve (1997-2005).
Trejo is the second cousin of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, a fact they only discovered during the filming of the movie “Desperado.”