Inside the Incredible Journey of Young Danny Trejo: From ‘Death Row’ to Hollywood Stardom

Danny Trejo: From Criminal to Movie Star

Danny Trejo, known for his roles in films like “Heat” and “Con Air,” may have a tough image on screen, but his real-life story is even more harrowing.

Before he became a Hollywood superstar, Trejo was involved in drug dealing and spent time in San Quentin prison.

With his muscular build and tattoo-covered body, Trejo looks like a character straight out of a crime story.

The lines on his face tell a tale of a difficult past, and his criminal record confirms it – he almost lost his life in prison.

Director Robert Rodriguez cast Trejo in films like “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Desperado” because he wanted to hire actual Hispanics for his movies set in border towns.

Trejo's small roles in these films led to opportunities to work with Hollywood icons like Robert DeNiro and Harrison Ford, who recognized his genuine intensity.

Trejo's troubled journey began when he was just 21 years old and was arrested for drug dealing and robbery in 1962.

He was caught selling four ounces of heroin to an undercover agent.

Over the next 11 years, he faced prison riots, solitary confinement, and even a brush with death row.

The Early Life of Danny Trejo

Born on May 16, 1944, in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Danny Trejo had a difficult upbringing.

His father, Dionisio, had fled Texas after stabbing someone and left the family when he turned himself in.

Trejo grew up sharing a room with his cousins at his grandmother's house, finding solace in his uncle Gilbert.

Uncle Gilbert, only six years older than Trejo, became a significant figure in his life.

He taught Trejo how to box but also introduced him to marijuana at the age of 8 and heroin at 12.

Trejo saw him as the cool one, always carrying a large sum of money.

Trejo's life quickly spiraled out of control as he became addicted to drugs and started participating in robberies and drug deals with his uncle.

He ended up in juvenile hall by the age of 13 and developed a cocaine addiction by the time he turned 18.

During a brief stint in county jail in 1961, Trejo even encountered Charles Manson, describing him as a “dirty, greasy, scrawny, white boy.”

After his release, Trejo engaged in more violent crimes, including armed robberies, drive-by shootings, and bar fights where he stabbed someone with a broken beer bottle.

In 1965, Trejo's life took a drastic turn when he was arrested for selling heroin to undercover federal agents.

Despite maintaining that it was sugar, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

This marked the beginning of his arduous journey through Folsom, Soledad, and San Quentin prisons.

Life Behind Bars in San Quentin

San Quentin Prison was a place of terror and death.

The moment one arrives, they see two lights on top of the North Block – a red light and a green light.

If the red light is on, it means someone is being executed.

Trejo vividly recalls this haunting sight, knowing that people enter San Quentin but never leave.

Trejo's skills in boxing, honed during his youth, saved him in the dangerous prison environment.

He became lightweight and welterweight champion in every penitentiary he was incarcerated in, earning respect from fellow inmates.

However, the fear of death was constant.

Despite his reputation, Trejo was always on edge whenever he entered the prison yard.

He remembers the chilling laughter that ensued after witnessing an inmate being stabbed in the back, realizing that his own life was in constant danger.

Trejo's Near-Death Experience

In 1968, Trejo was transferred to Soledad State Prison, where he found himself caught up in a violent prison riot.

Armed with a rock, he fought other inmates and accidentally struck a guard in the head.

This act of violence led to three months in solitary confinement and the possibility of facing the death penalty for attempted murder.

Sitting alone in the hole, Trejo believed it was all over for him at the young age of 24.

In a moment of desperation, he prayed to God, asking for help.

He felt that if God was there, everything would be okay, but if not, he was doomed.

This prayer became a turning point in his life.

Danny Trejo's Journey to Hollywood Stardom

Miraculously, none of the 3,000 inmates came forward to testify against Trejo, sparing him from the death penalty.

In August 1969, he was released on parole, coinciding with the same month that Charles Manson ordered the infamous Sharon Tate murders.

Inspired by an Alcoholics Anonymous talk he heard in prison, Trejo decided to change his life.

Starting with odd jobs as a gardener and labor foreman, Trejo attended recovery meetings in the evenings.

He stumbled into acting as an extra but was consistently cast as a menacing gang member due to his intimidating appearance.

However, his fortunes changed when a screenwriter recognized his authentic prison tattoos and recommended him to directors and casting agents.

Trejo's breakthrough came when he trained actor Eric Roberts how to box for the film “Runaway Train” in 1985.

This led to more opportunities, and he eventually worked alongside renowned actors like Al Pacino and Nicolas Cage.

Trejo's most notable role came in 2010 with the film “Machete,” written specifically for him, which grossed $44 million at the box office.

Despite his success, Trejo never forgets where he came from.

In his documentary film “Inmate 1: The Rise of Danny Trejo” (2019), he acknowledges that it was God who listened to his prayers and helped him escape the hellish life he once led.

Looking back on his journey, Trejo reflects on a recent conversation with God, where he asked if he was doing well.

He received a reassuring response, “You're almost out of hell.

Keep it up.

You're doing great.”

The remarkable transformation of young Danny Trejo from a criminal facing death row to a Hollywood star is a testament to the power of redemption and second chances.

His story serves as an inspiration to those who have faced adversity and shows that it is never too late to turn one's life around.

Discovering the Criminal Past of Young Danny Trejo

After learning about the turbulent life of young Danny Trejo, read about the hitman father of Woody Harrelson.

Then explore the true story behind ‘American Gangster' and the life of Frank Lucas.