Danny Trejo, greatest identified for his tough-guy roles, actually confirmed his coronary heart in 2019 when he saved a younger youngster trapped inside an overturned SUV in Sylmar, Los Angeles. The incident occurred in August 2019, when Trejo—and one other quick-thinking bystander—helped free a special-needs boy from a buckled-in automotive seat. The younger girl unbuckled it, and Trejo pulled the kid to security whereas protecting him calm with their playful “superpowers” sport.
He advised ABC 7, “[The boy] was panicked. I stated OK, we’ve to make use of our superpowers. So he screamed ‘superpowers’ and we began yelling ‘superpowers. I stated do that, with the muscle groups. He stated ‘muscle groups.’” Trejo added, “All the pieces good that has occurred to me has occurred as a direct results of serving to another person. All the pieces.”
Not solely is @officialDannyT (Danny Trejo) one of many nicest actors, he’s additionally a #hero!
He was proper behind a crash in Sylmar and pulled a particular wants child out of an overturned automotive. He distracted the boy till grandma was OK. ♥️ —> https://t.co/tS2Za4bZVZ@ABC7 pic.twitter.com/U9iLzAkHkA
— Veronica Miracle (@vmiracleCNN) August 8, 2019
This yr, followers acquired a scare when a pretend “memorial-style” submit claiming Trejo had died went viral—amplified when John Leguizamo reshared it. The actor, now 81, shortly took to Instagram to set the report straight, writing, “Thanks all on your concern, however I’m very a lot alive. Somebody is spreading pretend information.”
Be taught extra in regards to the actor beneath.
1. He Spent Years in Jail Earlier than Turning His Life Round
Trejo has all the time been candid about his troubled previous. His first arrest got here at simply 12 years outdated, after he struck one other boy with a rock. As a teen, he labored as a getaway driver for his uncle and later landed in jail at 18 for stabbing a sailor with a damaged bottle. By his 20s, Trejo had dedicated a number of armed robberies and was sentenced to 10 years at San Quentin after promoting a bag of heroin—value $30,000—to an undercover officer. Whereas serving time, he bounced between prisons however found boxing, creating the talents that may finally assist him flip his life round.
2. Solitary Confinement Sparked His Ardour for Appearing
Whereas serving time in a Mexican jail, Trejo’s life took an sudden flip. Throughout a riot on Cinco de Mayo, he was positioned in solitary confinement, the place he saved himself sane by performing out scenes from The Wizard of Oz and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He has usually credited prayer for serving to him reform his life, and after his fees had been finally dropped, he dedicated to sobriety from alcohol and heroin. Now celebrating nearly 60 years of sobriety, Trejo went on to work as a drug counselor for 15 years after his launch, serving to others flip their lives round simply as he had.
3. He’s Well-known for Taking part in Villains and Badasses
With greater than 300 performing credit to his title, Trejo has constructed a legendary profession taking part in powerful guys, criminals, and antiheroes. His breakout position got here nearly accidentally in 1985, when he visited the set of Runaway Prepare to assist a consumer he was counseling. As soon as producers discovered about his boxing background and jail expertise, he was solid as a boxer within the movie, kickstarting his Hollywood journey.
Over the subsequent three many years, Trejo grew to become identified for his gritty, unforgettable villains in movies like Con Air and his most iconic position, the unstoppable murderer Machete, in Robert Rodriguez’s movies. However Trejo’s vary goes far past taking part in unhealthy guys. He’s additionally introduced his larger-than-life persona to family-friendly initiatives, together with Spy Children, Muppets Most Wished, and even voicing Boots the monkey in Dora and the Misplaced Metropolis of Gold.
4. He’s a Devoted Activist and Advocate
Past Hollywood, Trejo has devoted a lot of his life to giving again. Even after discovering success as an actor, he has continued working as a drug counselor, drawing from his personal expertise with habit to mentor at-risk youth and assist kids with particular wants.
He’s additionally enthusiastic about animal welfare. Collectively together with his ex-wife, Debbie Shreve, he based the K9 Compassion Basis, a company devoted to bettering the lives of animals by educating younger folks on the significance of spay and neuter packages and by elevating funds for lifesaving initiatives.
Trejo can also be a most cancers survivor. He was identified with liver most cancers in 2010 and has spoken about how the expertise strengthened his dedication to wholesome residing, sobriety, and serving to others.
5. He Runs a Taco and Donut Empire in L.A.
If you happen to’re in LA, cease by one of many Trejo’s Tacos eating places, Trejo’s Espresso & Donuts, or the Trejo’s Cantinas.