History of Danny Trejo in Timeline
Danny Trejo is a prolific American character actor whose films have collectively grossed over $3.7 billion worldwide. He is known for his tough-guy roles and distinctive appearance. Trejo has had a long and successful career in the entertainment industry.
1922: Father's Birth Year
In 1922, Dionisio "Dan" Trejo, Danny Trejo's father, was born. He later worked as a construction worker.
1943: Parents Met
In 1943, Danny Trejo's parents, Delores Rivera King and Dionisio "Dan" Trejo, met at a dance hall in Highland Park, Los Angeles.
May 16, 1944: Danny Trejo Born
On May 16, 1944, Danny Trejo was born in Maywood, California, to Mexican-American parents, Delores Rivera King and Dionisio "Dan" Trejo.
1949: Shared Room with Cousins
By 1949, Danny Trejo was sharing a room with his cousins at their grandmother's house.
1949: Separation from Mother and Half-Sister
In 1949, Danny Trejo was separated from his mother, Delores, and his maternal half-sister, Dyhan, after he sprained his arm in his mother's care. His father banned his mother from seeing him.
1956: First Incarceration
In 1956, Danny Trejo experienced his first incarceration at Eastlake Juvenile Hall.
1959: Incarceration in California Prisons
Between 1959 and 1969, Danny Trejo was incarcerated in numerous California prisons.
1961: Met Charles Manson in Jail
In 1961, while in Los Angeles County jail, Danny Trejo met Charles Manson.
1965: Reunion with Mother and Half-Sister
In 1965, Danny Trejo reunited with his mother, Delores, and his maternal half-sister, Dyhan, after being separated since 1949.
1966: Arrival at San Quentin
In 1966, Danny Trejo arrived at San Quentin State Prison, where his heroin use increased. He also focused on boxing and became a champion in the prison's lightweight and welterweight divisions.
1968: Prison Riot and Solitary Confinement
In 1968, during a Cinco de Mayo prison riot at Soledad, Danny Trejo ended up in solitary confinement and faced capital charges after hitting a guard with a rock. While in solitary, Trejo found faith and became a member of a 12-step program.
July 1969: Released from Custody
In July 1969, Danny Trejo was released from custody and returned to Pacoima, Los Angeles, after serving five years of a 10-year prison sentence.
1969: Incarceration in California Prisons
Between 1959 and 1969, Danny Trejo was incarcerated in numerous California prisons.
1972: Final Term in Custody
According to one account, Danny Trejo's final term in custody ended in 1972.
1973: Substance Abuse Counselor
Since 1973, Danny Trejo has worked as a substance abuse counselor.
1981: Father's Death Year
In 1981, Dionisio "Dan" Trejo, Danny Trejo's father, passed away.
1985: Assisting on Runaway Train Set
In 1985, Danny Trejo received a call from a teenaged patient, asking for his assistance in dealing with cocaine problems on the set of Runaway Train. This event led to his initial involvement in the film industry.
1985: Film Career Began
In 1985, Danny Trejo's film career started when he got a role in Runaway Train.
1987: Credited Film Role
In 1987, Danny Trejo got his first credited role as Art Sanella in Death Wish 4: The Crackdown.
1989: Income as a Film Extra
By 1989, Danny Trejo was making as much as $700 a month as a film extra alone.
1990: Made a Dozen Films
By 1990, Danny Trejo had appeared in a dozen films, including Death Wish 4: The Crackdown and Marked for Death.
1991: Offered Role in American Me
In 1991, Edward James Olmos offered Danny Trejo the role of Pedro Santana in American Me, but he chose to take a role in Blood In, Blood Out instead.
1993: First Cast in Baywatch and Last Light
In 1993, Danny Trejo was first cast in an episode of Baywatch, followed by a part in Last Light, Kiefer Sutherland's directorial debut.
1995: Starred in Desperado and Heat
In 1995, Danny Trejo starred in the films Desperado and Heat, playing roles as inmates, gangsters, or other criminals.
1996: Starred in From Dusk till Dawn
In 1996, Danny Trejo starred in From Dusk till Dawn, where he played roles as inmates, gangsters, or other criminals.
1997: Filming Con Air
Danny Trejo described the filming of Con Air in 1997 as a "macho fest from the start", where the cast often played pranks on one another. He met many of his longtime friends on set.
1998: Starred in The Replacement Killers
In 1998, Danny Trejo starred in The Replacement Killers, where he played roles as inmates, gangsters, or other criminals.
1999: Contracted Hepatitis C
In 1999, after finishing Animal Factory, Danny Trejo contracted Hepatitis C.
2000: Debut as Machete in Spy Kids
In 2000, Danny Trejo marked his debut as Isador "Machete" Cortez in Spy Kids, which provided him with worldwide recognition.
2000: Starred in Reindeer Games
In 2000, Danny Trejo starred in Reindeer Games, where he played roles as inmates, gangsters, or other criminals.
2001: Filming Bubble Boy with Hepatitis C
By the time of Bubble Boy in 2001, Danny Trejo's Hepatitis C had progressed to the point that much of the cast had noticed his weight loss. He states that his past drug use had caught up with him. He was struggling to remember lines due to prescription medication.
2001: Appeared in Spy Kids Franchise
In 2001, Danny Trejo appeared in the Spy Kids franchise directed by Robert Rodriguez, playing the role of Isador "Machete" Cortez.
September 2002: Recovery by Spy Kids Premiere
By the time Spy Kids premiered in September 2002, Danny Trejo had fully recovered from Hepatitis C.
2003: Appeared in Spy Kids Franchise
From 2001 to 2003, Danny Trejo appeared in the Spy Kids franchise directed by Robert Rodriguez, playing the role of Isador "Machete" Cortez.
2003: Starred in Once Upon a Time in Mexico
In 2003, Danny Trejo starred in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, where he played roles as inmates, gangsters, or other criminals.
2004: Voice Acting in Def Jam: Fight for NY
In 2004, Danny Trejo voiced himself in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY.
2010: Reprised Role as Machete
In 2010, Danny Trejo reprised his role as Machete in the spin-off exploitation action film Machete, as the protagonist.
2010: Starred in Machete Film
In 2010, Danny Trejo starred in the full theatrical release of the film Machete, based on the character Isador "Machete" Cortez.
2011: Appeared in Recoil and Cross
In 2011, Danny Trejo appeared in the action film Recoil as Drayke Selgado, with Steve Austin, and played the role of the Ripper in Cross.
2011: 42 Years of Sobriety
In 2011, Danny Trejo recalled that he had been sober for the previous 42 years, indicating he overcame his drug addictions.
2012: Starred in Bad Ass and Sons of Anarchy
In 2012, Danny Trejo starred in Bad Ass as Frank Vega, and appeared in Sons of Anarchy as Romero 'Romeo' Parada.
2013: KTTV Segment Filmed at Home
In 2013, Danny Trejo shared his journey from convict to film star with KTTV in Los Angeles, in a segment filmed in his home.
2013: Starred in Machete Kills
In 2013, Danny Trejo starred in the sequel film, Machete Kills.
2016: Voice Acting in Storks
In 2016, Danny Trejo's voice acting work included Storks.
2021: Belief About Edward James Olmos
In 2021, Danny Trejo stated that he believes Edward James Olmos has yet to accept him as a serious actor.
2022: Voice Acting in Minions: The Rise of Gru
In 2022, Danny Trejo's voice acting work included Minions: The Rise of Gru.
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