A native of Los Angeles, Trejo's film career began in , when he landed a role in Runaway Train Subsequently, in , Trejo reprised his role as Machete in the spin-off exploitation action film Machete as the protagonist. With the success of Machete , Trejo once again reprised his role in a direct sequel, Machete Kills Everybody , and SCUM , among others.
Danny Trejo was born on May 16, , in Maywood, California. Trejo was often abused by his father. Shortly after his birth, Trejo and his family briefly lived in San Antonio , Texas; they fled Los Angeles because Dionisio was wanted by police for stabbing another man.
After a year, they returned to Los Angeles and Trejo's father turned himself in. Trejo was using marijuana , heroin , and cocaine by ages 8, 12, and 18, respectively. Years later, he purchased his childhood home and often lived in it. At age seven, Trejo participated in his first drug deal. Throughout the s, Trejo's life consisted predominantly of intermittent jail stints in the California prison system. While doing a stint in Los Angeles County jail in , he met Charles Manson , whom he described as a "dirty, greasy, scrawny white boy" who was allegedly a talented hypnotist.
Trejo arrived at San Quentin State Prison in , and his heroin use was exacerbated shortly thereafter. Regarding himself, Trejo has suggested his physical appearance contributed to his constantly getting into trouble. From that fracas, Trejo ended up in solitary confinement, facing capital charges and, potentially, the death penalty, after hitting a guard with a rock.
While in solitary, Trejo found faith [ 33 ] [ 11 ] and became a member of a step program , having first attended one "by accident" aged He successfully overcame his drug addictions, recalling in that he had been sober for the previous 42 years.
