'Inmate #1': The true story of Danny Trejo's rise from convict to pop culture icon and legendary actor
Today, Danny Trejo is one of the most iconic individuals in Hollywood. But Trejo's star did not always shine so bright. The 76-year-old actor has been a part of over 200 different projects, from film and television to animation and games. From the 'Spy Kids' franchise that gave him the nickname Machete and the killer action movies he's done with his second cousin and frequent collaborator Robert Rodriguez to games like 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' and guest appearances on shows like 'Rick and Morty', Trejo has practically done it all.
But years before he was a household name, Trejo struggled with a substance abuse problem and did time in a number of California prisons. Throughout the '60s, a young Danny Trejo was in and out of prison and his last sentence was reportedly for five years. At one point, Trejo served time in San Quentin State Prison where he became a champion boxer and was introduced to a 12-step program that helped him overcome his drug issues. Those two things would eventually also lead to Trejo getting his big break.
Now it's been so very long since Trejo served time and, looking back, his life's story is really quite inspiring. Way back in 2007, Trejo spoke to CraveOnline about just how blessed he feels to have gotten his shot at fame and security. "It's really kind of funny," he said. "To me, it's amazing. I'm so blessed. I'm still scared that somebody's going to wake me up and say, 'Hey, we're still in prison. Let's go to chow.'"
Well, it's been over a decade since he said those words but Trejo isn't forgetting about his roots anytime soon. That rollercoaster journey from being a convict to the legendary actor we know today is the subject of a brand-new documentary. Titled 'Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo' and directed by Brett Harvey, the documentary will see Trejo discuss his time in prison in greater detail and talk about how he managed to overcome his demons and emerge a star.
'Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo' is scheduled to release on July 7 on Digital HD.