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Danny Trejo Biography

Birth Name:Dan Trejo

Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

In 2012 he was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame, based in Austin, Texas
After speaking in Los Angeles at a recovery meeting, he met and befriended a man who was in the movie business, who took him to the set of "Runaway Train" and offered him a job as an extra in prison scenes
While serving his 11 year sentence for murder and robbery charges, he became the state prison champion in both lightweight and welterweight wrestling divisions
Quote: "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․'"
Quote: "Juvenile hall, youth authority ․․․ I was in a lot of trouble․ I grew up like the characters I've been playing․ But would I do things differently? I honestly believe that circumstances create destiny, almost․"
Due to his convict background, he has portrayed criminals in numerous films such as "Runaway Train," "Machete," and "Con Air․"
His character in the 1995 film "Heat" is named Trejo

2007Feature Film Award-Best Actor: winner
2011ALMA Award-Favorite Movie Actor: nominated
2011EDA Special Mention Award-Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Leading Man and the Love Interest: nominated
2013Action on Film Award-Best Supporting Actor - Feature: nominated
2013Action on Film Award-Best Villain - Feature: nominated
2014Texas Film Hall of Fame-Star of Texas Award: winner
2018FANtastic Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film: nominated
2020IFS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2020Platinum Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2020Gold Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2020October Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2020October Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2020October Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2020November Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2020November Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2020LEJA Award-Best Voice or Motion Capture Performance: nominated
2020Leo-Best Feature Length Documentary: winner
2020November Award-Best Actor Short Film: winner
2020November Award-Best Actor: nominated
2021Best Actor-Best Actor: nominated
2021Best Ensemble Cast (Short)-Best Ensemble Cast (Short): nominated
2021Jury Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2021Honorable Mention-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2021First Quarter Technical & Performance Award-Best Actor - Short Film: nominated
2021First Quarter Bronze Award-Best Actor - Short Film: winner
2021Jury Prize-Best Actor: winner
2024Lifetime Achievement Award-: winner