Famous actor Danny Trejo is a Hollywood legend, according to Buzz Bingo’s ranking. He has also surpassed iconic actors such as Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, John Hurt, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi. After spending almost ten years in Soledad State Prison in California, Danny Trejo’s life took a dramatic turn and he is now a leading figure in contemporary cinema.
Danny Trejo and its characters in fiction
It is usual that actors like to be the hero of the movie, for their character to survive or, if they pass on, to do so in the most emotional way possible. Neverhtless, there is one actor whose main aim is to complete the opposite. It’s Danny Trejo, who always wants his character in fiction to end up dead.
This is due to the fact that he normally plays criminals, and at the age of 81 he is still active, despite of with small roles, but with the clear idea of sending a message to the world that crime does not pay, this being the mode as he has found to express himself.
In 2020, Buzz Bingo presented the list of the actors with the most deaths in film history, with Trejo holding that honor, at the time with 65 deaths. He was followed by Christopher Lee (60 deaths), Lance Henriksen (51), Vincent Price (41), Dennis Hopper (41), Boris Karloff (41), John Hurt (39), Bela Lugosi (36), Tom Sizemore (36) and Eric Roberts (35). In addition, Trejo’s first death was in 1987’s ‘Death Wish 4’, where he died from a wine bottle explosion.
Trejo’s unusual contract clause
By ensuring that all his negative characters meet their demise, Trejo aims to impart a crucial life lesson to the audience, especially the younger ones who might be easily influenced by the world of fiction and films. By having such a clause in his contract, the on-screen deaths emphasize the consequences of what a life of crime can lead to.
Danny Trejo is an actor like any other. While most actors choose the profession to earn fame and money, Trejo has found an unconventional way of spreading a positive message to his fans. While many would find it weird, it makes a lot of sense when one reads the life story of the actor.
Throughout his early years, the actor battled heroin addiction and was involved in drug dealing, a range of different criminal activities, and more. This led him to multiple visits to detention camps, juvenile halls, and even jail several times in his early years. He eventually found himself in San Quentin Prison, serving for five years where he not only became a champion boxer but also enrolled in a twelve-step recovery program.
Following his release from the San Quentin Prison, which was his last prison term, the actor started working with drug addicts. It was through this that he found himself on the set of Runaway Train, landing him his first acting role (via Empire and CSUN Today). This remarkable twist of fate further motivated him to help people and today he is recognized for his down-to-earth nature and and charitable causes.
The legendary and bizarre career of Danny Trejo
Before being parte of the world of cinema, he went to prison for drugs, specifically in 1968, at Soledad State Prison in California, where he spent 11 years. After his release, he slowly turned to be one of Hollywood’s most loved stars, most usual playing the bad guy.
In an interview with EuroNews he explains:
“I used to fight all the time. I started taking drugs at a very young age. And then I started committing crimes and went to jail many times. I always thought I would die in prison.”
Making it clear that in real life it is not like in fiction: “Everyone thinks I’m a bad guy, but I’m not, I like puppies”. ‘Machete’ (2010), ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’ (1996), ‘Desperado’ (1995), ‘Heat’ (1995) and ‘Con Air’ (1997) are some of his most notable films.
