Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood
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- Create Date：2021-07-05 11:31:25
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Danny Trejo
- ISBN：1797122924
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Reviews
Jeff
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A Hell Of A Life。 Danny Trejo didn't start acting - professionally - until he was almost 40 years old。 Mostly because a large part of the rest of that time， he was high and/ or in prison， including some of California's most notorious。 Today， Trejo is known as one of the more prolific and high profile actors out there， with over 400 acting credits to his name + his line of Trejo's Tacos restaurants。Here， we see at least pieces of pretty much all of his 70+ years， from his early childhood as the o A Hell Of A Life。 Danny Trejo didn't start acting - professionally - until he was almost 40 years old。 Mostly because a large part of the rest of that time， he was high and/ or in prison， including some of California's most notorious。 Today， Trejo is known as one of the more prolific and high profile actors out there， with over 400 acting credits to his name + his line of Trejo's Tacos restaurants。Here， we see at least pieces of pretty much all of his 70+ years， from his early childhood as the only male in a house full of women and girls to his first time using various substances to his first robbery and the time he was worried he was about to face capital charges after a prison riot。 Much of the front half of the story in particular focuses on his times in and around prisons during the first 2-3 decades of his life， and we see how he gained his "tough guy" persona。 He lived it。 It was either be tough or be dead。Which actually makes the discussions of his confrontations with none other than （then *recent*） Oscar nominee Edward James Olmos over the movie American Me even more epic。And yes， the back quarter ish is primarily about Trejo's life in Hollywood and how that impacted him and his family。 It is here that we see some of the things that will cause many of us to go "I remember that movie！" and "Oh Trejo was [insert opinion here] in that one！"。In between， we get to see what Trejo was doing in between - which aside from a lot of personal mistakes， was saving a lot of lives and helping a lot of people recover from drug addiction - a passion he pursues to this day。Serious yet hilarious throughout， this book doesn't pull any punches。 Trejo， an ex-con， openly admits to many things in this book that many would probably try to hide， including things that weren't known world wide before now （at least to casual observers）。 And yet we also get to see behind the scenes of just how much good Trejo has been able to accomplish throughout his life。 Truly a remarkable man， and a memoir well written and told。 Very much recommended。 。。。more
Kyle Erickson
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Most of you know who Danny Trejo is。 Even if you say you don’t， the instant you see his face， the feeling of recognition dawns on you。 The man is prolific。 He currently has 406 acting credits on IMDB。 He’s known for playing tough guys， although the twilight years of his career have seen him branching out to play a more rounded set of characters， although almost always with a tough exterior。 That tough exterior is there for a reason- Danny Trejo is a convicted felon。 He was once seconds away from Most of you know who Danny Trejo is。 Even if you say you don’t， the instant you see his face， the feeling of recognition dawns on you。 The man is prolific。 He currently has 406 acting credits on IMDB。 He’s known for playing tough guys， although the twilight years of his career have seen him branching out to play a more rounded set of characters， although almost always with a tough exterior。 That tough exterior is there for a reason- Danny Trejo is a convicted felon。 He was once seconds away from murdering an inmate before someone else got to him first。 He once got a call from the head of the Mexican mafia warning him that a certain film was going to be trouble， ending in the deaths of eight people。 He once did a favor for Kiefer Sutherland by threatening Sutherland’s stalker into leaving him alone。 You get the idea。 But Trejo is also a man who turned his life around entirely， and now lives to enact as much good as he can while he’s still on Earth。 The juxtaposition of his past and present selves is fully evident in anything Trejo does， including here， in his long anticipated memoir。 Full disclosure: I have wanted Danny Trejo to write a memoir since I was a teenager and first heard his story。 I am an absolute sucker for people who become successful from nothing （Educated， Born a Crime， The Glass Castle， etc） and I am even more of a sucker for people who turn their life around to help others。 Danny Trejo has also been in some of my favorite projects ever （Breaking Bad， Sons of Anarchy， Rick and Morty， B-99， Predators， etc） and has been involved in many movies from my childhood nostalgia brain （Spy Kids， Anaconda， Con-Air， etc）。 Not to mention， I have co-writer and fellow author Donal Logue on FB， where he sometimes shares short stories he's written about his life including， I realized as I finished this， his collaborator's note for this book， and I think he is a wonderful writer （I'm hoping the success of this book allows him to write his own）。 So there was virtually no way I wasn't going to enjoy this。 Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review！ I will say that I enjoyed the book so much， I immediately pre-ordered a signed copy after finishing。 "On that day， a warm day on Santa Monica Boulevard， all those years came back- good memories， bad memories。 I didn't have many people left who I could kick it about that time in our lives。 The homeless man with a broken arm had been a big-time dude in Soledad。 He was political， got respect， and now he was living on the streets。 I wondered how he'd broken his arm， what had happened all those years since the mid-60's when I'd last seen him; I wondered if he needed help。 I wish he hadn't walked away。 I wished we could have had a cup of coffee and cut it up。 I wish I could have given him a hug。" "I was a bad man on the hardest prison yards， but the most terrifying thing I ever had to face was my own emotions。 I'd been taught to harden my soul against all those feelings， and I'd been afraid if I opened that door， it might never close。 But now the door was open， and it was painful and scary and uplifting and right。" Danny Trejo had an intense childhood and adolescence。 Starting a life of drug dealing and drug-taking before hitting the double digits， the poverty and way of life he had been brought up in dragged him into a life of gangbanging and crime at a very early age。 He was in prison multiple times before the age of 25 and developed a reputation for being quite a fighter。 He became a boxing champion in prison， got hypnotized by Charles Manson （！！！）， and was generally quite a "bad guy"。 He also treated women extremely poorly and robbed people because he didn't consider them to really be people。 He was not swell。 But then he found religion， got clean， got out of prison， and devoted himself to getting others clean。 The amount of help Trejo has given to others in need throughout his life greatly outweighs the negative he did in his formative years， but what really sets him apart is how he uses those experiences to inform his ability to do good in the now。 He uses his acting career as a platform to affect change。 One thing he did that I was not aware of until this book is to help change the prison laws to release people on parole who committed felonies in jail before the age of 23， resulting in several hundred inmates who otherwise would still be in jail for crimes they committed in their youth being released。 He also negotiated between Mexican mafia heads and film crews to stop violence from erupting on set， which is both crazy and unique position for a person to be in。 "My film career is simply a vessel that helps me amplify a message to help a wider audience。 Don't get me wrong， I love movies。 Reenacting movies kept me sane in Folsom and Soledad。 Movies teach us valuable life lessons。 They teach us if we reach deep enough inside ourselves， we can overcome whatever problems we're dealing with， regardless of the odds。 But the most important thing to me about my life in the film world is that it helps me carry the message of God to as many people as possible。 If people are interested in me because of the films， my hope is that they will dig a little deeper into who I am and what I'm about in a way that helps spread the message of recovery。 If you think I walk as I talk， you might be more curious as to what I did to turn my life around。 " Danny ends up becoming an actor by essentially a freak coincidence of right time， right place while trying to help a kid get clean。 He shows up on a set to find him and runs into his old jail buddie Eddie Bunker， who gets him working on the movie as Eric Robert's boxing trainer。 The director sees Danny's face， decides he wants him to box Roberts in the film， and boom， he's an actor。 Now he's been killed in more movies than any other actor （to help show that crime doesn't pay）， and has one of the highest IMDB counts ever。 "An interviewer once asked me if I liked working on bad movies。 He wasn't trying to be rude， but I didn't love the question。 I don't believe there's such a thing as a bad movie。 I see every movie and TV role as an opportunity for me to support Maeve， my kids， and the people who depend on me。 If my involvement helps a movie get made， it creates jobs for crews that have families of their own to support。 How can that be bad？ And a bad day on a movie will always be a million times better than your best day in prison。" "The scene was so real， it was uncomfortable。 Tears poured out of me like a dam had broken。 I thought of all those times I'd looked at death， at a lifetime of imprisonment while waiting in Soledad to see if they were going to charge us with a capital crime。 I thought of the deaths of my birth mother， my father， my uncle， my mother。 I thought of the women I'd treated badly， the relationships I'd destroyed through ambivalence and selfishness， the fear for my children。 All the times I never cried when I should have finally caught up with me。 A certain set of rules helped me survive the first chunk of my life， the rules my uncle taught me。 Another set of rules kept me going all those years after I got out of the hole。 I stayed clean and sober by helping others get clean and sober。 But there was a part of me I had never dealt with or accepted that I had to confront。" Honestly， this book was one of my favorite memoirs of all time。 The combination of Danny's life story and Donal Logue's lyrical and introspective prose helped really make this book powerful。 The last few chapters had me surprisingly emotional and close to tears as Danny helps his son and daughter with crippling drug addiction。 He can help hundreds of random people get sober， but can't do anything for his children。 It's a horrifying prospect。 As the book closes， COVID has just set in， and Danny is headed through his old neighborhood， feeding families that need relief， the day before his 76th birthday。 He sees the places he grew up and the stores he's robbed and the houses he lived in， and how his life is so different now。 It's a truly wonderful ending。 Please read this book。 It's great。 I'm going to end it with the quote that actually brought a tear to my eye， an extreme rarity for non-fiction。 "My kids are healthy， I'm healthy， my dogs are healthy。 We're all happy。 I think， tomorrow I'll be 76 and I still have so much living to do， but in that moment， I'm content to let the world spin and enjoy being at home with my doggies。 I ask God one last question: I say， "God， how am I doing？"。 God replies， Great， Danny。 You're almost out of hell。 Keep it up。 I smile to myself and thank Him for my life。" 。。。more
Michelle Cornish
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I struggle to find the words to describe how truly amazing this book is。 But it's not just the book， this is Danny Trejo's life。 Wow！ I wanted to read the book because of seeing Danny in various movies and TV shows， but I had no idea he came from a life of crime and addiction。 What he's accomplished in his life is inspirational。 The more I read， the more I wanted to read。 The book is written in an honest， gracious， and humble way， and it's a privilege to have read Danny's story。 Not only does Da I struggle to find the words to describe how truly amazing this book is。 But it's not just the book， this is Danny Trejo's life。 Wow！ I wanted to read the book because of seeing Danny in various movies and TV shows， but I had no idea he came from a life of crime and addiction。 What he's accomplished in his life is inspirational。 The more I read， the more I wanted to read。 The book is written in an honest， gracious， and humble way， and it's a privilege to have read Danny's story。 Not only does Danny share his successes， but much of the book is about his mistakes as well。 Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC。 I loved this book so much I pre-ordered a copy for my husband！ 。。。more
Emily Bush
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Danny Trejo lived a long， hard life - all before he was 25。 A drug dealer and user， he ended up in some of the country’s most notorious prisons。 After doing time in places like Folsom and San Quentin， Danny found the strength to come clean and sober with help from God。 He didn’t grow up in a loving home， but always had lots of family around him who helped him… even when they were helping him find drugs and going on armed robberies together。 Knowing he would die in prison if he didn’t change， Dan Danny Trejo lived a long， hard life - all before he was 25。 A drug dealer and user， he ended up in some of the country’s most notorious prisons。 After doing time in places like Folsom and San Quentin， Danny found the strength to come clean and sober with help from God。 He didn’t grow up in a loving home， but always had lots of family around him who helped him… even when they were helping him find drugs and going on armed robberies together。 Knowing he would die in prison if he didn’t change， Danny made a choice to live differently。 He has helped open many recovery facilities in the San Fernando Valley and helped so many people kick their addiction to drugs and alcohol。 When he was helping others， he was helping himself as well。 Although he had troubled relationships with women and sometimes his children， Danny found a way to keep going。 Through illnesses， his kid’s own drug problems， and acting， Danny found himself closer to God and farther from the life he thought he was destined to have。 This is an incredible story of redemption。 There are times it was hard to follow as stories jump around and many people are introduced， but overall， definitely worth reading。 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy。 。。。more
Lisa
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Danny Trejo recounts his journey from troubled childhood， through addiction and incarceration to sobriety， redemption and life in Hollywood。 I'd seen Danny Trejo in many movies usually playing the bad guy who ends up getting killed but it wasn't until I saw him playing with puppies while giving an interview that gave a peek at his true self。 While playing with those puppies （who he promised to find good homes for） his hard exterior melted away and he became a happy， young boy receiving unconditi Danny Trejo recounts his journey from troubled childhood， through addiction and incarceration to sobriety， redemption and life in Hollywood。 I'd seen Danny Trejo in many movies usually playing the bad guy who ends up getting killed but it wasn't until I saw him playing with puppies while giving an interview that gave a peek at his true self。 While playing with those puppies （who he promised to find good homes for） his hard exterior melted away and he became a happy， young boy receiving unconditional love。 As he recounts his life， he doesn't sugarcoat what he's been through and he takes responsibility for the choices he made。 His unwavering dedication to helping others， whether they are recovering addicts， former inmates or the hardworking crews on movie and TV sets， is his key to staying happy and healthy。 Although brutal at times， I'm very happy I read this book to learn more about this unique performer。 。。。more
Wanda Argersinger
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We've all seen him， now we can know his story。 Danny Trejo， a man who went from the streets of Los Angeles to prison， and then on to movies to become the most killed man in America。 Danny Trejo tells the brutal， true story of how he survived gangs both out and in prison， the life he was destined to live。 How one relative can change the life of a young man and save him from himself。 How each of us has more say in our destinies than we believe。Danny's is a remarkable story of human survival， and t We've all seen him， now we can know his story。 Danny Trejo， a man who went from the streets of Los Angeles to prison， and then on to movies to become the most killed man in America。 Danny Trejo tells the brutal， true story of how he survived gangs both out and in prison， the life he was destined to live。 How one relative can change the life of a young man and save him from himself。 How each of us has more say in our destinies than we believe。Danny's is a remarkable story of human survival， and the ability to change our lives and become something more。 Told with honesty， brutality， and without shame， this is a story with heart。 。。。more
Brandon
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TREJO: My Life of Crime， Redemption and Hollywood is the memoir of actor Danny Trejo。Danny Trejo has been killed on screen over one hundred times and according to his IMDB， he has over three hundred acting credits to his name。 This guy just does not stop working。 But what about his time before films and movies？ I mean， the man didn’t become an actor until he hit forty！ Well， it turns out it’s pretty dark。Raised in a broken home， Danny took to the streets from an early age。 Surrounded by friends TREJO: My Life of Crime， Redemption and Hollywood is the memoir of actor Danny Trejo。Danny Trejo has been killed on screen over one hundred times and according to his IMDB， he has over three hundred acting credits to his name。 This guy just does not stop working。 But what about his time before films and movies？ I mean， the man didn’t become an actor until he hit forty！ Well， it turns out it’s pretty dark。Raised in a broken home， Danny took to the streets from an early age。 Surrounded by friends and family hopelessly addicted to drugs， the die had been cast for how Danny had been expected to turn out。 Shooting heroin at twelve years old and robbing shops shortly thereafter， Danny quickly found himself in and out of juvie。 This was a path that would lead directly to San Quentin。Danny’s formative years are the true star of this book。 It’s absolutely mind-blowing that he made it out alive given all he did as a criminal and all he experienced behind bars。 There were more than a few quotes I highlighted in the book from his time in prison that will stick with me for years to come:San Quentin is the most Right Now place on earth that isn’t a war zone。 If you want to survive， you have no choice but to be in one place， this very moment， and only this moment。 Will you live or will you die – today？ The first thing you have to do when you get locked up is make peace with the Right Now。 It will never be your friend， but you can’t let it be your enemy or you’ll go insane。When Danny finally got out and put his past behind him， he committed himself to a life of clean and sober living。 His work within the community to help those in need should be commended， along with anyone else who selflessly lives a life devoted to helping others。 It was through this work that he found himself on a movie set and being offered a role in Runaway Train， a role that would kick-start his career in Hollywood。From there we get lots of stories about the various films he’s worked on， his reluctance to take a role in a film that would have likely upset the Mexican mafia and story after story of being type cast as a tough dude who looks like he would kill you for flinching。 Some of these were interesting while others weren’t， but hearing it through Danny’s voice helped keep me engaged from cover to cover。I loved the story of how Machete films came to be and the character first being introduced through the Spy Kids movies （something I often forget）。 When the first stand-alone Machete film was made， it resurrected his career at a time when he was nearly broke and homeless in his sixties。Danny Trejo lives by his belief that every good thing that has happened to him has happened as a direct result of helping someone else。 It’s far from a bad way to live。 The man pulled himself out of what could have been a destiny of an early death and lived a rich， full life。 。。。more
Julie
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I have been somewhat fascinated with Danny Trejo ever since I read a little of his story。 He began life as one tough dude， in prison and on drugs， but then he found a way out， got noticed by a stunt coordinator， and began a long， prolific career as the instantly recognizable Mexican baddie and/or folk hero with a face like ten miles of bad road。 Movie professionals with whom he has worked， and there are tons of them， say he is a really sweet guy and a complete joy to work with。 Countless fans se I have been somewhat fascinated with Danny Trejo ever since I read a little of his story。 He began life as one tough dude， in prison and on drugs， but then he found a way out， got noticed by a stunt coordinator， and began a long， prolific career as the instantly recognizable Mexican baddie and/or folk hero with a face like ten miles of bad road。 Movie professionals with whom he has worked， and there are tons of them， say he is a really sweet guy and a complete joy to work with。 Countless fans see him as a groundbreaking Chicano actor who gets it right when he tells their stories。I was really excited to find that Netgalley would let me read this ARC。 It was a great read。 Trejo's early life is just every kind of bad thing one can imagine。 He was groomed for a life of crime and prison from an early age， and first shot up heroin when he was 12。 The stories he tells are way better than most movies you will see。 He really has been in the bad places he portrays in the movies; he's the real deal。 But one day he was in solitary， detoxing， and he just gave up his life to God。 He said， "God， help me。" and instantly he felt peace， and an echo of the word "help。" He took this to mean that he needed to give God control of his life， but also if he wanted help， he had to help other people。 He proceeded to spend the rest of his life doing just that。 For the next 50 years he worked as a recovery counselor and did everything he could to mentor， sponsor， and bring people back from the edge。 I found the spiritual tone of this book just right， in that Trejo does not preach or sound sanctimonious。 He just says he prays every day and that it is only by the grace of God that he is alive， working， sober， and surrounded by good friends and family。 Also I appreciated his honesty about the fact that the dysfunctional culture of what we now call "toxic masculinity" in which he was raised made it difficult for him to treat women with respect or to tell family that he loved them。 He says his daughter Danielle is the person who stood up to him and really made him aware of how this was hurting those who loved him。 He is candid about his own struggles with sobriety， and especially about the heartbreak of watching his own children go through the same thing。I think pretty much anyone will appreciate Trejo's honesty and authenticity。 These are some of the wildest stories I've ever heard， and if they made it， it would be a killer movie。 I just don't know who would play him because he is such an original。 Although the book is for mature readers in terms of language， drug use， gangs， and violence， I really think it would be a great book to pass along to a reluctant teenaged reader， especially if they are already fans of Machete， Sons of Anarchy， or Spy Kids or any of Trejo's 300+ other movies。 Enjoy！ 。。。more
Amanda Zirn Hudson
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An epic memoir by an epic actor and humanitarian！ Now I want tacos。
amanda eve
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Pretty much what you’d expect: moving， funny， and full of incredible stories （he was hypnotized by Charles Manson！）。
Barry Hammond
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