398: Danny Trejo | Inmate #1

Breakthrough

Danny Trejo's Hollywood breakthrough is a story of serendipity and grit. While working as a drug counselor on a movie set, he was asked to train actor Eric Roberts in boxing for the film Runaway Train. This opportunity led to his first acting role, thanks to director Andrei Konchalovsky's desire for contrast in the film 1. Trejo humorously recalls the moment he was chosen for the role and the unexpected kiss from Konchalovsky, marking the start of his acting career 2.

I started training Eric Roberts how to box for this movie and they're paying me 320 a day. You know what I mean? So I worked with him for about four days and then the guy that they had cast to fight Eric in the movie comes in and he's the prettiest Spaniard you'd ever seen, man. He's prettier than Antonio Banderas.

--- Danny Trejo

This chance encounter on set transformed Trejo's life, leading to a prolific career in Hollywood.

   

On-Screen Deaths

Trejo's on-screen deaths have become legendary, particularly his iconic scene in Heat with Robert De Niro. He reflects on the realism of the scene and its impact on his family, who found it too distressing to watch 3. Trejo's career began with roles as inmate number one, but he quickly became a sought-after actor, known for his authenticity and presence on screen 4.

I am more proud of that death scene than I am of a lot of movies that I've done because first of all, Robert De Niro killed me. Secondly, I did it just like he said, and it came out awesome.

--- Danny Trejo

His willingness to embrace typecasting opened doors for many Latin actors, changing the landscape of Hollywood casting.