What do you think?
Rate this book
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood
For the first time, the full, fascinating, and inspirational true story of Danny Trejo’s journey from crime, prison, addiction, and loss to unexpected fame as Hollywood’s favorite bad guy with a heart of gold.
On screen, Danny Trejo the actor is a baddie who has been killed at least a hundred times. He’s been shot, stabbed, hanged, chopped up, squished by an elevator, and once, was even melted into a bloody goo. Off screen, he’s a hero beloved by recovery communities and obsessed fans alike. But the real Danny Trejo is much more complicated than the legend.
Raised in an abusive home, Danny struggled with heroin addiction and stints in some of the country’s most notorious state prisons, including San Quentin and Folsom, from an early age, before starring in such modern classics as Heat, From Dusk till Dawn, and Machete. Now, in this funny, painful, and suspenseful memoir, Danny takes us through the incredible ups and downs of his life, including meeting one of the world’s most notorious serial killers in prison and working with legends like Charles Bronson and Robert De Niro.
In honest, unflinching detail, Danny recounts how he managed the horrors of prison, rebuilt himself after finding sobriety and spirituality in solitary confinement, and draws inspiration from the adrenaline-fueled robbing heists of his past for the film roles that made him a household name. He also shares the painful contradictions in his personal life. Although he speaks everywhere from prison yards to NPR about his past to inspire countless others on their own road to recovery and redemption, he struggles to help his children with their personal battles with addiction, and to build relationships that last.
Redemptive and painful, poignant and real, Trejo is a portrait of a magnificent life and an unforgettable and exceptional journey through tragedy, pain, and, finally, success that will transfix and inspire.
On screen, Danny Trejo the actor is a baddie who has been killed at least a hundred times. He’s been shot, stabbed, hanged, chopped up, squished by an elevator, and once, was even melted into a bloody goo. Off screen, he’s a hero beloved by recovery communities and obsessed fans alike. But the real Danny Trejo is much more complicated than the legend.
Raised in an abusive home, Danny struggled with heroin addiction and stints in some of the country’s most notorious state prisons, including San Quentin and Folsom, from an early age, before starring in such modern classics as Heat, From Dusk till Dawn, and Machete. Now, in this funny, painful, and suspenseful memoir, Danny takes us through the incredible ups and downs of his life, including meeting one of the world’s most notorious serial killers in prison and working with legends like Charles Bronson and Robert De Niro.
In honest, unflinching detail, Danny recounts how he managed the horrors of prison, rebuilt himself after finding sobriety and spirituality in solitary confinement, and draws inspiration from the adrenaline-fueled robbing heists of his past for the film roles that made him a household name. He also shares the painful contradictions in his personal life. Although he speaks everywhere from prison yards to NPR about his past to inspire countless others on their own road to recovery and redemption, he struggles to help his children with their personal battles with addiction, and to build relationships that last.
Redemptive and painful, poignant and real, Trejo is a portrait of a magnificent life and an unforgettable and exceptional journey through tragedy, pain, and, finally, success that will transfix and inspire.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2021
About the author
Danny Trejo
13 books942 followersDanny Trejo has developed a prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard-earned and atypical road to success. From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now on to restaurant ventures, Trejo’s name, face, and achievements are well recognized in Hollywood and beyond.
Trejo has starred in dozens of films including DESPERADO, HEAT, the FROM DUSK TILL DAWN series, CON AIR, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, the SPY KIDS movies, MACHETE, and MACHETE KILLS, the BAD ASS trilogy, DEAD AGAIN IN TOMBSTONE and co-starred in DEATH RACE 2, DEATH RACE: INFERNO, MUPPETS MOST WANTED, GRAND DADDY DAY CARE, 3 FROM HELL which was released in September 2019. Danny can also be seen in MADNESS IN THE METHOD, directed by Jason Mewes which was released in August 2019.
On the television side, Trejo reunited with Robert Rodriguez for Miramax’ From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. He also had recurring roles on Sons of Anarchy, King of the Hill, Breaking Bad, and The Flash, and has been featured in episodes of Blue Bloods,WHAT We Do in the Shadows, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Kidding, among others. Danny has recently wrapped the 3rd season of AMERICAN GODS, where he will be playing the character of MR. WORLD.
Additionally, Trejo has voiced characters in the animated films STORKS and THE BOOK OF LIFE, along with the series American Dad!, Rick and Morty, Puss in Boots, Young Justice and Family Guy. He also voices the character of Boots in DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD, which released in August 2019. More recently, Trejo has lent his voice to Cartoon Network’s Victor and Valentino, Disney Channel’s Big City Greens, and Universal Pictures’ MINIONS 2: The Rise of Gru. Comedian Pete Davidson recently performed an original rap song titled “Danny Trejo”on Saturday Night Live as a tribute to Mr. Trejo.
If you didn’t think Trejo was busy enough, he recently expanded his Trejo’s Tacos empire to include 8 locations in the Los Angeles area, including two new locations at the Original Farmer’s Market and in the Colony in West LA. Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts has also proven to be just as successful and will continue to expand in the near future.
Despite Danny’s impressive list of credits, it is his continuous role as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor that bring him the most satisfaction. Danny is excited to share his love of food with the world with the release of his first cookbook Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from LA, released in April, 2020. Danny’s colorful life and prolific career are chronicled in the new bio-documentary Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo which will be available July 2020.
Trejo has starred in dozens of films including DESPERADO, HEAT, the FROM DUSK TILL DAWN series, CON AIR, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, the SPY KIDS movies, MACHETE, and MACHETE KILLS, the BAD ASS trilogy, DEAD AGAIN IN TOMBSTONE and co-starred in DEATH RACE 2, DEATH RACE: INFERNO, MUPPETS MOST WANTED, GRAND DADDY DAY CARE, 3 FROM HELL which was released in September 2019. Danny can also be seen in MADNESS IN THE METHOD, directed by Jason Mewes which was released in August 2019.
On the television side, Trejo reunited with Robert Rodriguez for Miramax’ From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. He also had recurring roles on Sons of Anarchy, King of the Hill, Breaking Bad, and The Flash, and has been featured in episodes of Blue Bloods,WHAT We Do in the Shadows, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Kidding, among others. Danny has recently wrapped the 3rd season of AMERICAN GODS, where he will be playing the character of MR. WORLD.
Additionally, Trejo has voiced characters in the animated films STORKS and THE BOOK OF LIFE, along with the series American Dad!, Rick and Morty, Puss in Boots, Young Justice and Family Guy. He also voices the character of Boots in DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD, which released in August 2019. More recently, Trejo has lent his voice to Cartoon Network’s Victor and Valentino, Disney Channel’s Big City Greens, and Universal Pictures’ MINIONS 2: The Rise of Gru. Comedian Pete Davidson recently performed an original rap song titled “Danny Trejo”on Saturday Night Live as a tribute to Mr. Trejo.
If you didn’t think Trejo was busy enough, he recently expanded his Trejo’s Tacos empire to include 8 locations in the Los Angeles area, including two new locations at the Original Farmer’s Market and in the Colony in West LA. Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts has also proven to be just as successful and will continue to expand in the near future.
Despite Danny’s impressive list of credits, it is his continuous role as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor that bring him the most satisfaction. Danny is excited to share his love of food with the world with the release of his first cookbook Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from LA, released in April, 2020. Danny’s colorful life and prolific career are chronicled in the new bio-documentary Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo which will be available July 2020.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,468 reviews
August 8, 2021
3.5 What a life! Or should I say many lives, because if it is said that a cat has nine lives, Trejo is mighty close to that cat. I knew who he was, having five sons, the movies he was in appealed to them more than I. Violent movies of which I'm not a fan. But, what made me want to read his story, was a recent episode of Bear Grylls in which Trejo participated. The determination of this 77 year old man to complete the mission with Bear, which was not easy, was impressive. They talked during periodic rests about Trejos life and my interest was piqued.
Raw, gritty, honest this man has struggled, overcame, struggled again. Heroin at the age of twelve, various juvenile detentions, adult prisons, some of the worst and yet he became successful in movies, opened restaurants, other endevour. One of which he is most proud is going to juvenile detentions facilities and telling his story, helping those who are misusing drugs. His interactions with various stars in the movie business, was a lighter, more amusing part of this book.
His home life, then and now, full of conflict. His personal life not as successful as his commercial life. Still, by all accounts, he has made lemonade from some bitter lemons. Forgive the pun, but it fits. Lol!
Raw, gritty, honest this man has struggled, overcame, struggled again. Heroin at the age of twelve, various juvenile detentions, adult prisons, some of the worst and yet he became successful in movies, opened restaurants, other endevour. One of which he is most proud is going to juvenile detentions facilities and telling his story, helping those who are misusing drugs. His interactions with various stars in the movie business, was a lighter, more amusing part of this book.
His home life, then and now, full of conflict. His personal life not as successful as his commercial life. Still, by all accounts, he has made lemonade from some bitter lemons. Forgive the pun, but it fits. Lol!
January 11, 2022
4.5 Stars
I love Danny T. He tells his story and tells his truth no matter how bad it was. He narrates the book. He thank God for many things, including his dogs 😫
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I love Danny T. He tells his story and tells his truth no matter how bad it was. He narrates the book. He thank God for many things, including his dogs 😫
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 6, 2022
"Don’t take everything on your shoulders. The ocean, other people’s behavior, they do what they are going to do. Since you can’t control that, don’t be distressed about it."
I'm not a big fan of action movies and hadn't heard of Danny Trejo before seeing this book. I didn't plan to read it til my GR friend Claudia wrote an enticing review of it.
What a life this guy has had!
∙ First completed a drug deal at age seven.
∙ First arrested at age ten.
∙ First used heroin at age twelve.
∙ Was stoned at his First Holy Communion.
Young Danny's life was fast and hard and he fully expected to die in prison. Instead, he turned his life around, becoming a famous actor (the most-killed actor in Hollywood history) and helping innumerable others come off of drugs and turn their lives around.
This is an extremely interesting memoir and kept me riveted. Trejo is a tough talker with a heart of gold. He's like a giant teddy bear with the mouth of a sailor. He's open and honest and doesn't try to pretend to be anything other than who he is.
There was a bit too much god-talk for me but it's his book and at least he used his faith to become a better person, not a judgmental, hypocritical asshole.
Celebrity memoirs are often just an excuse to brag; not this one. Gritty, heartbreaking, tough, yet inspirational, this is a celebrity memoir worth reading.
I'm not a big fan of action movies and hadn't heard of Danny Trejo before seeing this book. I didn't plan to read it til my GR friend Claudia wrote an enticing review of it.
What a life this guy has had!
∙ First completed a drug deal at age seven.
∙ First arrested at age ten.
∙ First used heroin at age twelve.
∙ Was stoned at his First Holy Communion.
Young Danny's life was fast and hard and he fully expected to die in prison. Instead, he turned his life around, becoming a famous actor (the most-killed actor in Hollywood history) and helping innumerable others come off of drugs and turn their lives around.
This is an extremely interesting memoir and kept me riveted. Trejo is a tough talker with a heart of gold. He's like a giant teddy bear with the mouth of a sailor. He's open and honest and doesn't try to pretend to be anything other than who he is.
There was a bit too much god-talk for me but it's his book and at least he used his faith to become a better person, not a judgmental, hypocritical asshole.
Celebrity memoirs are often just an excuse to brag; not this one. Gritty, heartbreaking, tough, yet inspirational, this is a celebrity memoir worth reading.
August 6, 2022
Wow ok what can I say about this book to do it justice, here goes.
I have noticed the best true stories read like fiction, and this book was no exception.
Danny's story will stay with me for a long time and I can't think of anyone who wouldn't get something out of this book and his story.
What made this book so hard to read was not the way it was written, I really liked the way he told his story, but the content was not only disturbing, and heart breaking but up lifting as well. Danny's story really shows you just how hard life can be for some people, why also revealing how gods help is there for everyone, if we only reach out to him for help, he will be there not making us perfect, and fixing all our problems, but a rock in a stormy sea we can rest on before we brave the waves again.
Danny Trejo has always been one of my favourite bad guys in Hollywood, so I loved reading about his good side in this book. He is a tough guy too, it takes real strength to share a story like his, and to own up to everything he has in this book.
Thank you Danny for all the movies, and especially for sharing your story.
Really glad he choose to do blood in blood out. If you haven't seen it yet its probably one of the best prison movies out there even after all this time I highly recommend it and this book.
Happy Reading📚📗📕📘📔📙📖📒📚📓📙📖📗📘📕📔📚📘📓📗📙📒📖
I have noticed the best true stories read like fiction, and this book was no exception.
Danny's story will stay with me for a long time and I can't think of anyone who wouldn't get something out of this book and his story.
What made this book so hard to read was not the way it was written, I really liked the way he told his story, but the content was not only disturbing, and heart breaking but up lifting as well. Danny's story really shows you just how hard life can be for some people, why also revealing how gods help is there for everyone, if we only reach out to him for help, he will be there not making us perfect, and fixing all our problems, but a rock in a stormy sea we can rest on before we brave the waves again.
Danny Trejo has always been one of my favourite bad guys in Hollywood, so I loved reading about his good side in this book. He is a tough guy too, it takes real strength to share a story like his, and to own up to everything he has in this book.
Thank you Danny for all the movies, and especially for sharing your story.
Really glad he choose to do blood in blood out. If you haven't seen it yet its probably one of the best prison movies out there even after all this time I highly recommend it and this book.
Happy Reading📚📗📕📘📔📙📖📒📚📓📙📖📗📘📕📔📚📘📓📗📙📒📖
March 18, 2022
Most of us have seen Danny Trejo off and on throughout the years in movies. In fact, I remember him vividly as one of the bad dudes in Con Air.
He’s got such a memorable face and his tattoo on his chest is one of a kind!
I think the first time I saw him in a movie was From Dusk Till Dawn?!
When I found out he did a memoir last year, I had to listen to it.
What I did not know about was how brutal and crazy his life was before he became a movie star!
I enjoyed listening to him talk about his life in prison, his struggles with family, and also struggling with being an addict.
I commend him on finally getting clean from drugs and booze.
I love how he is using his experience to try to get others clean in the community.
In the book, Danny Trejo also talks about his love relationships and how he was not a faithful husband.
He acknowledges this and I like how he puts the blame on himself for the infidelities and not the women in his life. He’s honest and doesn’t try to cower from responsibility.
Honestly, there’s lots of great stories and topics in this memoir!
I had a great time listening to it even if Danny’s not the best narrator.
I would have rated this higher if someone else had narrated it because the pacing and pauses could have been better.
But at the same time, it wouldn’t have felt as REAL with someone else narrating so I’m a bit conflicted on this.
Get to this one if you like memoirs or want to know more about Danny Trejo the person, not just the actor.
It has a lot of humor, heart and I'm glad to find out how interesting his life has been!
He’s got such a memorable face and his tattoo on his chest is one of a kind!
I think the first time I saw him in a movie was From Dusk Till Dawn?!
When I found out he did a memoir last year, I had to listen to it.
What I did not know about was how brutal and crazy his life was before he became a movie star!
I enjoyed listening to him talk about his life in prison, his struggles with family, and also struggling with being an addict.
I commend him on finally getting clean from drugs and booze.
I love how he is using his experience to try to get others clean in the community.
In the book, Danny Trejo also talks about his love relationships and how he was not a faithful husband.
He acknowledges this and I like how he puts the blame on himself for the infidelities and not the women in his life. He’s honest and doesn’t try to cower from responsibility.
Honestly, there’s lots of great stories and topics in this memoir!
I had a great time listening to it even if Danny’s not the best narrator.
I would have rated this higher if someone else had narrated it because the pacing and pauses could have been better.
But at the same time, it wouldn’t have felt as REAL with someone else narrating so I’m a bit conflicted on this.
Get to this one if you like memoirs or want to know more about Danny Trejo the person, not just the actor.
It has a lot of humor, heart and I'm glad to find out how interesting his life has been!
June 25, 2021
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
June 15, 2024
"I first met [director/screenwriter/editor] Robert Rodriguez when I auditioned for the film Desperado. When I walked into the office, the first thing Robert did was laugh. He said 'You remind me of the bad kids in my high school.' I responded 'I am the bad kids from your high school.' He looked me over, handed me a knife, and told me to 'get good' with it [for the supporting role of hitman Navajas] . . . I didn't know how much meeting Robert was going to change my life." -- on page 216
I'm not sure how much more I can add to previous reviews of Danny Trejo's autobio (co-authored by friend and fellow character actor Donal Logue - they co-starred as a couple of mooks in director John Frankenheimer's now-forgotten final flick Reindeer Games), but I got the impression that Trejo is - and correctly considers himself to be - an extremely fortunate and grateful man. Growing up in 50's and 60's Los Angeles amidst a harsh family situation and tough environment - an early and sadly defining moment has his shameful parents disgustingly forcing him into the role of an arbitrator or mediator during one of their many disputes, when he was approximately ten years old - Trejo quickly graduates from juvenile delinquency to adult criminal activity, serving several years in California's notable prisons such as Folsom. He wisely leans on his strong Christian faith AND attends narcotics recovery programs to break a cycle that likely would have doomed a lesser former convict to the scourge of recidivism. Trejo sort of falls into the acting world by accident - via a featured part and quasi-technical advisor role in 1985's Runaway Train - and from there he slowly but steadily made a career of believably portraying tough dudes in countless films since the mid-90's, with supporting parts in Heat and Con Air before graduating to the title role in Machete. (Although the quote was not included in this book, Trejo once said in an interview that he appreciates when his villainous or bad characters receive justice and/or DON'T succeed in their transgressions, because he does not want an impressionable audience to actually emulate said activity.) Trejo is a pretty fair storyteller - I liked the candid moment when he admitted that certain two classic films provided him with strength and inspiration when he was younger - and I wouldn't mind the man having my back in a bar fight, either.
I'm not sure how much more I can add to previous reviews of Danny Trejo's autobio (co-authored by friend and fellow character actor Donal Logue - they co-starred as a couple of mooks in director John Frankenheimer's now-forgotten final flick Reindeer Games), but I got the impression that Trejo is - and correctly considers himself to be - an extremely fortunate and grateful man. Growing up in 50's and 60's Los Angeles amidst a harsh family situation and tough environment - an early and sadly defining moment has his shameful parents disgustingly forcing him into the role of an arbitrator or mediator during one of their many disputes, when he was approximately ten years old - Trejo quickly graduates from juvenile delinquency to adult criminal activity, serving several years in California's notable prisons such as Folsom. He wisely leans on his strong Christian faith AND attends narcotics recovery programs to break a cycle that likely would have doomed a lesser former convict to the scourge of recidivism. Trejo sort of falls into the acting world by accident - via a featured part and quasi-technical advisor role in 1985's Runaway Train - and from there he slowly but steadily made a career of believably portraying tough dudes in countless films since the mid-90's, with supporting parts in Heat and Con Air before graduating to the title role in Machete. (Although the quote was not included in this book, Trejo once said in an interview that he appreciates when his villainous or bad characters receive justice and/or DON'T succeed in their transgressions, because he does not want an impressionable audience to actually emulate said activity.) Trejo is a pretty fair storyteller - I liked the candid moment when he admitted that certain two classic films provided him with strength and inspiration when he was younger - and I wouldn't mind the man having my back in a bar fight, either.
January 17, 2024
Love him or hate him, Danny Trejo has led an intense life. If you go with the audio version, Danny reads to you, but it is a bit slow and halting, even sped up.
I enjoyed the wayward journey of Danny's life, and it was hard to read the role that addiction and poverty play in generations of a family. Danny is very frank and open about many of his trials and how he has grown and continues to grow, even in his 70s. I laughed at his pettiness even in his 50s when he admitted his relationship issues.
Worth the read if you are at all a fan. There is a bit of timeline jumping around, as Danny and the company decided to arrange the book more on chronological issues and then go back to the event's core and what led to it.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
I enjoyed the wayward journey of Danny's life, and it was hard to read the role that addiction and poverty play in generations of a family. Danny is very frank and open about many of his trials and how he has grown and continues to grow, even in his 70s. I laughed at his pettiness even in his 50s when he admitted his relationship issues.
Worth the read if you are at all a fan. There is a bit of timeline jumping around, as Danny and the company decided to arrange the book more on chronological issues and then go back to the event's core and what led to it.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
July 28, 2021
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood
by Danny Trejo
I really didn't know much about this actor except he played a lot of bad guy parts. Little did I know his life was a real drama. From childhood on, there was untold hardships, crime, poor choices, violence, prison sentences, drugs, and gangs. His whole family was prison bound or to die of violence.
He was unfaithful to his numerous wives and girlfriends. (Even after becoming a clean and sober, a Christian.) His belief in God didn't stop him from continuing to bed many women on the side.
His three kids all ended up being addicts but two were finally able to get help and stay clean.
In the beginning, he may have had a good career due to his looks as a criminal, which he had been. (One of the most feared in prison.) But near the end of his career he obtained his jobs because he was loved and not because of this criminal element.
Too bad he couldn't get his personal life together too! But it really didn't sound like he wanted to be family man in much of the book. He didn't like to be tied to only one woman, held back from going out, etc.
It's an interesting story but I don't think I would want to know him in real life. I am thankful I can continue to enjoy watching him on screen!
by Danny Trejo
I really didn't know much about this actor except he played a lot of bad guy parts. Little did I know his life was a real drama. From childhood on, there was untold hardships, crime, poor choices, violence, prison sentences, drugs, and gangs. His whole family was prison bound or to die of violence.
He was unfaithful to his numerous wives and girlfriends. (Even after becoming a clean and sober, a Christian.) His belief in God didn't stop him from continuing to bed many women on the side.
His three kids all ended up being addicts but two were finally able to get help and stay clean.
In the beginning, he may have had a good career due to his looks as a criminal, which he had been. (One of the most feared in prison.) But near the end of his career he obtained his jobs because he was loved and not because of this criminal element.
Too bad he couldn't get his personal life together too! But it really didn't sound like he wanted to be family man in much of the book. He didn't like to be tied to only one woman, held back from going out, etc.
It's an interesting story but I don't think I would want to know him in real life. I am thankful I can continue to enjoy watching him on screen!
Read
July 8, 2022This is one of the few times that I am not going to give a star rating to a book that I actually finished reading. I didn't love the way that this was written but I am glad that I read it. This memoir is unflinching and Trejo lays his life out in a raw and unfiltered way. Trejo has experienced, participated in, and witnessed things that I've thankfully only seen in movies and television shows. His life was full of violence, drugs, aggression, and so much anger it’s mind boggling that he survived so much. On top of all that Trejo dealt with in his life, he also embraced misogynistic machismo as a way to navigate his relationships with women, it was no wonder that he wasn't able to have stable relationships with them; romantic or otherwise for so long. By the end of the memoir Trejo is more self aware of his destructive approach to his relationships with women, but he still hasn't quite been able to do a lot about it. Which when it's all said and done is his choice. While reading his story I just keep thinking that this man was meant to fail in every aspect of his life and it's amazing to see what he managed to accomplish. I appreciated his interesting and direct descriptions of how he relates to God in a way that doesn't involve organized religion at all; just his understanding of a higher power that he relates to personally without any intermediaries telling him the 'right' way to do it.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
December 28, 2021
5 Stars for Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood (audiobook) by Danny Trejo and Donal Logue read by the author.
This story is incredible. The way Danny has turned his life around is inspiring. I’m so glad that this story has gotten recorded. It’s extra special hearing it in Danny’s own voice.
This story is incredible. The way Danny has turned his life around is inspiring. I’m so glad that this story has gotten recorded. It’s extra special hearing it in Danny’s own voice.
June 21, 2022
Donde hay vida, hay esperanza. If only everyone would have the same will to overcome their problems as Danny Trejo had.
This was a wild ride, but an inspirational one. From someone who had his first shot of heroine at 12, and had been to YTC/prison several times, it's a miracle he is still alive, and that he had become the man he is today. Not only he did not touch anymore alcohol or drugs since 25 yo, but he dedicated himself at helping others. His life motto is that by helping others and waiting nothing in return, he helps himself. That's a very rare feat nowadays.
His first 25 years were really scary and heartbreaking. The stories from prison are downright horror. His uncle Gilbert is both to blame and thank for Danny's actions and survival during those terrible years. But ever since his pledge, he turned his life almost 180 degrees. His work at detox centers, his speeches, his commitment to helping others really impressed me. My respect for him grew with every page, but he had me for good at: "[Dear God] Thank you for my dogs: Liam, Duke, Penny Lane, Sergeant Pepper, Raven, John Wesley Harding, Zeke, Dixie Wixie and Whisper."
Of course he's no saint; his personal life and relationship with women are something he never managed to fix. He was an asshole, and he admits it, even if it was too late when he realized it. But this doesn't diminish his achievements and how many others he helped during all these years - it's really impressive for a man who's been through so much evil, and raised in such a sick environment, to become a good, respected human being. He's the embodiment of "nothing is impossible".
I always take autobiographies with a grain of salt, but this one seemed genuine to me. The reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that more than once, the writing is polished too much and contrasts with the actual story. I guess this is Donal's Harvard hand (who, by the way, was also helped by Trejo). I think I would have preferred it more harsh, to be in perfect sync with Trejo's personality and life experience. But this is just a pet peeve of mine. Read the book, it's totally worth it, and you'll get to see that appearances sometimes do deceive.
This was a wild ride, but an inspirational one. From someone who had his first shot of heroine at 12, and had been to YTC/prison several times, it's a miracle he is still alive, and that he had become the man he is today. Not only he did not touch anymore alcohol or drugs since 25 yo, but he dedicated himself at helping others. His life motto is that by helping others and waiting nothing in return, he helps himself. That's a very rare feat nowadays.
His first 25 years were really scary and heartbreaking. The stories from prison are downright horror. His uncle Gilbert is both to blame and thank for Danny's actions and survival during those terrible years. But ever since his pledge, he turned his life almost 180 degrees. His work at detox centers, his speeches, his commitment to helping others really impressed me. My respect for him grew with every page, but he had me for good at: "[Dear God] Thank you for my dogs: Liam, Duke, Penny Lane, Sergeant Pepper, Raven, John Wesley Harding, Zeke, Dixie Wixie and Whisper."
Of course he's no saint; his personal life and relationship with women are something he never managed to fix. He was an asshole, and he admits it, even if it was too late when he realized it. But this doesn't diminish his achievements and how many others he helped during all these years - it's really impressive for a man who's been through so much evil, and raised in such a sick environment, to become a good, respected human being. He's the embodiment of "nothing is impossible".
I always take autobiographies with a grain of salt, but this one seemed genuine to me. The reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that more than once, the writing is polished too much and contrasts with the actual story. I guess this is Donal's Harvard hand (who, by the way, was also helped by Trejo). I think I would have preferred it more harsh, to be in perfect sync with Trejo's personality and life experience. But this is just a pet peeve of mine. Read the book, it's totally worth it, and you'll get to see that appearances sometimes do deceive.
June 22, 2024
His face is immediately recognizable, he is the baddest of the bad, the true icon of hispanic crime. You see him and you can place him in more movies and series that you can count, most surely you haven't seen all of his work, but what I'm sure of, is that you will recognize him beyond his roles in any certain work.
But does the roles he is best known for and that drove him to fame, the roles of the ultimate mexican thug, truly represent the man behind the face?
This book tells the story of Danny Trejo through his own retelling of his life, as he lived it, and as many people around the globe don't know it.
The truth is, the acting and stardom of Trejo are just the wrapping of a gifted life of a lost youth, who was born in a falmily and an environment that guaranteed his commitmment to a miserable success as a thug for life in the mexican crime world, his early teens were so full of trouble that he was incarcerated early on, that he reached adulthood behind bars was a sure thing to have a person sticking to the path of crime for life and for knowing no way else to live a life...
But a seed will grow and flower what it is ordained to fruit regardless of the surrounding trees, and this is exactly what happened with Trejo, his moment of enlightment did not pass unheaded, his true self manifested at the time of life sending him a 'signal' for collecting his shit together and start anew, to redeem himself, and to be a beacon of hope for lost souls around him.
Danny Trejo was hailed as the most killed actor in cinema history, with a record of 65 deaths on screen! but the one death that truly counts is the off-screen death of the gangster Trejo behind bars, the death that gave birth to the person we have today...
It is a book of redemption, and I love these books for the amount of insight into the human soul they bring, and the hope they cultivate in a cruel world, it is not a book about a movie star and the world of showbiz. Actually, without them Danny would have still been an awe inspiring character with an exemplary life.
Well met Mr. Trejo, number one on the call sheet :)
MiM
But does the roles he is best known for and that drove him to fame, the roles of the ultimate mexican thug, truly represent the man behind the face?
This book tells the story of Danny Trejo through his own retelling of his life, as he lived it, and as many people around the globe don't know it.
The truth is, the acting and stardom of Trejo are just the wrapping of a gifted life of a lost youth, who was born in a falmily and an environment that guaranteed his commitmment to a miserable success as a thug for life in the mexican crime world, his early teens were so full of trouble that he was incarcerated early on, that he reached adulthood behind bars was a sure thing to have a person sticking to the path of crime for life and for knowing no way else to live a life...
But a seed will grow and flower what it is ordained to fruit regardless of the surrounding trees, and this is exactly what happened with Trejo, his moment of enlightment did not pass unheaded, his true self manifested at the time of life sending him a 'signal' for collecting his shit together and start anew, to redeem himself, and to be a beacon of hope for lost souls around him.
Danny Trejo was hailed as the most killed actor in cinema history, with a record of 65 deaths on screen! but the one death that truly counts is the off-screen death of the gangster Trejo behind bars, the death that gave birth to the person we have today...
It is a book of redemption, and I love these books for the amount of insight into the human soul they bring, and the hope they cultivate in a cruel world, it is not a book about a movie star and the world of showbiz. Actually, without them Danny would have still been an awe inspiring character with an exemplary life.
Well met Mr. Trejo, number one on the call sheet :)
MiM
October 8, 2021
Excellent book. Great story telling. Not sure how anyone could give this book 1 star, but Machete will find you.
June 2, 2021
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.
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.
February 7, 2022
⭐5 Amazing Stars⭐ Thank you Danny Trejo and Donal Logue for giving me my first 5 star read of 2022!!! If I could give this book a million stars, I would.
This is the most incredible memoir I have ever read. Danny Trejo is so AUTHENTIC, raw, honest and humble. He gives you the good, bad, and ugly and does not shy away from talking about his life's mistakes. I have never dog earred a book this much. His authencity makes you fear him and then fall in love with him. If he knocked on my door and needed a place to stay, he would have one. His level of geniuneness and honesty makes me feel like I want him as my new BFF.
Throughout the book you will have to keep reminding yourself that this book is non-fiction, because he went through so much chaos and so many crazy incidents, its hard to believe it is real and that those things could all happen to one individual. I would give examples, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. You just need to read this book and find out for yourself!!!
I knew this book would tug on my heartstrings because I come from a family of generations of addicts. I lost my brother to a heroin/fentanyl overdose in 2018. He was my best friend, someone who would do anything for anyone, incredibly charismatic, handsome, smart, and loved. But, he had a terrible disease, one he came by honestly due to genetics. Some people will never understand addiction fully because they will never live through it, never be personally impacted and they should be so thankful. The roller coaster you are on with addicts is like nothing else you will ever experience. It physically, emotionally and mentally drains you. It terrifies you because you live in fear, praying that you don't receive "the phone call". At 2:17AM, the morning my father called my husband's phone, I had already not been sleeping well. I had that bad feeling. I knew when I saw my dad's name pop up on my husband's phone. To hear my mother wailing in the background was the worst sound I have ever heard in my life. I will never be able to get that sound out of my head.
I applaud Danny for sharing his story, being so open and giving people hope. His level of redemption is astonishing. He has served his community selflessly for 50+years in helping people recover from drug addiction. He chose August 23rd, 1968 as his sobriety date. "I prayed, "God, if You allow me to die with dignity, I will say Your name every day and do everything I can to help my fellow man."' The number 23 is such an important number in my own family, from multiple family members born on that day including my brother, to anniversaries, and other events. I smiled so hard when I saw that number.
Danny, God Bless you and what an amazing inspiration you are to so many people. You have been through so much, and still have stayed sober and continued fighting to help others stay off of drugs. God definitely did have a plan for you.
"I asked God for help and he told me to stay clean and help other people. That's the recipe. It's that simple. Drinking and drugs might temporarily bring some relief, but there is no problem in life that drugs and alcohol don't make worse-whether the issue is financial, emotional, or legal."
This is the most incredible memoir I have ever read. Danny Trejo is so AUTHENTIC, raw, honest and humble. He gives you the good, bad, and ugly and does not shy away from talking about his life's mistakes. I have never dog earred a book this much. His authencity makes you fear him and then fall in love with him. If he knocked on my door and needed a place to stay, he would have one. His level of geniuneness and honesty makes me feel like I want him as my new BFF.
Throughout the book you will have to keep reminding yourself that this book is non-fiction, because he went through so much chaos and so many crazy incidents, its hard to believe it is real and that those things could all happen to one individual. I would give examples, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. You just need to read this book and find out for yourself!!!
I knew this book would tug on my heartstrings because I come from a family of generations of addicts. I lost my brother to a heroin/fentanyl overdose in 2018. He was my best friend, someone who would do anything for anyone, incredibly charismatic, handsome, smart, and loved. But, he had a terrible disease, one he came by honestly due to genetics. Some people will never understand addiction fully because they will never live through it, never be personally impacted and they should be so thankful. The roller coaster you are on with addicts is like nothing else you will ever experience. It physically, emotionally and mentally drains you. It terrifies you because you live in fear, praying that you don't receive "the phone call". At 2:17AM, the morning my father called my husband's phone, I had already not been sleeping well. I had that bad feeling. I knew when I saw my dad's name pop up on my husband's phone. To hear my mother wailing in the background was the worst sound I have ever heard in my life. I will never be able to get that sound out of my head.
I applaud Danny for sharing his story, being so open and giving people hope. His level of redemption is astonishing. He has served his community selflessly for 50+years in helping people recover from drug addiction. He chose August 23rd, 1968 as his sobriety date. "I prayed, "God, if You allow me to die with dignity, I will say Your name every day and do everything I can to help my fellow man."' The number 23 is such an important number in my own family, from multiple family members born on that day including my brother, to anniversaries, and other events. I smiled so hard when I saw that number.
Danny, God Bless you and what an amazing inspiration you are to so many people. You have been through so much, and still have stayed sober and continued fighting to help others stay off of drugs. God definitely did have a plan for you.
"I asked God for help and he told me to stay clean and help other people. That's the recipe. It's that simple. Drinking and drugs might temporarily bring some relief, but there is no problem in life that drugs and alcohol don't make worse-whether the issue is financial, emotional, or legal."
March 7, 2023
An absolutely beautiful, inspiring tale which takes you from the gritty streets of LA and the most inhospitable prisons in the western world to the recovery groups and Hollywood movies experienced my Danny Trejo.
His story is awe inspiring for so many reasons and is full of Chicano culture, deep faith, poignant self reflection and fatherly advice.
I love this book deeply and highly recommend it. It doesn't read like a celebrity memoir, but like a redemption story and a story of grace and recovery.
Danny's acting career is genuinely the least interesting thing about him.
His story is awe inspiring for so many reasons and is full of Chicano culture, deep faith, poignant self reflection and fatherly advice.
I love this book deeply and highly recommend it. It doesn't read like a celebrity memoir, but like a redemption story and a story of grace and recovery.
Danny's acting career is genuinely the least interesting thing about him.
October 24, 2021
Raw, unfiltered, unflinching. If you choose to read this book I recommend the audio version narrated by the author. For me, hearing the story in Trejo's hoarse, halting voice added impact and credibility to his remarkable testimony.
3.5 stars, rounded up
3.5 stars, rounded up
August 14, 2021
This was definitely my kind of memoir: raw, unfiltered, told in what feels like an extremely authentic voice (Trejo has personality for days), and packed to the gills with interesting—hell, often downright insane—stories. Danny Trejo’s life has really been an extraordinary one, and I find his unique blend of former drug-addicted convict/current badass (yes, even in his 70s he’s still not someone I’d recommend trying to fuck with), combined with one of the kindest, most generous spirits I’ve ever encountered, well, I find that combination really compelling; he’s someone I look up to in many ways. His core philosophy of doing things for others without expecting anything in return is something we should all aspire to, and something that seems pretty simple in theory, but is often very hard to remember to observe in practice. I don’t usually go in for stuff that can be classified as “inspirational,” because that kind of thing is far too likely to be off-puttingly syrupy and gung-ho, but this was one inspirational life story that felt as though it truly merited such a label. So, if you’ve ever enjoyed Trejo’s performances in film and/or television and want to know more about him and how he overcame the staggering odds into which he was born, I’d definitely recommend picking up this book.
See this review for a more comprehensive description of what the book covers:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
See this review for a more comprehensive description of what the book covers:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 17, 2021
Damn, this guy has had one roller coaster life. I think I first knew of him in Con Air, but he had lived an eternity before that. A childhood of crime, teen of crime and drugs, frequented many prisons, got his famous chest tattoo over the course of several different prison stays. He got clean, became a movie star, a taco restaurant owner, a dad, cancer survived, and so much more. The book is a wonderful view into his life, unapologetic, uncensored, and full of detail. A wonderful read for anyone who loves autobiographies.
January 2, 2022
Actor Danny Trejo has an epic cult movie following, portraying hardened criminals with often brutal endings on screen. In real life, Trejo struggled from an early age with heroin addiction and did time in several state prisons, including San Quentin and Folsom. He went on to find sobriety with the help of his faith and devote his life to recovery communities while also starring in classic films like Heat and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Trejo is a fascinating autobiography, told with brutal honesty and brave self reflection as he dives into the contradictions of his own life and the culture he was raised in. There is so much heart here with a surprising amount of humor and I loved hearing Trejo narrate the audiobook; he seems so authentic and humble and his life is truly inspiring!
For more reviews, visit www.rootandreads.wordpress.com
Trejo is a fascinating autobiography, told with brutal honesty and brave self reflection as he dives into the contradictions of his own life and the culture he was raised in. There is so much heart here with a surprising amount of humor and I loved hearing Trejo narrate the audiobook; he seems so authentic and humble and his life is truly inspiring!
For more reviews, visit www.rootandreads.wordpress.com
September 8, 2021
I'm afraid I've got to go against the grain on this one. It was just okay, and I had to push to finish it. I thought he'd have some good stories and he did, but more than anything there was preaching, name dropping, and ego stroking.
There was so much misogyny, machismo and violence but I didn't really get a strong vibe that the takeaway was that these are not positive qualities. It was touched on occasionally, but the evils of drinking and drugs were far more prevalent and often used as an excuse for the other behaviours. Perhaps there is some truth to that, but I felt the book didn't really dig below the surface. I guess I was waiting for a bigger revelation than "drugs bad, god good".
I also felt it jumped around a lot and was disjointed at times. For example, the last few paragraphs at the end of chapter 42 have nothing to do with the rest of the chapter and seem to be tacked on just to say "look at me, I'm a rock star, too".
I read this because I enjoyed the stories between recipes in his cookbook, but this book had a very different feel and I know I'm in the minority but it just left a bad taste for me.
There was so much misogyny, machismo and violence but I didn't really get a strong vibe that the takeaway was that these are not positive qualities. It was touched on occasionally, but the evils of drinking and drugs were far more prevalent and often used as an excuse for the other behaviours. Perhaps there is some truth to that, but I felt the book didn't really dig below the surface. I guess I was waiting for a bigger revelation than "drugs bad, god good".
I also felt it jumped around a lot and was disjointed at times. For example, the last few paragraphs at the end of chapter 42 have nothing to do with the rest of the chapter and seem to be tacked on just to say "look at me, I'm a rock star, too".
I read this because I enjoyed the stories between recipes in his cookbook, but this book had a very different feel and I know I'm in the minority but it just left a bad taste for me.
April 4, 2023
"If you're going to pray, why worry? And if you're going to worry, why pray?" -Danny Trejo
I knew Danny Trejo because, I mean, who hasn't seen his face in a movie or TV show? You simply cannot NOT remember his one-in-a-million killer face. When I came across this book, I realized that I really was interested in learning his background. Was he as dangerous as he looked? Was he a real killer before becoming the most recognized Chicano gangster of the silver screen? Well, all I am going to say is that this book touched me to the deepest. He had the most unusual life and made the best of it. I couldn't believe how big of a heart this man has, how much love he has to give. He is pure goodness to the core. If you are looking for inspiration, you got to read this book!
I knew Danny Trejo because, I mean, who hasn't seen his face in a movie or TV show? You simply cannot NOT remember his one-in-a-million killer face. When I came across this book, I realized that I really was interested in learning his background. Was he as dangerous as he looked? Was he a real killer before becoming the most recognized Chicano gangster of the silver screen? Well, all I am going to say is that this book touched me to the deepest. He had the most unusual life and made the best of it. I couldn't believe how big of a heart this man has, how much love he has to give. He is pure goodness to the core. If you are looking for inspiration, you got to read this book!
August 2, 2021
Let me just say this… For those saying “He can’t read” shame on you for not seeing how amazing it is that this man is even still alive to do this!
I absolutely loved this book for its honesty and most of all for Danny reading it himself and giggling all throughout the book. It was truly the best thing ever. It was like he was in my car next to me everyday on my ride home from work.
I truly appreciate this mans Brutal Honesty about Everything in his life even his trials as a father.
I’m so proud of this amazing man that I have never met but has been apart of life the whole of it in movies.
I will revisit this book again and again just to hear him giggle.
I absolutely loved this book for its honesty and most of all for Danny reading it himself and giggling all throughout the book. It was truly the best thing ever. It was like he was in my car next to me everyday on my ride home from work.
I truly appreciate this mans Brutal Honesty about Everything in his life even his trials as a father.
I’m so proud of this amazing man that I have never met but has been apart of life the whole of it in movies.
I will revisit this book again and again just to hear him giggle.
June 30, 2021
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.
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.
July 11, 2021
To paraphrase the tagline for the film Say Anything, to know Danny Trejo is to love him, and those of you who pick up this book are about to know Danny Trejo. I was telling my wife some of the stories in this book, and I’m starting to tear up while wondering is this guy even real? He’s realer than real, forthcoming with his mistakes, always working to be better, and is truly living a life centered around serving God by serving others. That last is the core running through this entire book: God has put us here to serve others. It is a message I strive to live as well, though very imperfectly, and this book was a much needed kick in the butt to work harder at this and rest in God’s Grace. Even if you aren’t into the spiritual message, his life is an incredible journey, and, as a film nerd, I really enjoyed his stories of the films he was involved in. I also love his outlook on making films: a good film is one that gets made because it is employing a lot of people and helping to support their families. Three-Headed Shark Attack is a good movie and nothing will convince me otherwise.
I hope to tell you in person one day, but thank you, Mr. Trejo. I will be recommending this book to everyone, especially the audiobook, which was a joy to listen to!
I hope to tell you in person one day, but thank you, Mr. Trejo. I will be recommending this book to everyone, especially the audiobook, which was a joy to listen to!
August 13, 2021
I loved this book. The story is real, full of wisdom and life lessons. The things that Danny Trejo went through and survived are incredible. I recommend this book to all who look for a raw story of redemption and turning your life around.
December 25, 2021
What an incredible journey. Listened to the audiobook, narrated by Danny Trejo; nice hearing his story in his own words, but the narration was a bit slow.
August 26, 2021
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Beth Mowbray
If you aren’t familiar with Danny Trejo, I’d be surprised. Perhaps you know him from hit films like Desperado, Heat, or Machete. Maybe you spotted him in Spy Kids or Muppets Most Wanted while watching with your children. And who could forget his stand-out roles in television shows like Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy?! The point is, with a career boasting over 380 acting credits, Danny Trejo is an actor you are bound to recognise. But how much do you really know about the man behind these roles?
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood—written by Danny Trejo himself, alongside his close friend Donal Logue—tells the truly inspiring, no-holds-barred story of his life. Trejo shares his experiences with complete honesty, no filtering and no bullshit. From his crime-filled youth to his battle with addiction, his most personal relationships to building a career as one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, this memoir leaves nothing out.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
If you aren’t familiar with Danny Trejo, I’d be surprised. Perhaps you know him from hit films like Desperado, Heat, or Machete. Maybe you spotted him in Spy Kids or Muppets Most Wanted while watching with your children. And who could forget his stand-out roles in television shows like Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy?! The point is, with a career boasting over 380 acting credits, Danny Trejo is an actor you are bound to recognise. But how much do you really know about the man behind these roles?
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood—written by Danny Trejo himself, alongside his close friend Donal Logue—tells the truly inspiring, no-holds-barred story of his life. Trejo shares his experiences with complete honesty, no filtering and no bullshit. From his crime-filled youth to his battle with addiction, his most personal relationships to building a career as one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, this memoir leaves nothing out.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,468 reviews