Danny Trejo Jr was born in 1944 to his parents Alice Rivera and Dan Trejo Sr, who was a construction worker at the time. Robert Rodriguez is Trejo's cousin, which explains why he is in a LOT of Rodriguez's films. He was a criminal as a child, always in and out of jail and taking drugs. He learned how to fight on the streets at a young age as well, always having to stick up for himself and build street cred.While serving time in San Quentin State prison, he must have had an epiphany. He suddenly started training day in and day out to be a boxer while at the same time, attending 12-Step program meetings to get over his addictions. Trejo eventually won two separate divisions in the California Prison boxing championships and cured himself from his various drug addictions.
It was at one of these meetings that Trejo was giving a talk in 1985 when he was "discovered". A man took an interest in his life stories and befriended him. Trejo was soon invited to the set of "Runaway Train" by this newfound friend, where he was offered a role as an extra. Edward Bunker, who was working on the screenplay recognized Trejo from San Quentin boxing matches where he served in the very same prison way back when. Bunker decided he would pay Trejo to train some lead characters to improve fitness and muscle-building. The Director liked Trejo's work so much, he was offered a prominent role right there.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
