Secrets of a Hollywood tough guy

Hard-working septuagenarian DANNY TREJO, subject of new documentary Inmate #1, talks us through some of the amazing elements of his colourful life

1. HE FIRST TOOK HEROIN WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD

“I had an uncle that I idolised. My Uncle Gilbert. He was 18 and I was 12, and I caught him using and threatened to tell if he didn’t give me some. He was my role model. My parents worked hard — I’m not blaming them, it wasn’t their fault — but Uncle Gilbert always had a lot of cash and a nice car, and was always dressed to the teeth. That impressed me, so that was what I wanted to do.”

2. HE MADE A DEAL WITH GOD AFTER BEING PUT IN SOLITARY, EXPECTING TO END UP ON DEATH ROW

“I was in the hole [Trejo was variously jailed for robbery and drug offences] — I thought I was done with. So I said, ‘God, let me die with dignity and I will say your name every day and I’ll do whatever I can for my fellow man.’ Well, He gave me the rest of my life. So when I came out of the hole, whoever I was, I think the Good Lord killed him right there. Every day since, I’ve done what I can for my fellow man. Because I owe my life. I’m not even paid up yet. Tomorrow, I’m giving out Pampers! [laughs]”

3. CHARLES BRONSON ONCE THREW A GLASS OF WATER IN HIS FACE

“Big Charlie! I got to work with him in Death Wish 4 [Trejo’s first named role], and he was supposed to throw a glass of water in my face. We were getting ready to shoot it, and he goes, ‘Wait, hold it. Cut! There’s ice in this glass! Come on, let’s get this ice out!’ I’m just grateful that I’m sat there with Charles Bronson — hit me with a bat if you want! And he’s worried about throwing ice! [laughs] So I learned from him to be conscious of your other actors.”

4. WHILE WORKING WITH ROBERT RODRIGUEZ ON DESPERADO HE DISCOVERED THEY WERE RELATED

“My uncle, aunt and cousins came to visit me on set in Acuña, Mexico, and my uncle looks over and says, ‘Danny, who’s that?’ I go, ‘That’s Robert Rodriguez, the director.’ Uncle Rudy calls him over and they start talking. Then he says, ‘Hey Danny, this is your cousin!’ So I say, ‘Hey cuz, what’s up? Make my role bigger!’”

5. MACHETE REALLY DON’T TEXT

“We were at Comic-con in San Diego and I kept calling Robert. He wouldn’t answer. So when I ran into him, I said, ‘Robert, man. I’ve called you five times, why don’t you answer your phone?’ He said, ‘Danny, every time you call me, I’m in a conference or something. Just text me!’ So I said, ‘Machete don’t text.’ And he put it in the movie! But I still don’t text, even now. I still got a flip phone! [laughs]”

6. HE MADE HIS KIDS SALUTE JOHN WAYNE

“I love the Duke. I love his style. He had a saying: ‘Life is hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid!’ [laughs] Me and my kids, we used to stand up and salute every time John Wayne came on the TV. Well, until they found out he was ‘just an actor’. So then I trained my dog Cash; I would say, ‘You like John Wayne?’ And Cash would bark, roh roh roh!”

INMATE #1: THE RISE OF DANNY TREJO IS ON DIGITAL FROM 7 JULY