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Danny Trejo overwhelmed by discovery about his ancestry that 'could've changed his life'

Home> Film & TV

Published 17:15 25 Jan 2023 GMT

Danny Trejo overwhelmed by discovery about his ancestry that 'could've changed his life'

Spy Kids actor Danny Trejo had known little about his heritage before appearing on the PBS special.

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine Sidnell

While Danny Trejo is well known for his on-screen roles, the actor knew very little of his own family's history.

Thanks to an appearance on PSB’s Finding Your Roots, the Spy Kids actor has finally been able to understand a little more about his heritage.

In a tear-jerking moment, Trejo revealed that the recent revelations about his past ‘could have changed his life'.

“I’m just overwhelmed. You have to understand, growing up, I had three alternatives. I could either be a laborer or a gangster or an informant," the actor explained.

"To learn this, I honestly believe that I think this history could’ve changed my whole family’s life."

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The Californian-born actor was raised in the Echo Park neighbourhood of Los Angles by his Mexican American parents.

However, the home was far from a loving one with Trejo being subject to intense physical abuse from his father, who also banned his mother from the family home.

Danny Trejo was left shocked by his family history.
AFF / Alamy Stock Photo

Isolated from his mother and with few roles around him, the Spy Kids actor soon fell into a life of gang crime aided by his uncle Gilbert.

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“My uncle Gilbert, who was for lack of a better word a drug dealer, he never complained so I kind of gravitated towards that," Trejo told host Henry Louis Gates during the episode.

His past soon caught up with and Trejo battled with heroin addiction, fuelled by the robberies he committed as a gang member.

After a stint in prison, the actor would get sober and even caught the eye of a casting director during visit to a Hollywood set.

The unlikely incident launched Trejo’s career, with the actor trying to put his difficult past behind him.

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The actor was clearly moved by the discovery, after feeling isolated from his family for most of his life.
PBS

Now 78-years-old, he has discovered that his father’s family moved to the US in 1918 with his great grandfather, Cirilo Garay, eventually settling in San Antonio and owning a grocery store.

The biggest shock though was from his mother’s side, who became wealthy ranch owners in San José del Cabo, after emigrating from Mexico in 1904.

His maternal great grandfather owned an estimated 4,337 acres and was a ‘serious landowner’.

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Upon hearing the news, Trejo couldn’t believe that his family had such an incredible back story.

“It’s just amazing. I’ve got history!“ he exclaimed with excitement.

Danny is best known for his role in Spy Kids, alongside Antonio Banderas.
Dimension Films.

Ironically, Trejo has been a huge fan of the area and hadn't realised the connection to his own heritage. He even holidayed regularly in the area.

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“Just knowing when I went down to Cabo San Lucas, my family owned some of that land,” he said tearfully.

"I think it's shined a light on who I am on, where I come from and who I come from...I'm really proud of the whole deal."

The actor was clearly touched by the news and has vowed to continue the research after the show.

Featured Image Credit: PBS

Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity

Katherine Sidnell
Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

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@ksidnell

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