Atria Books to Publish Danny Trejo’s Memoir, “Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood”

Danny Trejo is o-penning up about his life…

The 76-year-old Mexican American actor, whose credits include Desperado, Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn and Con Air, will publish his memoir with Atria Books, according to the publisher. Titled Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood will be released on July 6.

Danny Trejo

The book will detail Trejo’s path from crime to prison, addiction, loss and unexpected Hollywood fame. With appearances in more than 300 films, the 76-year-old actor continues to book 10-20 roles a year. A 2020 Pete Davidson tribute to Trejo went viral.

“Danny Trejo is more than an actor for the millions of Mexican Americans, like me, who love him,” says Michelle Herrera Mulligan, senior editor at Atria Books. “He is a legend. A role model. The first Chicano action star. Someone we can always hold up as a hero who made it. One of my proudest acquisitions to date, this book shows us the difficult path it took to get him there, in unforgettable, literary detail.”

Trejo first used heroin at age 12, learning that loyalty only came through violence and peace was found in oblivion. For a period of time, he did stints in some of America’s most notorious prisons including San Quentin, Folsom and Soledad. Then he was offered a part as a boxer in Runaway Train, giving him the opportunity to choose a new path.

In Trejo, he describes how the difficult lessons he learned in childhood both saved his professional life and hindered his personal one, offering an inspirational and brutally honest look at his fascinating life. He shares how he rebuilt his life after finding sobriety and spirituality in solitary confinement and went on to become a success, hobnobbing with A-list celebrities and using his memories of his adrenaline-fueled robbing heists to inspire him as an actor.

“At 76,” Trejo says, “this memoir was an opportunity for me to be fearlessly honest for the first time about the terrifying brutality of my experiences in the hardest prisons in the world, the family secrets that tore lives apart, my personal bottom while I was in the hole in Soledad facing a possible death penalty charge, the role God played in turning my life around, my acting career that started at the age of 40 by simply showing up to a set to help another addict in need and how all of it shaped the person I am.”

Trejo is co-writing his memoir with his best friend of 20 years, actor Donal LogueTrejo will be published simultaneously in both English and Spanish and later will be adapted for a young-readers edition. The book also will be published simultaneously as an audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio.

Atria Books is an imprint of Simon and Schuster.

Danny Trejo to Star in “The Protector”

Danny Trejois protected

The 75-year-old Mexican American actor will star opposite Billy Zane, Randy Couture and James Russo in the action film The Protector from filmmaker Justin Lee.

Danny Trejo

Ed Morroneleading the film as protagonist Mickey Rome, an aging protection specialist who’s ready to holster his guns and head for retirement. When the agency he works for demands one last job be done, Mickey obliges and is sent to Central America to watch a husband and wife who have stolen $8m from a ruthless crime family.

Doctor Drew PinskyJohnny Messnerand Eddie Finlayare also part of the cast.

“This movie is a fun throwback to films from the ’80s like Lethal WeaponMidnight Run and 48 Hours. It has action. It has comedy. It has dark moments. It was such a joy to get to work in a space I love so much with phenomenal talent,” said director Lee.

Trejo, best known for his title role as Machetein the Robert Rodriguez-helmed films, has previously appeared in AnacondaCon AirGrindhouseand Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

Ticotin to Star Opposite Adan Canto in “The Curse of the Fuentes Women”

Rachel Ticotin is cursed

The 56-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has landed a lead role opposite Adan Canto in The Curse of the Fuentes Women, the NBC drama pilot written/executive produced by Silvio Horta.

Rachel Ticotin

From Warner Bros Television, the film chronicles what happens when a mysterious stranger, Salvador (Canto), washes up on Miami Beach and breathes new passion into the lives of the Fuentes women – the beautiful but lonely Lola, her ailing mother Esperanza (Ticotin), who is struggling with Alzheimer’s and has a secret magical past, and her troubled teen daughter Soledad (Sarife) whose psychic abilities are awakened by an unexpected pregnancy.

Ticotin has appeared in the films: Fort Apache, The Bronx; Total Recall and Con Air. She has appeared in the NBC legal drama Law & Order: Los Angeles.

Zúñiga to Guest Star on “Burn Notice”

José Zúñiga is about to get burned

The Honduran-born American actor is set to appear on an upcoming episode of USA’s Burn Notice, according to TVLine.

José Zúñiga

Zúñiga will play Vasquez, a “clever and sadistic” cocaine smuggler who doesn’t shy away from torture. Zúñiga’s character will be introduced in Episode 11 of the sixth season.

It’s the latest television role for Zúñiga, who has appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the short-lived NBC series The Event and Desperate Housewives.

He most recently appeared as General Benicio Flores on ABC’s new Shonda Rimes series Scandal.

In addition, Zúñiga has appeared on the big screen in Alive, Con Air and Twilight.

Burn Notice airs Thursdays at 9/8c on USA.