Danny 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 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, From Dusk Till Dawn series, Spy Kids movies, Machete, Machete Kills, Bad Ass trilogy, Grand Daddy Day Care and Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Shadow of the Cat is an Argentinian fantasy film about a teenage girl who breaks free from her family and discovers a new world. In addition to Trejo, the movie stars Guillermo Zapata, Maite Lanata and Monica Antonopulos. It has been released on DVD and Digital HD, and is available on certain streaming platforms.

In a new interview with Smashing Interviews Magazine, Trejo talks about his favorite taco, Tortuga, stunts and his cinematic death record:

Smashing Interviews Magazine: What’s your favorite taco?

Danny Trejo: Mine is the Baja fish taco that we have. It’s really delicious. I love the white fish, and that’s what it is.

Smashing Interviews Magazine: Yummy! You’ll have to ship me some of those tacos for the time being (laughs). I believe you hold the distinction of having the most onscreen deaths of anyone in Hollywood history.

Danny Trejo: I hold the record for more deaths on film. Everybody says, “You’ve died more.” I said, “Yeah. I went to the bank more, too.” (laughs)

Smashing Interviews Magazine: What is the weirdest way you’ve ever been killed onscreen?

Danny Trejo: Oh, my head was on a tortoise in Breaking Bad. You know, I was decapitated as Tortuga, so my head was on a tortoise. That was kind of ironic, and everybody in the world saw that. In fact, when I was in England doing a Comic Con, these three guys brought a huge tortoise, and I signed “Tortuga” on it.

Smashing Interviews Magazine: In films, do you ever do any of your own stunts?

Danny Trejo: You got great guys with the same kind of mustache doing stunts. Stunt guys love me because they know that’s not my job. I love actors that say, “Yeah. I do my own stunts.” Well, if you do your own stunts, buddy, that means you’re insuring the movie for whatever it is because there’s no insurance company in the world that’s going to let a lead actor do a stunt.” Anybody that says they do is a damn liar. I know everybody’s stunt guy. So I just think it’s funny that I’m going to risk 80 people’s jobs just so I can say, “Hey, I do my own stunts.” That’s bullshit.

Smashing Interviews Magazine: You are in the Despicable Me franchise!

Danny Trejo: The Minions! It is so funny! Kids say, “Hey, there’s Stronghold!” They all know me, so it was awesome.

Smashing Interviews Magazine: What was it about Minions: The Rise of Gru that appealed to you?

Danny Trejo: When you do a cartoon for kids ages five, six, seven, eight, nine, you’ll have an audience for years because kids will watch those movies as they get older, and they’ll watch other movies. I’ve got guys 25 years old coming up to me saying, “I loved you in Spy Kids. I got my little brother to watch it. It’s the best babysitter in the world.” Robert Rodriguez was such a genius to make it timeless.

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About the authors:

Marc Parker is an American journalist, author, artist, a photographer and a computer scientist. He is the founder/publisher/editor-in-chief of Smashing Interviews Magazine. Marc Parker's social media: Twitter Facebook

Melissa Benefield Parker is an American journalist and author. She is the founder/publisher of Smashing Interviews Magazine. Melissa Benefield Parker's social media: Twitter Facebook