Prolific action movie star Danny Trejo shows off his more academic side in his new History Channel show, “Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo.”
“I hate to admit it, but I think history, science, geography are the only classes I got good grades in,” Trejo, 80, told The Post.
Premiering Friday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m., “Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo” will be hosted and presented by the “Machete” actor. Each episode explores the hidden history behind various underground mysteries, including hidden treasures, secret military bunkers and dark underworlds.
Trejo said his interest in the subject dates back to his childhood in Los Angeles. When he was in the fourth grade, he enjoyed learning about the Pueblo Indians and the Amazon River from his teacher, Mrs. Kinley.
“Fifty years later, I’m doing a movie called ‘Anaconda’ on the Amazon River with J-Lo, Jon Voight and Eric Stoltz and Ice Cube. And they’re all asking questions as they go down the Amazon River. And I knew the answer,” Trejo said.
Trejo, who spent years cycling in and out of prison for crimes including drug dealing and armed robbery before his Hollywood career — said his “Anaconda” co-stars were impressed by his knowledge of the area’s history. Were surprised. “They were like, ‘What? I thought you were a gangster!'”
The “Spy Kids” actor said his unusual background helped prepare him for his showbiz career, which includes more than 400 credits to date.
Trejo has been in “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Heat,” “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and many other iconic action movie staples. He has also been in TV shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Sons of Anarchy.”
In one of his first films, 1985’s “Runaway Train”, he played a criminal.
He added, “Then after that, I only played gangsters and convicts.”
“And it was fun for me, because I did everything I could while I was playing.”
The “Desperado” actor said that during a movie, “the director said, ‘Danny, I want you to kick in this door, and you’re going to rob this poker game. And you have a sawed-off shotgun. Is.”
After filming the scene, Trejo recalled that the director said, ‘My God. where did you study?’ ‘Safeway…Bank of America…'” I said, referring to previous robberies in his youth.
“I’ve done all that! Really, this is where I got my training.”
The “Con Air” actors are currently filming several movies together, with more to come. Even at the age of 80, he shows no signs of slowing down.
“You know, it’s like people in their 50s have stopped walking or stopped getting off the couch…you’ve just got to keep going,” he told the Post.
Trejo recalled a recent movie shoot where he was relaxing with another actor of his age in between shoots.
“This guy comes in, and says, ‘Man, I thought you old geezers would be retired by now.’ I said, ‘Old man? I’ll fuck your ass!’
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