Danny Trejo Celebrates His Son Marking Eight Years Of Sobriety

Danny Trejo has celebrated his son making it to eight years of sobriety in a heart warming post.

The From Dusk till Dawn actor recently shared on social media his son’s impressive milestone by writing: “My son Gilbert Trejo has 8 years clean and sober today! I love you so much, and am so proud of the man you’ve become.

“Any parents out there with children struggling with addiction, I didn’t think my son was going to make it and today he’s my best friend! There is hope!”

Many reacted to the sweet message, as one person wrote: “More of this on Twitter is what we need.”

Another commented: “Addicts need support and encouragement, not shame and ridicule.”

A third person said: “Hopefully this reaches someone going through a similar situation.”

While another said: “My daughter is in an 18 month court ordered rehab program...I hope someday I can post a tweet saying she's been clean for 8 years. 

“It's a rough road as a parent to see your kid suffer addiction. Thank you for this encouragement.”

The Guardian reports that the 78-year-old actor also had his fair share of substance abuse, as he started using around 13.

The Machete actor also spent 11 years in prison for theft and drug-related offences.

At one point, Trejo faced the death penalty for accidentally throwing a rock at a lieutenant's head during a prison riot. 

After the actor narrowly escaped death, he decided to turn his life around by quitting drugs and alcohol.

He told the outlet: “I dedicated my life right there, and it wasn't to get out of it because I knew there wasn't any getting out of it. 

“I just wanted it to end with some dignity. I'd seen movies of guys going to gas chambers screaming for their mothers. The charges were later dropped on a technicality.”

Shortly after Trejo was paroled in 1969, he joined AA and Narcotics Anonymous, which led him to become a drug and alcohol misuse counsellor. 

However, Trejo recalls how one day, he received an unexpected phone call from a young man struggling with a cocaine addiction that completely changed the course of his life. 

While visiting the young man, the Desperado actor suddenly found himself on the set of Andrei Konchalovsky's Runaway Train, where he was instantly recognised by crime author Edward Bunker, who he had previously served time with.

Bunker then asked Trejo if he wanted to play a minor role in a movie depicting a boxer alongside Eric Roberts. 

And the rest is history.