Yes. Danny Trejo and Robert Rodriguez are related. They are second cousins.
They did not know about the link when they first worked together. They found it out during the filming of Desperado (1995), when Trejo’s family visited the set.
Since then, the two have become one of Hollywood’s best-known actor-director pairings.
The Short Answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are they related? | Yes |
| How are they related? | Second cousins |
| When did they learn this? | During Desperado (1995) |
| Who is the actor? | Danny Trejo |
| Who is the director? | Robert Rodriguez |
Second cousins share great-grandparents. They are not brothers, and they are not father and son.
How They Found Out
Trejo was cast in Desperado before either man knew they were family. The film was shot in Mexico.
Trejo has said in interviews that his family came to the location from San Antonio, Texas. That visit led to the discovery that he and Rodriguez were second cousins.
They had already hit it off on set. The family link gave their working partnership a backstory, but it did not create it.
Who Is Danny Trejo?
Danny Trejo was born on May 16, 1944, in Maywood, California. He was raised in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles.
His father was Dionisio “Dan” Trejo, a construction worker. His mother was Delores Rivera King. Both parents were of Mexican descent.
Trejo’s film career began in 1985 with Runaway Train, in which he played a boxer. His first credited role followed as Art Sanella in Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987).
He went on to build a long career as a character actor, often playing tough, direct men on screen. His best-known work includes:
- Desperado (1995) as Navajas
- Heat (1995)
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) as Razor Charlie
- Con Air (1997)
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
- Machete (2010) and Machete Kills (2013) in the title role
Trejo has three children. He was formerly married to Debbie Shreve. They married in 1997, separated in 2005, and he filed for divorce in 2009.
Who Is Robert Rodriguez?
Robert Anthony Rodriguez was born on June 20, 1968, in San Antonio, Texas. He is an American filmmaker.
His father was Cecilio G. Rodriguez, a salesman. His mother was Rebecca Rodriguez, née Villegas, a nurse. His parents were of Mexican descent.
Rodriguez made his first feature, El Mariachi, in 1992 on a budget of about $7,000. The film’s success led to two follow-ups, Desperado (1995) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003).
His other directing work includes:
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- The Faculty (1998)
- Spy Kids (2001) and its sequels
- Sin City (2005)
- Planet Terror (2007)
- Machete (2010)
- Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Rodriguez was formerly married to producer Elizabeth Avellán. They divorced in 2008 and have five children together.
Their Work Together
Trejo and Rodriguez have worked together many times since Desperado. Their best-known collaborations include:
- Desperado (1995)
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- The Spy Kids films (2001–2003), where Trejo played Isador “Machete” Cortez
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
- Machete (2010) and Machete Kills (2013)
The Machete character started in Spy Kids. Rodriguez later built a separate, adult action series around the same character, with Trejo in the lead role.
That long run explains why many viewers assume the two men must be close. In this case, the working bond and the family bond are both real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Danny Trejo and Robert Rodriguez brothers?
No. They are second cousins, not brothers.
Are Danny Trejo and Robert Rodriguez father and son?
No. Trejo was born in 1944 and Rodriguez in 1968, but they are cousins, not parent and child.
Did they know they were related before Desperado?
No. They learned they were second cousins during the filming of Desperado in 1995.
What is their most famous film together?
Machete (2010) is Trejo’s best-known lead role for Rodriguez. Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn are their best-known early collaborations.
Final Thoughts
Danny Trejo and Robert Rodriguez are second cousins. They met as actor and director first, and only learned of the family link on the set of Desperado.
Their partnership has since run from Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn through Spy Kids to Machete. It is a family connection and a working one.
