Danny Trejo responds to online death hoax: “Someone is spreading fake news”

Actor Danny Trejo has been forced to shut down a death hoax targeted at him online.

The star, who is known for appearing in the likes of Heat and Con Air, as well as his role as Machete in the Spy Kids and spin-off films, responded on Instagram to rumours doing the rounds on social media.

It comes after fellow actor John Leguizamo reportedly added weight to the rumours after reposting a false memorial-type post doing the rounds with the words “R.I.P.”.

Trejo has now set the record straight on his own Instagram page, writing: “Thank you all for your concern but I am very much alive. Someone is spreading fake news.”

Meanwhile, two years ago Trejo marked 55 years of being sober, having previously been open about his past struggles with addiction.

“I’m 55 years clean and sober today by the grace of God!” he wrote on social media. “I’ve done this one day at a time, and for anyone out there struggling YOU CAN TOO!”

Speaking back in 2019, Trejo recalled being convinced to try sobriety by a former inmate while serving time at the notorious Californian San Quentin State Prison.

“That guy saved my life,” he told Variety. “He said, ‘Why don’t you join us? Before you do anything, just join us. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?’ It was kind of like an awakening. So when I got out of the joint, I went back to meetings.”

Elsewhere, back in 2020 Trejo reflected to NME on possible retirement, recalling one moment while working with Nick Nolte on Adam Sandler’s The Ridiculous Six.

“Somebody comes in and says, ‘when are you guys gonna retire?’ We said, ‘from what? we’re playing cowboys with Adam Sandler!’” he recalled. “I’ll play an old grandpa, I’ll be a grandpa gangster!”

The post Danny Trejo responds to online death hoax: “Someone is spreading fake news” appeared first on NME.