When it comes to actors who look as if they could make it through any and all of life’s harshest experiences with unflinching persistence and determination, I’d easily put Machete star Danny Trejo somewhere around the top of that list. The actor’s Hollywood history speaks to that toughness, with his first credited role not happening until he was 43 years old, following several years of working behind the scenes and playing extras. But Trejo is obviously filled with the same feelings as anyone, and he recently recalled the tragic-yet-comforting story about facing a total emotional implosion caused by the most unexpected source: Kermit the Frog.
The 2011 feature Muppets Most Wanted is where Danny Trejo first partnered up with The Muppets, playing an inmate within the Gulag alongside Ray Liotta, Jemaine Clement, Tom Hiddleston and others. It was an experience he’ll never forget, and definitely not only because he put his musical skills on display. Sadly, the actor’s mother passed away in the midst of the film’s UK production, and his initial attempts to maintain a stoic stance while filming was rather quickly thwarted by the marquee Muppet himself. While answering fans questions during a panel at Fan Expo Dallas’s 2023 event, Trejo was asked about his working relationship with the Jim Henson-created group, and recalled how the “Rainbow Connection” performer caused an emotional implosion on the set. In his words:
