Hispanic acting icon Danny Trejo may be known for his "Machete'' film series and villain roles, but he is far from that in reality. The actor was honored Friday by the Los Angeles City Council for his real-life heroics in helping people find sobriety, according to an article by NBC Los Angeles.

"Today, Danny has become one of the best-known actors working in film and has continued to give back to the community, still working as a drug counselor for at-risk youth while headlining countless Hollywood films,'' said Councilman Gilbert Cedillo.

Cedillo also submitted a proposal to the City Council to declare January 31 as Danny Trejo Day in Los Angeles.

"(He) demonstrates what a commitment to sobriety does and brings to your life,'' said the councilman.

Trejo said his commitment to altruism while he was still incarcerated may have kept him on the straight and narrow path toward sobriety.

"I love this city. I adore this city," he said. "In 1968, in Soledad (prison), I promised our lord, 'Let me die with dignity. I will say your name every day, and I will do whatever I can for my fellow man."

The 75-year-old Echo Park native said he promised to give to others in return for salvation.

"Just giving. Giving to the city, give to everybody in it, '' Trejo said.

During the ceremony, City Councilman Mike Bonin opened up about his own struggles with drug abuse decades ago and said that after recovering, he met Trejo at a recovery meeting and was inspired by his words.

"I've seen you speak a few other times since then, and I have heard so many talk about the power of your bearing witness and how important you have been as a mentor and as a guide and as an example,'' Bonin said. "On behalf of everyone who's been touched by your voice or inspired by your example, thank you for walking ahead of us and blazing the trail and clearing the brush on the road that we trudge to happy destiny.''

Gilbert, one of Trejo's five children, said that growing up, they witnessed their father's generosity firsthand.

"We've experienced my father helping people ... for most of our lives, at this point,'' he said. "Long before he started acting, he was active in the community, and I always saw my dad as a celebrity long before anybody else.''

Trejo is indeed a real-life hero. Aside from his advocacy, the actor also helped rescue a baby who was strapped into the child seat of an SUV that collided with another vehicle and overturned last August.

Growing up in Pacoima, Trejo was a promising boxer, but after being charged for being involved in robbery and drugs, he ended up serving time at San Quentin and other prisons for more than 10 years. While serving his sentence, Trejo won the lightweight and welterweight titles in the Pennsylvania state prison system, and took part in a 12-step program to eventually clean himself up.

Shortly after Trejo was released in 1972, he volunteered as a drug counselor which also paved the way for him to enter Hollywood. He was 40 at that time.

Recently, the actor started a local taco chain, Trejo's Tacos, which has seven Los Angeles area locations, and Trejo's Coffee & Donuts located in Hollywood.

"This city, it's like alive,'' Trejo said. "This city is still beautiful, everything about it.''

Meanwhile, in a previous interview, Trejo's advice to children, teens and convicts is that drugs and alcohol will only make their lives worse. He also stressed the importance of education.

"Anybody can deliver that message, if you can get their attention and keep it," he said. "What the good Lord has given me is a position - so that when I walk into a school, a prison or a juvenile hall - I've got everybody's attention, automatically, before I even say a word. They don't want to hear Danny Trejo; they want to hear that guy from 'Spy Kids,' that guy from 'Blood In Blood Out,' that guy from 'Heat.' That's the blessing."