Featured Speakers Series

2022-2023 Kent State Stark Featured Speakers Series

Kent State University at Stark’s Featured Speakers Series and the Stark Library’s Speaking of Books Author Series are partnering to present iconic Hollywood star, Danny Trejo, who will speak at the Canton Palace Theatre on March 9, 2023.

Danny Trejo
Thursday, March 9, 2022 
(time to be announced)
Canton Palace Theatre

Tickets for Trejo’s presentation will be free and open to the public. Information on how to register for this event will be released in early 2023.

Trejo has developed a prolific career in the entertainment industry with a hard-earned and atypical road to success. From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now on to restaurant ventures, Trejo’s name, face, and achievements are well recognized around the world.

Kent State University at Stark Dean Denise A. Seachrist and Mary Ellen Icaza, CEO and executive director of the Stark Library, said they are happy to partner on this event.

Recently celebrating 30 years, Kent State Stark’s Featured Speakers Series has brought national and international experts in civil rights, politics, education, environmental activism, literature and art to Stark County. The library’s Speaking of Books Author Series brings acclaimed writers to the county who inspire lively discussion and – at times – challenging conversation while exemplifying literary excellence.

Trejo, author of the fearlessly honest memoir “Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood”, has starred in dozens of films, television shows and voiced various video games. Some of his notable films include “Desperado”, “Heat”, the “From Dusk ‘til Dawn” series, “Con Air”, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico”, the “Spy Kids” movies “Machete” and more. He has had recurring roles on popular and award-winning television shows, including “Breaking Bad”, “The Flash” and “Sons of Anarchy” — and that’s just to name a few from Trejo’s storied career.

Most recently, Trejo can be seen in the role of Rancor Keeper in “The Book of Boba Fett” airing on Disney+. Trejo has lent his voice to Cartoon Network’s “Victor and Valentino”, Disney Channel’s “Big City Greens” and Universal Pictures’ “Minions 2: The Rise of Gru”.

A restaurateur, Trejo recently expanded his Trejo’s Tacos empire to include eight locations and shares his love of food with the world in the release of his first cookbook “Trejo’s Tacos: Recipes and Stories from L.A.”

Despite Trejo’s impressive list of credits, it is his continuous role as a devoted father of three and an intervention counselor that bring him the most satisfaction.

THE DR. AUDREY LAVIN SPEAKING OF BOOKS AUTHOR SERIES

THE KENT STATE STARK FEATURED SPEAKERS SERIES

For more than 30 years, the popular Kent State Stark Featured Speakers Series has attracted thousands of campus and community members who take advantage of a rare opportunity to be introduced to national and international experts on a wide range of topics and issues that shape our society. 

Notable figures have included Golden Globe-winning actor Henry Winkler, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, national political broadcaster George Stephanopoulos, journalist and National Geographic Explorer host Lisa Ling, tennis star Billie Jean King, rags-to-riches prodigy Chris Gardner, legendary drummer Max Weinberg, ice cream entrepreneur Jerry Greenfield, cinematographer Spike Lee, CNN's broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, distinguished astronaut and Arizona State Senator Mark Kelly, best-selling author Nicholas Sparks, environmental activist Erin Brockovich, and acclaimed journalists Soledad O'Brien and John Quinones. 

VIEW OUR FORMER FEATURED SPEAKERS