PHOTOS: Texas Film Hall of Fame 2012

The Austin Film Society is delighted to announce that actor Danny Trejo will be honored at this year’s Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards. Texas director Robert Rodriguez will present Trejo with the Patrón Honorary Texan Award: for those who have spread Texas culture, or brought culture to Texas, in a unique and indelible way. Actor G.W. Bailey will present honors to Barry Corbin, comedienne and actress Caroline Rhea will introduce filmmaker Douglas McGrath, and actor Brett Cullen will present the Soundtrack Award to Meat Loaf. Comedian, actor and writer Wyatt Cenac will return as emcee for the evening for the second year in a row.

Danny Trejo loves to play the bad guy in movies, “because the bad guy always dies. That’s the real world,” he says. From his first role as a convict in Runaway Train, Trejo’s career has included Desperado, the From Dusk ‘Til Dawn series, Heat, Con Air, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, and the Spy Kids franchise. He was in Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse, which led to a spin-off movie from the original trailers called Machete, in which Trejo plays the anti-hero of the story – an ex-federale with a gift for wielding a blade who hides out as a day-laborer and is double-crossed by a corrupt state senator. Trejo will be shooting Machete Kills in 2012. His long-time collaboration with Rodriguez has dubbed Trejo an icon of the grindhouse film genre.

Veteran film and television actor G.W. Bailey will present the award to fellow Texan and friend, actor Barry Corbin. With memorable film appearances in Short Circuit, Mannequin and the Police Academy series as well as television roles on M*A*S*H, The Jeff Foxworthy Show and currently on The Closer, Bailey’s career spans over thirty years. He has also served as the Executive Direct of the Sunshine Kids Foundation since 2001.

Widely known for her role as Hilda Spellman on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and as host of her own talk show, Caroline Rhea will present honors to collaborator and friend Douglas McGrath. From Hollywood Squares and the Biggest Loser, to appearances on The Drew Carey Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rhea brings a fresh, smart and spontaneous approach to all of her work.

Houston-born Brett Cullen will honor Meat Loaf with the Soundtrack Award. Cullen has appeared in numerous films and television series, most recently the Emmy Award-winning Friday Night Lights. His TV appearances also include Falcon Crest, The Young Riders, Matlock, M*A*S*H and Ugly Betty, among others. In 2011, Cullen was named the official spokesman for Houston Works, which helps Houston residents with job training and placement.

The Austin Film Society is thrilled to welcome back Wyatt Cenac to serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Cenac, who attended high school in Dallas, worked as a writer on King of the Hill before becoming a correspondent and writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He starred in the Independent Spirit and Gotham Award-nominated Medicine for Melancholy in 2008, and last year launched his first-ever hour-long comedy special, Wyatt Cenac: Comedy Person on Comedy Central.

This year, the awards show will take place on March 8th, the evening before South by Southwest Film and Interactive conferences at ACL Live at The Moody Theater downtown. Tickets for this highly anticipated event are selling quickly. While many tables and individual seat sections have sold out, there are still $250 and $75 tickets available.