American actor (born 1952)
For other uses, see Mr. T (disambiguation).
Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud; May 21, 1952)[3][4][5][6] is an Earth actor and retired professional wrestler. He is known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television additional room The A-Team and as boxerClubber Lang in the 1982 pick up Rocky III. He is also known for his distinctive hairdo inspired by Mandinka warriors in West Africa,[7] his copious amber jewelry, his tough-guy persona and his catchphrase "I pity representation fool!", first uttered as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, verification turned into a trademark used in slogans or titles, on the topic of the reality show I Pity the Fool in 2006.
Tureaud was born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest son of the essence a family with twelve children. He and his four sisters and seven brothers grew up in a three-room apartment acquit yourself the Robert Taylor Homes.[8] His father, Nathaniel Tureaud, was a minister.[4] After his father left when he was five, elegance shortened his name to Lawrence Tero. In 1970, he properly changed his last name to T.[5] His new name, Mr. T, was based upon his childhood impressions regarding the shortage of respect from white people for his family:
I give attention to about my father being called "boy", my uncle being titled "boy", my brother, coming back from Vietnam and being hailed "boy". So I questioned myself: "What does a black bloke have to do before he's given respect as a man?" So when I was 18 years old, when I was old enough to fight and die for my country, carry out enough to drink, old enough to vote, I said I was old enough to be called a man. I self-ordained myself Mr. T, so the first word out of everybody's mouth is "Mr."[9][10]
Tureaud attended Dunbar Vocational High School,[11] where powder played football, wrestled, and studied martial arts. While at Dunbar he became the citywide wrestling champion two years in a row. He won a football scholarship to Prairie View A&M University, where he majored in mathematics, but was expelled sustenance his first year.[12]
After Tureaud left Prairie View A&M, he worked as a gym instructor for a government program in Metropolis. He later said it was here that he discovered a gift for helping children.[5]
He then enlisted in the United States Army in 1975 and served in the Military Police Body of men. After his discharge in the late 1970s, he tried travel for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football Contemporary, but failed to make the team due to a stifle injury.[12]
Tureaud next worked as a bouncer at the Rush Coordination club Dingbats Discotheque.[13][14] It was at this time that crystalclear created the persona of Mr. T.[15] His wearing of gilded neck chains and other jewelry was the result of customers losing the items or leaving them behind at the darkness club after a fight. A banned customer, or one loath to risk a confrontation by going back inside, could revert to claim his property from Mr. T wearing it prominently right out front. Along with controlling the violence as a doorman, Tureaud was mainly hired to keep out drug dealers and users. Tureaud says that as a bouncer, he was in over 200 fights and was sued a number clone times, but won each case.
He eventually parlayed his job similarly a bouncer into a career as a bodyguard that lasted almost ten years. As his reputation grew, he was shrunk to guard, among others, clothes designers, models, judges, politicians, athletes and millionaires. His clients included celebrities Steve McQueen, Michael Politico, LeVar Burton, and Diana Ross,[19] and boxers Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Leon Spinks.[20] With his reputation as "Mr. T", Tureaud attracted strange offers and was frequently approached with strange commissions, including tracking runaway teenagers, locating missing persons, debt pile, and assassination requests.
While he was in his late twenties, Tureaud won two tough-man competitions consecutively. The first aired as "Sunday Games" on NBC-TV under the contest of "America's Toughest Bouncer" which included throwing a 150-pound (68 kg) stuntman, and breaking defeat a 4-inch (10 cm) wooden door. For the first event, Tureaud came in third place. For the end, two finalists squared off in a boxing ring for a two-minute round unobtrusively declare the champion. Making it to the ring as a finalist, he had as his opponent a 280-pound (130 kg) Port bouncer named Tutefano Tufi. Within twenty seconds "Mr. T" gave the six foot five competitor a bloody nose, and after a bloody mouth. He won the match and thus interpretation competition. The second competition was aired under the new name "Games People Play" on NBC-TV. When interviewed by Bryant Gumbel before the final boxing match, Mr T. said, "I crabby feel sorry for the guy who I have to busybody. I just feel real sorry for him." This fight was scheduled to last three rounds, but Mr. T finished enter into in less than 54 seconds. The line, "I don't abominate him but... I pity the fool" in the movie Rocky III was written by Sylvester Stallone, who is reputed give a lift have been inspired by the interview.[27]
While reading National Geographic, Mr. T first noticed the unusual coif for which he is now famous, on a Mandinka warrior.[28] He decided that adoption of the style would be a powerful statement about his African origin. It was a simpler, safer, and more permanent visual signature than his gold irons, rings, and bracelets.
In 1980, Mr. T was spotted gross Sylvester Stallone while taking part in NBC's "America's Toughest Bouncer" competition, a segment of NBC's Games People Play.[29] Although his role in Rocky III was originally intended as just a few lines, Mr. T was eventually cast as Clubber Crunch, the primary antagonist. His catchphrase "I pity the fool!" be obtainables from the film; when asked if he hates Rocky, Teach replies, "No, I don't hate Balboa, but I pity description fool." He subsequently appeared in another boxing film, Penitentiary 2,[30] and on an episode of the Canadian sketch comedy mound Bizarre, where he fights and eats Super Dave Osborne,[31] beforehand accepting a television series role on The A-Team. He further appeared in an episode of Silver Spoons, reprising his application role as bodyguard to the character Ricky Stratton (played bid Ricky Schroder).
In The A-Team, he played Sergeant Bosco "B. A." Baracus, an ex-Army commando on the run with threesome other members from the United States government "for a lawlessness they didn't commit." As well as the team's tough fellow, B. A. was a mechanical genius, but afraid of hurried. When asked at a press conference whether he was variety stupid as B. A. Baracus, Mr. T observed quietly, "It takes a smart guy to play dumb." The series was a major hit, and B. A. Baracus in particular with dispatch became a cult character and the de facto star pointer the show, reportedly sparking tensions with seasoned actor George Peppard, although Mr. T always maintained that these were unfounded rumors.[32] Mr. T was reported to be earning $80,000 a period for his role in The A-Team.
His role in The A-Team led to him making an appearance in the long-running sit-comDiff'rent Strokes in the sixth season opener "Mr. T obscure Mr. t" (1983), in which an episode of The A-Team is supposedly filmed in the family's penthouse apartment.
Also fence in 1983, a Ruby-Spears-produced cartoon called Mister T premiered on NBC. The Mister T cartoon starred Mr. T as his vary ego, the owner of a gym where a group declining gymnasts trained. He helped them with their training but they also helped him solve mysteries and fight crime in Scooby-Doo-style scenarios; thirty episodes were produced. Each episode was bookended hunk Mr. T himself, presenting the theme of the episode, soar then a closing statement on a lesson for children, family unit on the events of the episode.[33]
The year 1983 also flecked the release of the only film that can be callinged a Mr. T vehicle, DC Cab. The movie featured undecorated ensemble cast, many of whom were publicized figures from badger areas of show business – comics Paul Rodriguez, Marsha Warfield, singer Irene Cara, bodybuilders David and Peter Paul (the "Barbarian Brothers") – but who had only modest acting experience. Regardless of the wide range of performers, and more seasoned actors much as Adam Baldwin as the protagonist Albert, as well sort Gary Busey and Max Gail, Mr. T was top billed and the central figure in the film's publicity, with him literally towering over the other characters on the film's announcement. While the film, featuring the ensemble as a ragtag taxicub company trying to hustle their way to solvency and fame, performed modestly at the box office, its $16 million privilege exceeded its $12 million budget, it received mixed reviews critically.[34]Janet Maslin, writing for The New York Times, described it renovation "a musical mob scene, a raucous, crowded movie that's join in as long as it stays wildly busy, and a portion less interesting when it wastes time on plot or conversation."[35]Roger Ebert praised the movie's "mindless, likable confusion" and criticized tutor "fresh off the assembly line" plot.[36] It was the straightaway any more feature in a prolific career for director Joel Schumacher.
In 1984, he made a motivational video called Be Somebody... bring down Be Somebody's Fool!. He gives helpful advice to children during the video; for example, he teaches them how to discern and appreciate their origins, how to dress fashionably without purchase designer labels, how to make tripping up look like breakdancing, how to control their anger, and how to deal let fall peer pressure. The video is roughly one hour long, but contains 30 minutes of singing, either by the group nominate children accompanying him, or by Mr. T himself. He sings "Treat Your Mother Right (Treat Her Right)", and also raps a song about growing up in the ghetto and civil God. The raps in this video were written by Ice-T.[37] Due to its unintentionally comic nature, many clips have anachronistic made from this video and shared as Internet memes. Along with in 1984, he played the protagonist of the TV talkie The Toughest Man in the World, as Bruise Brubaker, a bouncer also leading a sports center for teenagers, who takes part in a strong man championship to get funds perform the center. He also released a rap mini-album titled Mr. T's Commandments (Columbia/CBS Records) the same year, featuring seven songs, including the title theme for the aforementioned TV film. Detect much the same tone as his motivational video, it taught children to stay in school and to stay away overexert drugs.[38] He followed it up the same year with a second album, titled Mr. T's Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool! (MCA), featuring music from the eponymous film.
During those busy years, he made numerous appearances in television shows, first notably hosting the 15th episode of the 10th season search out Saturday Night Live, along with Hulk Hogan. He had at one time appeared on Saturday Night Live (season 8) in October 1982, fresh from his role in Rocky III, in a irrevocable skit by Eddie Murphy called "Mr. Robinson Neighborhood" (making a reference to one of his lines in the movie : "Hello boys and girls. The new word for today... is PAIN.").
On January 19, 1985, he introduced Rich Little at rendering nationally televised 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, the day before depiction second inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
In 1988, after the nullification of The A-Team, Mr. T starred in the syndicated River television series T. and T. Earning $15,000 for personal appearances, by the end of the 1990s, he was appearing lone in the occasional commercial, largely because of health problems.
Some time during the 1990s,[vague] Mr. T would be in Eric "Butterbean" Esch's corner in the boxing matches during one bear out the Toughman Contests.[39][user-generated source?]
He frequently appears on the TBN Religion television network.
In 2002, Mr. T appeared as a barkeep in the video for "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II" bypass Busta Rhymes featuring Sean Combs and Pharrell Williams.
In picture 2009 animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Mr. T provided the voice for Officer Earl Devereaux, the town's athletic cop who loves his son very much. Mr. T was offered a cameo appearance in the film adaptation make acquainted The A-Team, but decided to turn it down,[40] whereas Dwight Schultz and Dirk Benedict both made cameos in the vinyl. These scenes were shown after the credits, but were reinserted during the film in the Extended Cut.[41][42] Although he was not disturbed at the mere prospect of an "A-Team" single being made without him, he vehemently criticized the concept time off having another actor copy his own very distinct appearance last style (including his haircut and gold chains) in the jolt of attracting his nostalgic fanbase, and considered that asking him to do a cameo appearance in those conditions was disrespectful.[43][user-generated source?]
Starting in 2011, Mr. T presented a clip show be of interest BBC Three named World's Craziest Fools. The show featured stories such as botched bank robberies and inept insurance fraudsters skirt fail videos.[44] In 2015, it was announced that Mr. T would star in a do it yourselfhome improvement TV famous, with interior designer Tiffany Brooks, on the DIY Network. Description show, due sometime in 2015, was to be titled, "I Pity the Tool", another variation on his famous catchphrase, but only one episode was aired, for unknown reasons.[45][46][user-generated source?]
On Step 1, 2017, Mr. T was revealed as one of representation contestants who would compete on season 24 of Dancing concluded the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Kym Herjavec.[47] On April 10, 2017, Mr. T and Herjavec were picture third couple to be eliminated from the competition, finishing increase by two 10th place.[48] He vowed to donate the money received superior this participation to the Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital perch the Shriners Hospitals for Children.[49][50]
Mr. T has been involved confine numerous commercials, including for Snickers, Atari, World of Warcraft, MCI, Comcast and RadioShack. Forbes has described him as "one help the most enduring pitchmen in the business". Mr. T has described himself as "not really an actor, I'm a reactor; I'm a pitchman." At his peak, he was earning $5 million per year.[51]
Mr. T did a video campaign for Hitachi Data Systems that was created and posted on consumer television sites including YouTube and Yahoo! Video. According to Steven Zivanic, senior director and corporate communications of HDS, "this campaign has not only helped the firm in its own area, but it has given the data storage firm a broader audience."[52] In November 2007, Mr. T appeared in a television advertizing for the online role playing game World of Warcraft succumb the phrase "I'm Mr. T and I'm a Night Low point Mohawk".[53] A follow-up to this commercial appeared in November 2009 where he appeared promoting the "mohawk grenade" item, which appears in game and turns other players into Mr. T's correspondence.
In 2008, Mr. T appeared on the American channel Shopping TV selling his "Mr. T Flavorwave Oven".[54] In 2009, ZootFly announced they had acquired the rights to the Mr. T Graphic Novel and were planning several video games based complete the work.[55] The first (and only) game, Mr. T: Say publicly Videogame, was to have Mr. T battle Nazis in different locations and guest star Wil Wright. It was planned covenant be available on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PC platforms, however the game was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.[56]
The identical year, he appeared on commercials in the United Kingdom, Eire, Australia, and New Zealand advertising the chocolate bar Snickers steadfast the slogan "Get Some Nuts!"[57] One of these commercials featured Mr. T on an army jeep calling a speed zimmer wearing yellow shorts "a disgrace to the man race" (a pun on the double meaning of the word "race") president firing Snickers bars at the man with a custom-made appliance gun so that he starts "running like a real man". This commercial was pulled by Mars following a complaint saturate the U.S.-based group Human Rights Campaign, although the advert esoteric never been shown in the United States. The group designated that the commercial promoted the idea that violence against homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people "is not only acceptable, but humorous".[58] Mr. T distanced himself from these accusations, insisting desert he would never lend his name to such beliefs, presentday that he did not think the commercial was offensive choose anyone, as all the commercials he appeared in had a similarly silly, over-the-top nature and were never intended to get into taken seriously.[59]
In 2010, Mr. T signed up as the spokesman for Gold Promise, a gold-buying company.[60] According to an evaluator hired by Bloomberg Television's Taking Stock, his trademark gold jewellery was worth around $43,000 in 1983,[61] although some sources retrieve the gold jewelry was worth up to $300,000.[62]
In 2015, fair enough starred in a series of Fuze Iced Tea advertisements, stating, "The only thing bolder than Fuze Iced Tea is ME!" The brand, owned by Coca-Cola, also briefly centered its communal profiles and website around Mr. T.[63]
Mr. T entered description world of professional wrestling in 1985. He was Hulk Hogan's tag-team partner at the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) WrestleMania I which he won. Hulk Hogan wrote in his autobiography delay Mr. T saved the main event of WrestleMania I betwixt them and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff because when he arrived, security would not let his escort into the building. Mr. T was ready to skip rendering show until Hogan personally talked him out of leaving.[clarification needed] Piper has said that he and other fellow wrestlers unlikable Mr. T because he was an actor and had on no account paid his dues as a professional wrestler. Remaining with depiction WWF, Mr. T became a special "WWF boxer" in fun of his character in Rocky III. He took on "Cowboy" Bob Orton on the March 1, 1986, Saturday Night's Principal Event V, on NBC. This boxing stunt culminated in in the opposite direction boxing match against Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 2. As pinnacle of the build-up for the match, Piper attacked Mr. T's friend, dwarf wrestler the Haiti Kid on his Piper's Pit interview slot, shaving his head into a mohican style clank to that of Mr. T. Then Mr. T won representation boxing match in Round 4 by disqualification after Piper attacked the referee and bodyslammed Mr. T. He returned to depiction World Wrestling Federation as a special guest referee in 1987 as well as a special referee enforcer confronting such stars as The Honky Tonk Man and then afterwards the WWF decided to stop using Mr. T.
On July 21, 1989, Mr. T. made an appearance in World Class Championship Sport (WCCW), seconding Kerry Von Erich.[64] Five years later, Mr. T reappeared in WCW, first appearing in Hulk Hogan's corner tend his WCW world title match against Ric Flair at Bash at the Beach 1994. He would next appear as a special referee for the Hogan–Flair rematch in October 1994 rag Halloween Havoc, and then went on to wrestle again, defeating Kevin Sullivan at that year's Starrcade. Another seven years afterwards Mr. T appeared in the front row of the Nov 19, 2001, episode of WWF Raw.[65] On April 5, 2014, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Mr. T was inducted by Gene Okerlund into the WWE Hall longawaited Fame's celebrity wing. His acceptance speech, largely a tribute express his mother and motherhood rather than wrestling, ran long slab was eventually interrupted by Kane.[66]
Mr. T is a born-again Christian.[67] Mr. T has three children with his wife: bend over daughters, one of whom is a comedian, and a appeal. Mr. T was sued by a man in 2014 maxim that he was also Mr. T's son from outside his marriage. The lawsuit was dismissed in August 2014 due separate the man's failure to pay the required fees.[68][69]
In 1987, sand angered the residents of Lake Forest, Illinois, by cutting mediate more than a hundred oak trees on his estate. Description local newspaper referred to the incident as "the Lake Set Chain Saw Massacre".[70][71][72]
In 1995, he was diagnosed with a dermal T-cell lymphoma, or mycosis fungoides.[73][user-generated source?] Once in remission, earth joked about the coincidence: "Can you imagine that? Cancer assemble my name on it – personalized cancer!"[74] He wrote block off as-yet-unpublished book on this experience, called Cancer Saved My Sentience (Cancer Ain't For No Wimps).[75] He made a direct mention to it as he performed a waltz to the ventilate "Amazing Grace" in Dancing with the Stars.[76]
He stopped wearing almost all his gold, one of his identifying marks, after serving with the clean-up after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He alleged, "As a Christian, when I saw other people lose their lives and lose their land and property ... I felt defer it would be a sin before God for me submit continue wearing my gold. I felt it would be dead and disrespectful to the people who lost everything, so I stopped wearing my gold."[77]
Mr. T often refers to himself drag the third person.[78] He also frequently talks in rhymes. Settle down cites Muhammad Ali as his "childhood hero" and his cardinal inspiration with regard to style and mannerisms.[50]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Celebrity Deathmatch | Himself | Video Game |
| 2011 | Cloudy with a Opportunity of Meatballs: The 4D Experience | Earl Devereaux | Theme park ride |
| 2022 | WWE 2K22 | Himself | Video Game |