He is a well-known figure from the 80s, famous for his distinct mohawk hairstyle, impressive muscles, booming voice, heavy gold chains that sometimes weighed up to 40 pounds, and a combination of tough and tender characteristics.
Recognized as the ‘World’s Greatest Bodyguard,’ he provided protection to high-profile clients like Steve McQueen, Michael Jackson, and the legendary heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali.
As a hard-as-nails bodyguard he caught the eyes of television producers who quickly brought him on to star in tough-man competitions.
But it would be Sylvester Stallone’s ability to see something great in him that would break through Hollywood’s tough barrier to entry.
Initially intended to have just a few lines in a movie, he ended up playing a significant role as Sylvester Stallone’s rival in Rocky III, solidifying his famous catchphrase in the history of pop culture.
Can you guess who it is?
This action star was spotted outside his home on November 19Â
This was a rare public outing to run errands near his home in the San Fernando Valley
He appeared to be holding grocery bags and a black and red fanny pack, while donning a paint-splattered blue hoodie, gray sweatpants and an orange beanie and shoes
Yes, the man in the paint splattered blue hoodie really is Mr. T!
The man who became an con thanks to TV’s The A-Team, was spotted outside his home in California’s San Fernando Valley in a rare public outing.Â
Foregoing the tight muscle shirts and jewelry he was known for in the 80s, the 72-year-old looked disheveled in his oversized hoodie and gray sweatpants.
His head was covered by a bright orange beanie – leaving his haircut to the imagination as he moved on from his iconic, thick mohawk years ago. But there was some coordination in the outfit as his shoes matched his hat.
The TV star was shuffling around Sherman Oaks with grocery bags and a black and red fanny pack without the strap.
His tough exterior isn’t necessarily by design. The bouncer-turned-star grew up in the Robert Taylor projects of Chicago as one of 12 children in a three-bedroom apartment.
The 80s icon regards Muhammad Ali as his hero and adopted a third-person speaking style with a rhyming quality that he attributed to the boxing star
Mr. T appearing on the ABC-TV special ‘Battle of the Network Stars XIV’, at Pepperdine University in 1983
Mr. T got his big break when he was chosen by actor Sylvester Stallone to star as Clubber Lang, Rocky Balboa’s antagonist in Rocky III
Mr. T started life as Laurence Tureaud. His father Nathaniel Tureaud was a minister but left the family when his son was only five years old, which led Laurence to change his name to Lawrence Tero before officially going Mr. T.
The name derived from his childhood experiences of being disrespected by white people in the 1970s.
He told Playboy Magazine in a 1983 interview: ‘So when I was 18 years old, when I was 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.” That’s a sign of respect that my father didn’t get, that my brother didn’t get, that my mother didn’t get.’
When he was discharged from the army in the late 1970s, he worked as a bouncer at the Rush Street club Dingbats Discotheque where he created his persona of Mr. T – accumulating gold chains and jewelry from clubgoers who left them behind after one of the frequent fights that broke out.
Few were brave enough to ask to get it back.
Rocky III gave Mr. T his iconic catchphrase ‘I pity the fool,’ which has been cemented in pop culture
Mr. T appearing on the ABC special the 37th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1985
Mr. T played the role of Sergeant Bosco ‘B.A.’ Baracus, an ex-Army commando on the run with three members from the United States government
Everything about Mr. T’s physical characteristics had meaning. His mohawk was inspired by a time when he saw a National Geographic article about the Mandinka warriors, part of a West African ethnic group, he decided to adopt the look to reference his African origins.
Even his reputation as a fearsome deterrence to fighting and violence was meticulously crafted and led to him taking on high-profile clients including Steve McQueen, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and boxers such as Ali, Joe Frazier and Leon Spinks.
His time with Ali inspired him to adopt a third-person speaking style with a rhyming quality.
Although Mr. T’s image worked for protection purposes, he didn’t realize how well it would translate to the big screen. And when he won two NBC tough-man shows, Sunday Games and America’s Toughest Bouncer, he caught the eye of Stallone.
It was Rocky III where his unique catchphrase ‘I pity the fool’ originated. His role as Clubber Lang, the primary antagonist to the main character Rocky Balboa, stood out – and led him to adopt other roles that required a physical presence.
The phrase was the title of his own reality TV show in which he travelled from town-to-town offering advice and solutions to problems. Â
He would go on to star in Penitentiary 2, a Canadian sketch comedy series Bizarre and Silver Spoons.
Gender-bending New Wave rocker Boy George guest starred on NBC’s The A-Team with Mr. T on February 11, 1986
He was the undoubted star of the show which also featured Dwight Shultz, Melinda Culea, Dirk Benedict and George Peppard
Mr. T pictured alongside co-star Dwight Schultz, who played ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock
But it would be The A-Team that would cement him in the hearts of the children of the 80s.
Mr. T played the role of Sergeant Bosco ‘B.A.’ Baracus, an ex-Army commando on the run with three members from the United States government. His character toed the line between tough and smart – with the added nuance of the character being afraid to fly.
Suddenly, B.A. Baracus became a cult hit and the star of the show was marketed on children’s lunch boxes, action figures and t-shirts.
The Mr. T phenomenon only spread when he landed his own animated TV show titled Mister T which premiered on NBC in 1983. At the end of each, Mr. T himself would present the theme of the episode and state a closing lesson for children.
Motivational videos, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) advertisements, a mini-rap album that taught children lessons, a WWE team-up with Hulk Hogan and appearances on talk shows are what followed this initial success.
Everyone wanted a piece of Mr. T and merchandising was being pumped out left and right – including a cereal that was featured as Pee-wee Herman’s favorite in the film Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.
Mr. T cereal was a big hit that was even featured as Pee-wee Herman’s favorite in the film Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
His rise in the 80s as the beloved ‘B.A.’ Baracus and on programs like the WWE cemented Mr. T as a beloved children’s iconÂ
But as the 80s turned to the 90s, Mr. T slowly stopped getting booked, with only minor guest appearances on shows and music videos. When he became a born-again Christian he also turned down roles – including a reprisal of The A-Team – if they conflicted with his values.
But he did show up in a Skechers ad alongside NFL legend Tony Romo this year.
In 1995, he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, which he joked had part of his name in it, but went into remission.
This physical and financial hardship didn’t affect his impact on pop culture and he continues to be one of the most prominent faces of the 80s.
He continued to play in some roles like Officer Earl Devereaux in the 2009 animated movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the 2017 season of Dancing with the Stars, paired with professional dancer Kym Herjavec
Mr. T shares three children with his ex-wife Phyllis Clark and abandoned the golden chains and jewelry after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 due to his Christian beliefs.
