Mr. T

Lore & Background

Mr. T was born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of twelve children. He grew up in a three-room apartment in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing. His father, a minister, left when Laurence was five, and he later shortened his name to Lawrence Tero. In 1970, he legally changed his last name to T, adopting 'Mr. T' as a statement of respect, recalling that his father, uncle, and brother were called 'boy' by white people. He attended Dunbar Vocational High School, where he was a citywide wrestling champion two years in a row and studied martial arts. He won a football scholarship to Prairie View A&M University, majoring in mathematics, but was expelled after his first year.

After leaving college, Mr. T worked as a gym instructor for a government program in Chicago, then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1975, serving in the Military Police Corps. After his discharge, he tried out for the Green Bay Packers but failed due to a knee injury. He then worked as a bouncer at Dingbats Discotheque, where he created his persona and began wearing gold jewelry left behind by customers. He later became a bodyguard for nearly ten years, protecting celebrities including Steve McQueen, Michael Jackson, and Muhammad Ali. He won two tough-man competitions on NBC, the second of which inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the line 'I pity the fool' for Rocky III.

Mr. T was spotted by Stallone during the tough-man competition and cast as Clubber Lang in Rocky III. He later appeared in Penitentiary 2, the sketch series Bizarre, and the sitcom Silver Spoons. His role as B. A. Baracus on The A-Team made him a cult figure, reportedly earning $80,000 a week. In 1983, a Ruby-Spears cartoon called Mister T premiered on NBC, and the feature film DC Cab was released, with Mr. T top-billed.

Reader's Guide

Mr. T's significance lies in his transformation from a bouncer and bodyguard into a pop culture icon of the 1980s. His roles as Clubber Lang in Rocky III and B. A. Baracus in The A-Team cemented his image as a tough, no-nonsense character, while his catchphrase 'I pity the fool!' became a lasting part of American vernacular. His distinctive Mandinka-inspired hairstyle and gold jewelry made him instantly recognizable. Beyond acting, his appearance in the Mister T cartoon and the film DC Cab expanded his reach. His legacy includes challenging racial stereotypes through his self-given title 'Mr. T,' demanding respect, and influencing later portrayals of strong, principled characters in media.

Did You Know?

• Mr. T legally changed his last name to T in 1970, based on his childhood impressions of lack of respect from white people for his family.
• He won two tough-man competitions on NBC, and his interview before the second inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the line 'I pity the fool.'
• He began wearing gold jewelry as a bouncer, wearing items left behind by customers who were reluctant to reclaim them after fights.
• His hairstyle was inspired by a Mandinka warrior he saw in National Geographic.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud on May 21, 1952) is an actor principally known for his roles in the 1980s television series The A-Team and as boxer James "Clubber" Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III." — Mr. T "First name Mr, middle name 'period', last name T!" — Mr. T "Do you know me? Of course you do. 'Cause I'm famous!" — Mr. T "Hey, everybody gotta’ put on clothes and if you don’t you get arrested." — Mr. T