Known for his Mohawk, flashy jewelry and the long list of fools he pities, Mr. T was born Laurence Tureaud in 1952 in Chicago and grew up in that city’s Robert Taylor Homes. He graduated from Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, where he was on the football and wrestling teams.

His strength eventually led him to become a doorman and bouncer at several Chicago clubs, where he began accumulating the gold jewelry that patrons left behind. As his notoriety grew, Mr. T began a new career as a celebrity bodyguard, charging as much as $10,000 per night to protect such luminaries as Muhammad Ali and Diana Ross.

His toughness and celebrity connections soon landed him on television for a “World’s Toughest Bouncer” competition in 1980. It was here where Sylvester Stallone spotted Mr. T and cast him as Clubber Lang in “Rocky III.”

Mr. T then parlayed his film debut into a long-lasting acting career, beginning with what is arguably his most famous role: B.A. Baracus in “The A-Team.” He also starred in “D.C. Cab” and appeared in episodes of TV shows such as “Silver Spoons” and “Blossom.” He made several appearances in World Wrestling Federation events.

More recently, Mr. T has provided voice work on “The Simpsons” and “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” And later this year, the DIY Network will air “I Pity the Tool” where Mr. T will help down-on-their-luck families renovate their homes.

Learn more:
Mr. T page on IMDb
Mr. T’s Biography