View source for Mr. T

{{Short description|American actor and former professional wrestler (born 1952)}}
{{Other uses}}
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{{Use American English|date=November 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = 
| image              = Mr T WWE Hall of Fame 2014 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Mr. T at the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] in 2014
| birth_name         = Laurence Tureaud{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=27|ps=&nbsp;— "The name that appeared on my birth certificate was Laurence Tureaud (my father later changed it to Laurence Tero)."}}
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1952|5|21}}
| birth_place        = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|wrestler|television personality}}
| years_active       = 1980–present
| module             = {{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
 | height=5 ft 10 in<ref name="WWE Alumni">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/mr-t|title=Mr. T WWE bio|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=April 15, 2021}}</ref>
 | weight=236 lb<ref name="WWE Alumni"/>
 | names   = Mr. T
 | debut   = March 24, 1985
 | retired = December 27, 1994
}}
| signature          = Mr. T signature.svg
}}
'''Mr. T''' (born '''Laurence Tureaud'''; May 21, 1952)<ref>{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=Brad|title=When They Were 22: 100 Famous People at the Turning Point in Their Lives|year=2006|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=0-7407-5810-1|page=150}}</ref><ref name="PeopleDotCom" /><ref name=People>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-a-teams-mr-t-vol-19-no-21/|title=The A-Team's Mr. T|last=Jarvis|first=Jeff|date=May 30, 1983|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191028043629/https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-a-teams-mr-t-vol-19-no-21/|archive-date=October 28, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/would-you-fight-this-man-sly-stallone-did-and-now-mr-t-is-a-winner-in-rocky-iii-vol-18-no-2/|title=Would You Fight This Man? Sly Stallone Did, and Now Mr T Is a Winner in Rocky III|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191028045157/https://people.com/archive/would-you-fight-this-man-sly-stallone-did-and-now-mr-t-is-a-winner-in-rocky-iii-vol-18-no-2/|archive-date=October 28, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019}}</ref> is an American actor and retired [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. He is known for his roles as [[B. A. Baracus]] in the 1980s television series ''[[The A-Team]]'' and as [[Boxing|boxer]] [[Clubber Lang]] in the 1982 film ''[[Rocky III]]''. He is also known for his distinctive hairstyle inspired by [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]] warriors in West Africa,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5lqUMPB3oY| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118050301/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5lqUMPB3oY&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=November 18, 2012 | url-status=dead|title=Merv Griffin Show 1983|publisher=YouTube |access-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref> his copious gold jewelry, his tough-guy persona and his [[catchphrase]] "I pity the fool!", first uttered as Clubber Lang in ''Rocky III'', then turned into a [[trademark]] used in slogans or titles, like the reality show ''[[I Pity the Fool (TV series)|I Pity the Fool]]'' in 2006.

==Early life, family and education==
Tureaud was born in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], the youngest son in a family with twelve children. He and his four sisters and seven brothers grew up in a three-room apartment in the [[Robert Taylor Homes]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aaregistry.org/story/the-robert-taylor-homes-opens/|title=The Robert Taylor Homes opens|website= African American Registry|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191028040622/https://aaregistry.org/story/the-robert-taylor-homes-opens/|archive-date=October 28, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|quote=The Robert Taylor Homes were where Mr. T, [[Kirby Puckett]], and [[Deval Patrick]] were raised. Robert Taylor Homes faced many of the same problems that doomed other high-rise housing projects in Chicago such as [[Cabrini-Green]].}}</ref> public housing. His father, Nathaniel Tureaud, was a [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]].<ref name= "PeopleDotCom">{{cite magazine| last=Kleban|first=Barbara|date=October 1, 1984|title=Mr. T's Sibs Are Teed Off Over Their Bro's New Book|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088784,00.html|url-status=live|magazine=People.com|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191028045055/https://people.com/archive/mr-ts-sibs-are-teed-off-over-their-bros-new-book-vol-22-no-14/|archive-date=October 28, 2019|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> After his father left when Lawrence was five years old, he shortened his name to Lawrence Tero. In 1970, he legally changed his last name to T.<ref name=People/> His new name, Mr. T, was based upon his childhood impressions regarding the lack of respect from white people for his family. T recalls:
{{blockquote|I think about my father being called "[[Boy#Race|boy]]", my uncle being called "boy", my brother, coming back from Vietnam and being called "boy". So I questioned myself: "What does a black man 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, old 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://festivalreviews.org/2016/05/21/happy-birthday-mr-t/ |title=Happy Birthday: Mr. T |publisher= | website= festivalreviews.org |date=May 21, 2016 |access-date=April 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=You'll Pity The Fools Who Don't Know These 5 Things About Mr. T|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-mr-t_n_5643d215e4b045bf3dedbec5|date=13 November 2015|website= HuffPost |accessdate=2023-02-05}}</ref>}}

[[File:Mr. T HS Yearbook.jpg|thumb|left|Tureaud as a senior in high school (1970)]]
Tureaud attended [[Dunbar Vocational High School (Chicago, Illinois)|Dunbar Vocational High School]],<ref name= glance>{{cite news| title = Dunbar at a glance| work= Chicago Sun-Times| date= December 29, 1993| page= 76}}</ref> where he was on the school's [[American football|football]] and wrestling teams. He also studied [[martial arts]]. During high school, he was 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 after his first year.<ref name= bio>{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/people/mr-t-413140 |title=Mr. T Biography |website=Biography.com |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref>

==Early career==
After Tureaud left Prairie View A&M, he worked as a gym instructor for a government program in Chicago. He later said it was here that he discovered a gift for helping children.<ref name="People" /> Thereafter, he enlisted in the [[United States Army]] in 1975 and served in the [[Military Police Corps (United States)|Military Police Corps]]. After his discharge in the late 1970s, he tried out for the [[Green Bay Packers]] of the [[National Football League]], but failed to make the team due to a knee injury.<ref name="bio" />

Tureaud worked as a [[Bouncer (doorman)|bouncer]] at the [[Rush Street (Chicago)|Rush Street]] night club Dingbats Discotheque.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/09/29/Mr-T-sued-for-second-time-this-year/5615465278400/|title=Mr. T sued for second time this year|date=September 20, 1984|website= [[UPI]].com |language=en|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191028040209/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/09/29/Mr-T-sued-for-second-time-this-year/5615465278400/|archive-date=October 28, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|quote=...Mr. T become a bouncer at the Dingbats Discotheque in Chicago and arranged for him to enter the 'World's Toughest Bouncer Contest', the television show that launched his show business career.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20060722/ISSUE01/100026178/to-have-a-comeback-you-have-to-have-a-setback|title=To have a comeback, you have to have a setback|date=July 22, 2006|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191028040324/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20060722/ISSUE01/100026178/to-have-a-comeback-you-have-to-have-a-setback|archive-date=October 28, 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|quote= 1977–79: Works as a bouncer at Chicago's Dingbat's club.}}</ref> It was at this time that he created the persona of Mr. T.<ref>{{cite magazine|author= Mr. T.| interviewer= [[Barbara Walters]] |title=Mr. T: Tough and Tender in Barbara Walters Interview|magazine= [[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]| volume=65|issue=26|page=56|issn= 0021-5996|quote='''Mr. T''': I changed my name for respect because I watched my father being called 'boy'}}</ref> He began wearing gold neck chains and other jewelry as a result of customers losing the items or leaving them behind at the night club after a fight. A banned customer, or one reluctant to risk a confrontation by going back inside, could return to claim his property from Mr. T who would wear it conspicuously in front of the establishment. Along with controlling the violence as a doorman, Tureaud was mainly hired to keep out drug dealers and users.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=220}} Tureaud has claimed that as a bouncer, he was in over 200 fights and was sued a number of times, but won each case.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=218}}

He eventually parlayed his job as a bouncer into a career as a bodyguard that lasted almost ten years.  As his reputation grew, he was contracted to guard, among others, clothes designers, models, judges, politicians, athletes and millionaires.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=136}} His clients included celebrities [[Steve McQueen]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[LeVar Burton]], and [[Diana Ross]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/mister_t_1_/bio.jhtml |title=Mr. T view the Music Artists Biography Online |publisher= | website= [[VH1]].com |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629031038/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/mister_t_1_/bio.jhtml |archive-date= June 29, 2010 |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> and boxers [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Joe Frazier]], and [[Leon Spinks]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Norris|first=Luke|date=July 7, 2021|title=Conor McGregor Channels His Inner Mr. T as He Brings Dustin Poirier's Wife Into Their Feud Ahead of UFC 264|url=https://www.sportscasting.com/conor-mcgregor-channels-inner-mr-t-brings-dustin-poirier-wife-into-their-feud-ahead-ufc-264/|access-date=August 2, 2021|website=sportscasting.com|language=en-US}}</ref> With his reputation as Mr. T, Tureaud attracted strange offers and was frequently approached with odd commissions, including tracking runaway teenagers, locating missing persons, [[debt collection]], and assassination requests.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=137}}

While he was in his late twenties, Tureaud won two tough-man competitions consecutively.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=223}} The first aired as ''Sunday Games'' on NBC-TV under the contest of "America's Toughest Bouncer" which included throwing a {{convert|150|lb|kg|adj=on}} [[Stunt performer|stuntman]], and breaking through a {{convert|4|in|cm|adj=on}} wooden door.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=224}} 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 to declare the champion. Making it to the ring as a finalist, he had as his opponent a {{convert|280|lb|kg|adj=on}} [[Honolulu]] bouncer, Tutefano Tufi.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=226}} Within twenty seconds Mr. T gave the {{cvt|6|ft|5|in|m|sigfig=}} Tufi a bloody nose, and later a bloody mouth. T won the match and thus the competition.{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=227}} The second competition was aired under a new name, ''Games People Play'', on NBC-TV. When interviewed by [[Bryant Gumbel]] before the final boxing match, Mr T. said, "I just feel sorry for the guy who I have to box. I just feel real sorry for him."{{sfn|Mr. T|1985|p=234}} This fight was scheduled to last three rounds, but Mr. T finished it in less than 54 seconds. The line, "I don't hate him but... I pity the fool" in the movie ''[[Rocky III]]'' was written by [[Sylvester Stallone]], who is reputed to have been inspired by the interview.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-cronin/did-ba-baracus-never-actually-say_b_7836116.html |title=Did B.A. Baracus Never Actually Say 'I Pity the Fool' on 'The A-Team'? |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=July 24, 2015 |website=Huffington Post |access-date=August 16, 2016 |quote=Before the final match, Mr. T explained to the commentator for the event, Bryant Gumbel, that 'I just feel sorry for the guy who I have to box. I just feel real sorry for him.' Sylvester Stallone caught this second competition and was intrigued by Mr. T and that line in particular.}}</ref>

==Acting roles and other work==

While reading ''[[National Geographic]]'', Mr. T first noticed the unusual hairstyle for which he is now famous, on a [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]] warrior.<ref>Mentioned in a number of interviews, including [http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2006/11/09/18133735.aspx Mr. T: Pity The Fool] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321072758/http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2006/11/09/18133735.aspx |date=March 21, 2008 }}, allhiphop.com, Published Thursday, November 9, 2006. Mr. T gives a 1977 date, for an article with photos on the Mandinka in Mali. National Geographic Magazine's index has no record of such an article. [http://publicationsindex.nationalgeographic.com/ Nationalgeographic.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207033937/http://publicationsindex.nationalgeographic.com/ |date=February 7, 2009 }}</ref> 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 chains, rings, and bracelets.

In 1980, Mr. T was spotted by [[Sylvester Stallone]] while taking part in NBC's "America's Toughest Bouncer" competition, a segment of NBC's ''[[Games People Play (1980 TV series)|Games People Play]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Mr._T/Biography/ |title=Biography of Mr. T |publisher=Starpulse.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040622195143/http://starpulse.com/Actors/Mr._T/Biography/ |archive-date=June 22, 2004 |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> Although his role in ''[[Rocky III]]'' was originally intended as just a few lines, Mr. T was eventually cast as Clubber Lang, the primary antagonist. His catchphrase "I pity the fool!" comes from the film; when asked if he hates Rocky, Lang replies, "No, I don't hate Balboa, but I pity the fool." He subsequently appeared in another boxing film, ''[[Penitentiary 2]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/02/movies/movies-in-penitentiary-ii-too-sweet-gordon-gets-out.html|title=MOVIES: IN 'PENITENTIARY II,' TOO SWEET GORDON GETS OUT|last=Canby|first=Vincent|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 2, 1982|access-date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> and on an episode of the Canadian [[sketch comedy]] series ''[[Bizarre (TV series)|Bizarre]]'', where he fights and eats [[Super Dave Osborne]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/super-dave-plans-comeback/article20390534/|title=Super Dave plans comeback|last=Szklarski|first= Cassandra|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=March 31, 2009|access-date= January 10, 2017}}</ref> before accepting a television series role on ''The A-Team''. He appeared in an episode of the NBC sitcom ''[[Silver Spoons]]'', reprising his old role as bodyguard to the character Ricky Stratton (played by [[Ricky Schroder]]).

[[File:London Sights (4489568900).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Waxwork of Mr. T as B. A. Baracus from ''The A-Team'' at [[Madame Tussauds]], London]]
In ''The A-Team'', he played [[B. A. Baracus|Sergeant Bosco "B. A." Baracus]], an ex-Army [[commando]] on the run with three other members from the United States government "for a crime they didn't commit." As well as the team's tough guy, B. A. was a mechanical genius, but afraid of flying. When asked at a press conference whether he was as 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 quickly became a cult character and the [[de facto]] star of the show, reportedly sparking tensions with seasoned actor [[George Peppard]], although Mr. T always maintained that these were unfounded rumors.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/0ftjmixy75M Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200229170214/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ftjmixy75M Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=Bobbie Wygant interviews Mr. T for 'D.C. Cab' 11-12-1983| date=March 16, 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ftjmixy75M|language=en|access-date=May 31, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Mr. T was reported to be earning $80,000 a week for his role in ''The A-Team''.

His role in ''The A-Team'' led to him making an appearance in the sitcom ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'' in the sixth season opener "Mr. T and Mr. t" (1983), in which an episode of ''The A-Team'' is supposedly filmed in the family's penthouse apartment.

[[File:NancyReaganMrTChristmas1983.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Mr. T portraying [[Santa Claus]] at the White House with First Lady [[Nancy Reagan]] in 1983]]

Also in 1983, a [[Ruby-Spears Productions|Ruby-Spears]]-produced cartoon called ''[[Mister T (TV series)|Mister T]]'' premiered on NBC. The ''Mister T'' cartoon starred Mr. T as his alter ego, the owner of a gym where a group of 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 by Mr. T himself, presenting the theme of the episode, and then a closing statement on a lesson for children, based on the events of the episode.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title= Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher= McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=559–560}}</ref>

The only feature film that can be called a Mr. T vehicle, ''[[DC Cab]]'', was also released in 1983. It features an ensemble cast, many of whom were publicized figures from other areas of show business: comics [[Paul Rodriguez (actor)|Paul Rodriguez]], [[Marsha Warfield]], singer [[Irene Cara]], bodybuilders [[David Paul (actor)|David]] and [[Peter Paul (actor)|Peter Paul]] (the "Barbarian Brothers") — but who had only modest acting experience. Despite the wide range of performers, and more seasoned actors such as [[Adam Baldwin]] as the protagonist Albert, as well as [[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 poster. While the film, featuring the ensemble as a ragtag taxi company trying to hustle their way to solvency and respectability, performed modestly at the box office, its $16 million take exceeded its $12 million budget, it received mixed reviews critically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dc-cab|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190913220929/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dc-cab|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2019|title=D.C. Cab Reviews | website= [[Metacritic]]| date= September 13, 2019| access-date= September 13, 2019}}</ref> [[Janet Maslin]], writing for ''The New York Times'', described it as "a musical mob scene, a raucous, crowded movie that's fun as long as it stays wildly busy, and a lot less interesting when it wastes time on plot or conversation."<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/16/arts/film-dc-cab-humor.html|title=FILM: 'D.C. CAB,' HUMOR| last=Maslin|first=Janet| authorlink= Janet Maslin |date= December 16, 1983|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 13, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803133943/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/16/arts/film-dc-cab-humor.html|archive-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] praised the movie's "mindless, likable confusion" and criticized its "fresh off the assembly line" plot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/d-c-cab-1983|title=D. C. Cab Movie Review & Film Summary (1983) {{!}} Roger Ebert|last=Ebert|first=Roger|website= rogerebert.com|language=en|access-date=September 13, 2019}}</ref> It was the second feature for prolific director [[Joel Schumacher]].

[[File:Medespelers van de tv-serie Het A-team op circuit Zandvoort.jpg|thumb|right|Mr. T on Zandvoort racing track in 1984]]

In 1984, Mr. T made a motivational video, ''[[Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!]]''. He gives helpful advice to children throughout the video; for example, he teaches them how to understand and appreciate their origins, how to dress fashionably without buying designer labels, how to make tripping up look like [[breakdancing]], how to control their anger, and how to deal with [[peer pressure]]. The video is roughly one hour long, but contains 30 minutes of singing, either by the group of children accompanying him, or by Mr. T himself. He sings "Treat Your Mother Right (Treat Her Right)", and also [[rapping|raps]] a song about growing up in the ghetto and praising God. The raps in this video were written by [[Ice-T]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001384/#musicX20department1980 |title=Ice-T IMDb bio |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> Due to its unintentionally comic nature, many clips have been made from this video and shared as [[Internet memes]]. Also in 1984, he played the protagonist of the TV movie ''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 for the center. He also released a [[Rap music|rap]] mini-album, ''[[Mr. T's Commandments]]'' ([[Columbia Records|Columbia]]/[[Sony Music Entertainment|CBS Records]]) the same year. It features seven songs, including the title theme for the aforementioned TV film. In much the same tone as his motivational video, it instructed children to stay in school and to stay away from drugs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-mr-ts-commandments-vol-22-no-21/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Mr. T's Commandments|date=November 19, 1984|website= People |language=en|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref> He followed it up the same year with a second album, titled ''Mr. T's [[Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!]]'' ([[MCA Records|MCA]]), featuring music from the eponymous film.

During those busy years, he made numerous appearances in television shows, most notably hosting the 15th episode of the [[Saturday Night Live (season 10)|10th season]] of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', along with [[Hulk Hogan]], both of whom were featured in ''Rocky III''. Mr. T had previously appeared on [[Saturday Night Live (season 8)]] in October 1982, fresh from his role in ''Rocky III'', in a recurring 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 the nationally televised 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, the day before the second inauguration of [[Ronald Reagan]].

In 1988, after the cancellation of ''The A-Team'', Mr. T starred in the syndicated Canadian television series ''[[T. and T.|T. and T]]''.  Earning $15,000 for personal appearances, by the end of the 1990s, he was appearing only in the occasional commercial, largely because of health problems.

Some time during the 1990s,{{vague|date=June 2024}} Mr. T would be in [[Eric Esch|Eric "Butterbean" Esch]]'s corner in the boxing matches during one of the [[Toughman Contest]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxFPhuxwJ8iQZ47H6orSEGKKfioNQn8C7H |title=✂️ Mr. T in ButterBean's corner |via=YouTube |date=2021-09-29 |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=June 2024}} He has frequently appeared on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network|TBN]] Christian television network.

In 2002, Mr. T appeared as a bartender in the video for "[[Pass the Courvoisier, Part II]]" by [[Busta Rhymes]] featuring [[Sean Combs]] and [[Pharrell Williams]]. In the 2009 animated film ''[[Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (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 [[The A-Team (film)|film adaptation]] of ''The A-Team'', but he declined,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-sorry-fans-mr-t-will-not-appear-in-the-a-team-remake-8869 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918073930/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-sorry-fans-mr-t-will-not-appear-in-the-a-team-remake-8869 | archive-date=September 18, 2011 | title=News: Exclusive: Sorry Fans, Mr. T Will Not Appear In The A-Team Remake |publisher= Latino Review |date= December 24, 2009 |access-date= August 15, 2013}}</ref> whereas [[Dwight Schultz]] and [[Dirk Benedict]] both made cameos in the film. These scenes were shown after the credits, but were reinserted during the film in the Extended Cut.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwightschultzfansite.nl/engdwightupdates.php |title=Dwight Schultz plays cameo part in new A-team movie |publisher= | website= dwightschultzfansite.nl |access-date= August 18, 2010 |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727065834/http://www.dwightschultzfansite.nl/engdwightupdates.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dirkbenedictcentral.com/home/headline-readarticle.php?nid=45 |title='Prescription: Murder' and 'The A-Team' |publisher=Dirk Benedict Central |access-date=August 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921002524/http://dirkbenedictcentral.com/home/headline-readarticle.php?nid=45 |archive-date= September 21, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although he was not disturbed at the mere prospect of an A-Team film being made without him, he strongly criticized the concept of having another actor copy his own very distinct appearance and style (including his haircut and gold chains) in the hope of attracting his nostalgic fanbase, and considered that asking him to do a cameo appearance in those conditions was disrespectful.<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Mr. T's rant about the 'A-Team' movie|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnauDzs-WJA| via= YouTube | language= en-us |access-date=May 31, 2020| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/mnauDzs-WJA |archive-date=2021-12-11}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803201213/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnauDzs-WJA |date=2015-08-03}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=June 2024}}

Starting in 2011, Mr. T presented a [[clip show]] on [[BBC Three]] named ''[[World's Craziest Fools]]''. The show featured stories such as botched bank robberies and inept insurance fraudsters alongside [[Failure#Internet memes and "fail"|fail videos]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.starpulse.com/mr-t-to-host-worlds-craziest-fools-1848049225.html |title=Mr. T To Host 'World's Craziest Fools' |work= Starpulse |date=April 1, 2011 |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> In 2015, it was announced that Mr. T would star in a [[do it yourself]] [[home improvement]] TV show, with interior designer Tiffany Brooks, on the [[DIY Network]]. The show, due sometime in 2015, was to be titled, ''I Pity the Tool'', as comical wordplay on his famous catchphrase, but only one episode was aired, for unknown reasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mr. T to Star in Feel-Good Home Renovation Series |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/tv/a14647/mr-t-home-reno/ |website= [[Popular Mechanics]] |date=March 20, 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|title=The truth about what happened to Mr. T| date= December 12, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7e_jvT_eZk| publisher=Looper| via= YouTube| language=en|access-date= May 31, 2020}}</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=June 2024}}

On March 1, 2017, Mr. T was revealed as one of the contestants who would compete on [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 24|season 24]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''. He was paired with professional dancer [[Kym Johnson-Herjavec|Kym Herjavec]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dancing-stars-2017-season-24-celebrity-cast-partners/story?id=45767534|title='Dancing With the Stars' 2017: Season 24 celebrity cast and partners revealed on 'GMA'|work=ABC News|access-date=March 1, 2017|date=March 1, 2017}}</ref> On April 10, 2017, Mr. T and Herjavec were the third couple to be eliminated from the competition, finishing in 10th place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/10/dancing-stars-recap-10s-rashad-jennings-mr-t-taps-out/100313888/ |title='Dancing with the Stars' recap: 10s for Rashad Jennings, Mr. T taps out|work= [[USA Today]] |date=April 10, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2017}}</ref> He vowed to donate the money received from this participation to the [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital|Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital]] and the [[Shriners Hospitals for Children]].<ref>{{cite AV media| author= Mr. T| title = Interview with Conan O'Brien| work= Conan| publisher = TBS| interviewer = [[Conan O'Brien]]| date=March 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Mr. T on Larry King Now">{{cite episode|url=http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/2017/3/20/mr-t-on-dwts-jesus-and-possible-a-team-reprisal |title=Mr. T on 'DWTS,' Jesus, and possible 'A-Team' reprisal|series= [[Larry King Now]] |date=March 20, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406052851/http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/2017/3/20/mr-t-on-dwts-jesus-and-possible-a-team-reprisal|archive-date=2023-04-06}}</ref>

=== Commercials ===
Mr. T has appeared in numerous TV commercials, including for [[Snickers]], [[Atari]], ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', [[MCI Inc.|MCI]], [[Comcast]] and [[RadioShack]].  ''[[Forbes]]'' described him as "one of the most enduring [[pitchman|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2010/10/15/mr-t-softer-side-gold-promise-commercial-forbes-interview/|title=Mr. T's Softer Side|last=Greenburg|first=Zack O'Malley|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>

Mr. T performed in a video campaign for [[Hitachi Data Systems Corporation|Hitachi Data Systems]] (HDS) that was created and posted on consumer video 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/internet-marketing/42045.html|title=Mr. T attracts viewers, buyers for Hitachi|date=August 8, 2007|publisher=DMNews|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021132845/http://dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/internet-marketing/42045.html|archive-date=October 21, 2007|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> In November 2007, Mr. T appeared in a television commercial for the online role playing game ''World of Warcraft'' with the phrase "I'm Mr. T and I'm a [[Warcraft (series)#Night Elves|Night Elf]] Mohawk".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wow-europe.com/en/downloads/commercials.html#mrt|title=World of Warcraft Europe - Downloads - Movies - TV Commercials|publisher= | website = WOW-Europe.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624032116/http://www.wow-europe.com/en/downloads/commercials.html|archive-date=June 24, 2010|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> 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 likeness.

In 2008, Mr. T appeared on the American channel ''Shopping TV'', selling his Mr. T Flavorwave Oven.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thane.com/products/housewares/flavorwave-turbo/flavorwave-turbo.php|title=Flavor Wave Oven|publisher=Thane.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302043441/http://www.thane.com/products/housewares/flavorwave-turbo/flavorwave-turbo.php|archive-date=March 2, 2008|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> In 2009, [[ZootFly]] announced they had acquired the rights to the Mr. T Graphic Novel and were planning several video games based upon the work.<ref name= "IGN">{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/976/976832p1.html|title=Zootfly Announces Mr. T Games|last=Clayman|first=David|date=April 27, 2009|website=IGN|access-date=April 24, 2010}}</ref> The first (and only) game, ''Mr. T: The Videogame'', was to have Mr. T battle [[Nazis]] in various locations and guest star [[Will Wright (game designer)|Wil Wright]]. It was planned to be available on the [[Xbox 360]], [[PS3]], [[Wii]] and [[Personal computer|PC]] platforms, however the game was cancelled for undisclosed reasons.<ref name="mr_t_the_videogame">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/mr-t-the-videogame/ps3-14344243|title=Mr. T: The Videogame; About this game|work=IGN |publisher=[[Ziff Davis, LLC]]|access-date=June 10, 2015|quote=The games feature knuckle-whitening action-adventure, furious brawler combat, gravity-defying platforming, and environmental puzzles. The first game will see Mr. T take on Nazis and their gigantic machines in the varied universe of South American rain forests, lost ancient cities, industrial complexes and contemporary military installations. Along with Mr. T and other characters from the graphic novel, the game will feature non other than Will Wright. In this universe, Will Wright is not a top-notch game designer but a top-notch American geneticist who was kidnapped and coerced to work on a diabolic plan. '''Status:''' Cancelled}}</ref>

The same year, he appeared on commercials in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand advertising the candy bar Snickers with the slogan "Get Some Nuts!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://getsomenuts.tv/|title=Get some nuts &#124; Snickers|date=January 13, 2010|publisher=Getsomenuts.tv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409133912/http://www.getsomenuts.tv/|archive-date=April 9, 2016|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> One of these commercials featured Mr. T on an [[Military light utility vehicle|army jeep]] calling a speed walker wearing yellow shorts "a disgrace to the man race" (a pun on the double meaning of the word "race") and firing Snickers bars at the man with a custom-made machine gun so that he starts "running like a real man". This commercial was pulled by [[Mars, Incorporated|Mars]] following a complaint by the US-based group [[Human Rights Campaign]], although the advert had never been shown in the US. The group alleged that the commercial promoted the idea that violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people "is not only acceptable, but humorous".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jul/28/advertising1|title=Mr T Snickers ad pulled for being offensive to gay people|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=July 28, 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=November 14, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Mr. T distanced himself from these accusations, insisting that he would never lend his name to such beliefs, and that he did not think the commercial was offensive to anyone, as all the commercials he appeared in had a similarly silly, over-the-top nature and were never intended to be taken seriously.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/mr-t-tells-bill-oreilly-im-not-a-gay-basher|title=Mr. T Tells Bill O'Reilly: 'I'm Not a Gay-Basher'|date=August 7, 2008|website=Fox News|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121080834/https://www.foxnews.com/story/mr-t-tells-bill-oreilly-im-not-a-gay-basher|archive-date=November 21, 2019|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

In 2010, Mr. T signed up as the spokesman for Gold Promise, a gold-buying company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2010/10/15/mr-t-wants-to-buy-your-gold-time-to-sell/|title=Mr. T Wants to Buy Your Gold – Time to Sell?|last=Greenburg|first=Zack O'Malley|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref> According to an appraiser hired by [[Bloomberg Television]]'s ''Taking Stock'', his trademark gold jewelry was worth around $43,000 in 1983,<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Mr. T Discusses Cash America's 'Gold Promise' Service: Video| date=March 23, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMc6XQwfZt4|language=en|access-date=November 14, 2019|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/VMc6XQwfZt4 |archive-date= 2021-12-11}}{{cbignore}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111161530/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMc6XQwfZt4 |date=20170111}}
{{cbignore}}:</ref> although some sources claim the gold jewelry was worth up to $300,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvacres.com/jewelry_mr_t.htm|title=Mr. T's Gold Chains|publisher=TV Acres|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530042931/http://www.tvacres.com/jewelry_mr_t.htm|archive-date=May 30, 2012|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref>

In 2015, he starred in a series of [[Fuze Beverage|Fuze Iced Tea]] advertisements, stating, "The only thing bolder than Fuze Iced Tea is ME!" The brand, owned by [[The Coca-Cola Company]], also briefly centered its social profiles and website around Mr. T.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fuzebev.com/|title=Iced Tea and Fountain Drinks {{!}} FUZE® Flavor Charged Iced Tea|date=September 5, 2015|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905111326/http://www.fuzebev.com/|archive-date=September 5, 2015|access-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref>

==Professional wrestling==
[[Image:Mr T at WrestleMania, 1985.jpg|thumb|240px|Mr. T hoists [[Roddy Piper]] up onto his shoulders as [[Hulk Hogan]] cheers in the background during the main event of the first-ever [[Wrestlemania 1|Wrestlemania]]]]
===World Wrestling Federation (1985-1987)===
Mr. T entered the world of [[professional wrestling]] in 1985. He was [[Hulk Hogan]]'s tag-team partner at the [[World Wrestling Federation]]'s (WWF) ''[[WrestleMania I]]'', a match they won. Hulk Hogan wrote in his autobiography that Mr. T saved the main event of WrestleMania I between them and "Rowdy" [[Roddy Piper]] and "Mr. Wonderful" [[Paul Orndorff]] because when he arrived, security would not let his entourage into the building. Mr. T was ready to skip the show until Hogan personally talked him out of leaving.{{Clarify|date=June 2020}} Piper said he and fellow wrestlers disliked Mr. T because he was an actor and had never paid his dues as a professional wrestler. Remaining with the WWF, Mr. T became a special "WWF boxer" in light of his character in ''Rocky III''. He took on [[Bob Orton, Jr.|"Cowboy" Bob Orton]] on the March 1, 1986, ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event V]],'' on NBC. This [[boxing]] stunt culminated in another boxing match against Roddy Piper at ''[[WrestleMania 2]]''. As part 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 [[Mohawk hairstyle|mohican]] style similar to that of Mr. T. Then Mr. T won the boxing match in Round 4 by disqualification after Piper attacked the referee and bodyslammed Mr. T. He returned to the World Wrestling Federation as a [[special guest referee]] in 1987 and a special referee enforcer confronting such stars as [[The Honky Tonk Man]].

===World Class Championship Wrestling (1989)===
On July 21, 1989, Mr. T. made an appearance in [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] (WCCW), seconding [[Kerry Von Erich]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKT13vl-Ejs&feature=player_embedded |title=Kerry Von Erich & Mr. T interview |date=August 29, 2010 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/GKT13vl-Ejs |archive-date=2021-12-11}}{{cbignore}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419063542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKT13vl-Ejs&feature=player_embedded |date=2017-04-19}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 

===World Championship Wrestling (1994)===
Five years later, Mr. T reappeared in [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]], first appearing in Hulk Hogan's corner for his WCW world title match against [[Ric Flair]] at ''[[Bash at the Beach (1994)|Bash at the Beach 1994]]''. He would next appear as a special referee for the Hogan{{endash}}Flair rematch in October 1994 at ''[[Halloween Havoc (1994)|Halloween Havoc]]'', and then went on to wrestle again, defeating [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] at that year's ''[[Starrcade (1994)|Starrcade]]''. 

===Sporadic appearances (2001-present)===
Another seven years later, Mr. T appeared in the front row of the November 19, 2001, episode of ''[[WWE Raw|WWF Raw]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slashwrestling.com/raw/011119.html |title=[slash]<!--sic--> Wrestling [slash] RAW [slash] 19 November 2001 |website=slash wrestling |date=November 19, 2001 |access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref> On April 5, 2014, at the [[Smoothie King Center]] in [[New Orleans]], Mr. T was inducted by [[Gene Okerlund]] into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]]'s celebrity wing. His acceptance speech, largely a tribute to his mother and [[mother]]hood rather than wrestling, ran long and was eventually interrupted by [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.metro.us/playing-the-field/video-mr-t-says-the-word-mother-73-times-in-wwe-hall-of-fame-speech/tmWndh---beIYAUUAdmhU |title=Video: Mr. T says the word 'mother' 73 times in WWE Hall of Fame speech |website=Metro US|date=April 9, 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Mr T being interviewed.jpg|thumb|right|Mr. T during an interview in London in 2009]]
Mr. T is a [[Born again Christianity|born-again Christian]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/story/201/story_20189_1.html |access-date=November 22, 2007 |title=Words of Wisdom from Mr. T |website=Beliefnet}}</ref> Mr. T has three children with his wife: two daughters, one of whom is a comedian, and a son. Mr. T was sued by a man in 2014 saying that he was also Mr. T's son from outside his marriage. The lawsuit was dismissed in August 2014 due to the man's failure to pay the required fees.<ref name="mrtkids">{{cite web |author=ionerlogan<!--no real name given--> |title=Mr. T Sued? |url=https://newsone.com/2964924/mr-t-son/ |website=NewsOne |access-date=March 11, 2019 |date=March 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name="mrtdaug">{{cite web |last1=MacEachron |first1=Scout |title=Mr. T's Daughter Erica Clark Stands Out By Standing Up |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/mr-t-s-daughter-erica-clark-stands-out-standing-n368151 |website=NBC News |access-date=March 11, 2019 |date=June 2, 2015}}</ref>

In 1987, he angered the residents of [[Lake Forest, Illinois]], by cutting down more than a hundred oak trees on his estate. The local newspaper referred to the incident as "the Lake Forest Chain Saw Massacre".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/30/us/genteel-chicago-suburb-rages-over-mr-t-s-tree-massacre.html |title=Genteel Chicago Suburb Rages Over Mr. T's Tree Massacre |first=Dirk |last=Johnson |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 30, 1987 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1=George |last1=Papajohn |first2=Steve |last2=Johnson |title=Mr. T Chops Away At Lake Forest's Fiber |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=May 22, 1987 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/05/22/mr-t-chops-away-at-lake-forests-fiber/ |access-date=June 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/a05f53f35d90ea89eb5ed2dea26082f6|title=Mr. T Playing Lumberjack; Neighbor Upset by Tree-Felling|date=May 21, 1987|website=AP News|access-date=November 14, 2019|url-status=<!--region locked-->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406151252/https://apnews.com/article/a05f53f35d90ea89eb5ed2dea26082f6|archive-date=2023-04-06}}</ref>

In 1995, he was diagnosed with a cutaneous [[T-cell lymphoma]], or [[mycosis fungoides]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbWxOQF0kJo|title=Mr. T, T cell lymphoma survivor|website=[[YouTube]]|date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/ |archive-date=2021-12-11}}{{cbignore}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812105817/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbWxOQF0kJo |date=2020-08-12}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=June 2024}} Once in [[Remission (medicine)|remission]], he joked about the coincidence: "Can you imagine that? Cancer with my name on it – personalized cancer!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://copingmag.com/cwc/index.php/celebrities/celebrity_article/mr_t|title=Mr. T - The Ultimate Tough Guy goes Head-to-Head with Cancer|website=Coping|date=March 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102054754/http://copingmag.com/cwc/index.php/celebrities/celebrity_article/mr_t|archive-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> He wrote an as-yet-unpublished book on this experience, called ''Cancer Saved My Life (Cancer Ain't For No Wimps)''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7e_jvT_eZk|title=The truth about what happened to Mr. T|website=[[YouTube]]|date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> He made a direct reference to it as he performed a waltz to the song "[[Amazing Grace]]" in ''Dancing with the Stars''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFAzJ2LMxgs| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412032151/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFAzJ2LMxgs| archive-date=April 12, 2017 | url-status=dead|title=Mr. T and Kym's Waltz - Dancing with the Stars|website=[[YouTube]]|date=April 10, 2017}}</ref>

He stopped wearing virtually all his gold, one of his identifying marks, after helping with the clean-up after [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005. He said, "As a Christian, when I saw other people lose their lives and lose their land and property&nbsp;... I felt that it would be a sin before God for me to continue wearing my gold. I felt it would be insensitive and disrespectful to the people who lost everything, so I stopped wearing my gold."<ref>{{cite news|title=Mr T Gives Up His Gold For Katrina Victims |website=Sky News |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/A-Team-Star-Mr-T-Decides-To-Stop-Wearing-Gold-Jewellery-Out-Of-Respect-For-Hurricane-Katrina-Victims/Article/200902415229268 |date=February 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228054856/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/A-Team-Star-Mr-T-Decides-To-Stop-Wearing-Gold-Jewellery-Out-Of-Respect-For-Hurricane-Katrina-Victims/Article/200902415229268 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |access-date=August 16, 2016 }}</ref>

Mr. T often [[Illeism|refers to himself in the third person]].<ref>{{cite web|author=<!-- Staff-->|title=Mr. T Reveals Why He Pities Fools|website=IGN|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/10/mr-t-reveals-why-he-pities-fools|date=October 10, 2006|access-date=March 12, 2013}}</ref> He also frequently talks in rhymes. He cites [[Muhammad Ali]] as his "childhood hero" and his main inspiration with regard to style and mannerisms.<ref name="Mr. T on Larry King Now"/>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1980
| ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Full Cast of The Blues Brothers Actors/Actresses |url=https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-the-blues-brothers-actors-and-actresses/reference |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Ranker |language=en}}</ref>
| Guy on the Street 
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan=2|1982
| ''[[Penitentiary II]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| ''[[Rocky III]]''
| [[Clubber Lang]]
|
|-
| 1983
| ''[[D.C. Cab]]''
| Samson
|
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!]]''
|
|
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Rocky IV]]''
| Clubber Lang
| Archival footage
|-
| 1985
| ''[[WrestleMania (1985)|WrestleMania]]''
| rowspan=2|Himself
| rowspan=2|Video
|-
| 1986
| ''[[WrestleMania 2]]''
|-
|1993
| ''[[Freaked]]''
| The Bearded Lady
|
|-
| rowspan=4|1994
| ''Magic of the Golden Bear: Goldy III''
| Freedom
|
|-
| ''[[Bash at the Beach (1994)|Bash at the Beach]]''
|rowspan=4 |Himself
|rowspan=4 |Video
|-
| ''[[Halloween Havoc (1994)|Halloween Havoc]]''
|-
| ''[[Starrcade (1994)|Starrcade]]''
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Battlecade Extreme Fighting#Extreme Fighting 1|Battlecade Extreme Fighting]]''
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Spy Hard]]''
| Helicopter Pilot
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Not Another Teen Movie]]''
| The Wise Janitor
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Apocalypse IV: Judgment|Judgment]]''
| J. T. Quincy
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (film)|Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs]]''
| Earl Devereaux
| Voice role
|-
| 2014
| ''[[WrestleMania XXX]]''
| Himself
| Video
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Games People Play (1980 TV series)|Games People Play]]''
| rowspan=4|Himself
| Episode: "America's Best Bouncer"
|-
| rowspan=2|1982
| ''[[Twilight Theater (film)|Twilight Theater]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Silver Spoons]]''
| Episode: "Me and Mr. T"
|-
|1982–1984
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1983–1987
| ''{{sortname|The|A-Team}}''
| [[B. A. Baracus]]
| 97 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2|1983
| ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]''
| rowspan=3|Himself
| Episode: "Mr. T and Mr. t"
|-
| ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983 TV series)|Alvin and the Chipmunks]]''
| Episode: "The C Team"
|-
| 1983–1985
| ''[[Mister T (TV series)|Mister T]]''
| 30 episodes
|-
| rowspan=2|1984
| ''The Toughest Man in the World''
| Bruise Brubaker
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[Dean Martin Celebrity Roast]]''
| rowspan=2|Himself
| Special
|-
| 1984–1988
| ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling]]''
|
|-
|1984
| ''A Christmas Dream''
| Benny / [[Santa Claus]]
| TV movie
|-
|1985
| ''Back to Next Saturday''
|rowspan=2 | Himself
| TV movie
|-
| 1986 
|''[[Saturday Night's Main Event V]]''
|TV special
|-
| 1987
| ''Alice Through the Looking Glass''
| [[Jabberwock]]
| TV movie
|-
| 1988–1990
| ''[[T. and T.]]''
|T. S. Turner
| 65 episodes
|-
| 1989
| ''[[World Class Championship Wrestling]]''
| Himself
| Episode: July 21, 1989
|-
| 1990
| ''Straight Line''
| T.S. Turner
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Out of This World (American TV series)|Out of This World]]''
| rowspan=2|Himself
| Episode: "New Kid on the Block"
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Blossom (American TV series)|Blossom]]''
| Episode: "A Little Help from My Friends"
|-
| 1994–1995
| ''[[Eek! The Cat]]''
| Mr. T-Rex
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1995
| ''Kids Against Crime''
| Himself
| [[Trinity Broadcasting Network|TBN]]
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]''
| Mr. Jenkins
| Episode: "Boo's in the House"
|-
| 1996–1997
| ''[[Suddenly Susan]]''
| Arnie
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Malcolm & Eddie]]''
| Calvin
| Episode: "The Wrongest Yard"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Sabrina: The Animated Series]]''
| Alien
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2001–2002
| ''[[Pecola (TV series)|Pecola]]''
| Bongo
|
|-
|2001
| ''[[WWE Raw|WWF Raw]]''
| rowspan=5|Himself
| Episode: November 19, 2001
|-
| 2003
| ''[[House of Mouse]]''
| Episode: "House Ghosts"
|-
| rowspan=2|2004
| ''[[Johnny Bravo]]''
| Episode: "T is for Trouble"
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Simpsons}}''
| Episode: "[[Today I Am a Clown]]"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[I Pity the Fool (TV series)|I Pity the Fool]]''
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2010
| ''Finders Keepers''
| Gambler
| Episode: "Casino Night"
|-
| 2011–2013
| ''[[World's Craziest Fools]]''
| rowspan=3|Himself
| [[BBC Three (former)|BBC Three]]
|-
| 2014
| ''The Comeback Kids''
| Episode: "Gary‘s Big Break"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''
| [[Dancing with the Stars (American season 24)|Season 24]]
|}

===Other===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Celebrity Deathmatch (video game)|Celebrity Deathmatch]]''
| Himself
| Video Game
|-
|2011
| ''Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The 4D Experience''
|Earl Devereaux
|Theme park ride
|-
| 2022
| ''[[WWE 2K22]]''
| Himself
| Video Game
|}

==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''[[Mr. T's Commandments]]'' (1984), [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* ''[[Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!#Music|Be Somebody (Or Be Somebody's Fool)]]'' (1984), [[MCA Records|MCA]]

===Singles===
* "Mr. T's Commandment" (1984)
* "Don't Talk to Strangers" (1984)
* "Treat Your Mother Right" (1984)

== See also ==
* [[Mr. T Cereal]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | title=Mr. T: The Man with the Gold: An Autobiography | publisher=St. Martin's Press | author=Mr. T | year=1985 | edition=1st | isbn=9780312550899 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|0001558}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}

{{Mr. T|state=expanded}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame Celebrity Wing}}
{{Portal bar|Biography}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mister T}}
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