Lawrence Tureaud, known professionally by his stage name Mr. T, is an American actor, television personality, bodyguard, and retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for starring as himself in the TV Land reality series I Pity the Fool, B.A. Baracus in the NBC action-adventure series The A-Team, boxer James "Clubber" Lang in the 1982 sports drama film Rocky III, and as the voice of Earl Devereaux in the 2009 Sony Pictures animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
For Disney, he played himself in Inspector Gadget as part of the "Minions Anonymous" meeting, referencing the fact that he acted as a minion to other characters in other movies and shows. He also voiced himself in the House of Mouse episode "House Ghosts", as well as portrayed a helicopter pilot in Spy Hard.
Lawrence Tureaud was born in Chicago, Illinois, being the youngest son in a family with twelve children. He, along with his four sisters and seven brothers, grew up in a three-room apartment in the Robert Taylor Homes. His father, Nathaniel Tureaud, was a minister. After his father left when he was five, he shortened his name to Lawrence Tero. In 1970, he legally changed his last name to Mr. T and attended Dunbar Vocational High School. He was a football star, studied martial arts, and was a three-time city wrestling champion.
Mr. T is known for his catchphrases: "I pity the fool!" and "throw helluva far" (throwing his opponents away being his signature move).
