Trivia

Diagnosed with cancer in 1995 at age 43. Beating the disease in 2001 at age 49.

If you ask him what his real name, he will tell you, "My first name is 'Mr', my middle name is 'period', last name is 'T'".

Previous occupations include: gym teacher (an inspiration for his animated series); military policeman; bouncer; bodyguard (clients included Steve McQueen, Muhammad Ali, and Diana Ross).

Stopped wearing his trademark gold chains as of 2005 because of the Katrina devastation.

Has frequented Harry Caray's restaurant in Chicago. One waiter described Mr. T as a generous tipper who would bring his own golden eating utensils. Often, he'd bring his mother with him. While Mr. T was friendly toward would-be autograph seekers, there was one cardinal rule: do NOT disturb him while he was eating.

Hulk Hogan wrote in his autobiography that Mr. T almost ruined the main event of the first Wrestlemania, 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.

Doesn't drink alcoholic beverages.

Derived his signature hairstyle when an attempt to shave his hair into a "T" failed. He adopted the mohawk look instead, taken from a National Geographic photo of a Mandika warrior in Mali.

He was twice named America's Toughest Bouncer.

Has three children: daughter Lesa, born in 1971; daughter Erica Clark, born in 1979 (the girls' mother is Phyllis Clark); and son Lawrence Junior (answers to "TJ"), born in 1986.

Voted by a BBC-run poll the fourth most influential American in history, behind Homer Simpson, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper mentioned that he and other fellow wrestlers legitimately disliked Mr. T, because he was an actor coming into wrestling, and had not paid his dues as a professional wrestler.

WWE Hall of Famer.

Played The Bearded Lady in Freaked. During filming, he left production and took a plane back home to Chicago. The filmmakers called him and asked why he left the set. His answer was "I don't wanna wear the dress no more.".

Fans often dubbed his "Sgt. B.A. Baracus" from L'agence tous risques (1983) as standing for "Bad Ass" or "Bad Attitude".

Occasionally appears as Conan O'Brien's special guest and partner in various comedy sketches on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) (2001).

Was once parodied on the animated G.I. Joe series of the 1980s with a character called "Mr. C", who was a spokesman for the evil Cobra Cable Network (the character then joined G.I. Joe after the Cobra Cable 3 Network was destroyed).

When he and Hulk Hogan appeared in 1985 on Saturday Night Live (1975), they were promoting the World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania (1985) pay-per-view show. They stayed mostly in character, but during a "Fernando's Hideaway" segment (Billy Crystal), were unable to do so during most of that skit.

He had his own cereal out for a while that came out in the 80s he even did commercials for it.

Boxed "Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton on WWF's Saturday Night Main Event in 1985 and was subsequently whipped by Orton and Rowdy Roddy Piper with a belt.

While a homeowner in Lake Forest, Illinois, he clearcut nearly 100 trees located on his 7 1/2 acre property, igniting a feud with neighbors and town officials. Because of his actions, landowners of the town are prohibited from cutting down trees, even on their own property, without a permit.

Compiled a 4-0 Shoot-Wrestling Record.

Briefly attended Prairie View A&M University near Houston, Texas c. 1971.

Was a Professional Wrestler.

Defeated Kevin Sullivan at Starrcade 1994.