Entertainment
The A-Team’s Mr T, 72, completely unrecognisable without flashy bling in rare appearance-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro
His mohawk was nowhere to be seen either!
An 80s film and TV star now looks unrecognisable (Picture: Coleman-Rayner)
An 80s TV and film star known for his distinctive mohawk and layered gold jewellery is now completely unrecognisable after stepping out without his trademark look.
Mr T is best known for playing B. A. Baracus in TV series The A-Team and as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III.
After uttering the line ‘I pity the fool’ in the third Rocky film, the actor took it on as his catchphrase.
However, he’s now switched his signature look for a beanie and sweatpants while on an outing in Los Angeles.
The actor, born Laurence Tureaud, was seen wearing a blue paint-stained hoodie which he paired with grey pants and an orange hat and shoes while picking up some KFC the day before Thanksgiving last week.
His face was also obscured with a pair of dark sunglasses and a scruffy beard.
The rarely-seen star was spotted in Los Angeles last week (Picture: Coleman-Rayner)
It was Rocky III and The A-Team’s Mr T (Picture: Coleman-Rayner)
He wasn’t wearing his signature gold chains or mohawk (Picture: Coleman-Rayner)
Born in Chicago as the youngest son in a family with 12 children, the star went on to legally change his name in 1970 after seeing the lack of respect for the men in his family who were referred to as ‘boy’.
He once explained: ‘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”.’
After serving in the military, Mr T worked as a bouncer at a nightclub, which saw him start wearing his gold chains for the first time, layering items from customers who had left them behind at the venue.
He then went on to become a bodyguard for nearly a decade, with clients including Steve McQueen, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Muhammad Ali.
He spent four years playing B.A. Baracus from 1983 until 1987 (Picture: Coleman-Rayner)
He also starred alongside Sylvester Stallon in 1982’s Rocky III (Picture: United Artists/ Kobal/ Rex/ Shutterstock)
His notable hairstyle was inspired by West African Mandinka warriors, whom he learnt about while reading an issue of National Geographic and decided it would be a way to honour his African heritage.
Mr T’s screen career took off after being spotted taking part in the competition series America’s Toughest Bouncer by Sylvester Stallone.
After appearing in Rocky III, he spent four years in The A-Team, playing an ex-Army commando on the run with other members of the US government for a crime they ‘didn’t commit’.
His character became a cult figure and Mr T was reported to be earning $80,000 a week for his role.
In subsequent years he played himself in many shows including Diff’rent Strokes, Blossom and The Simpsons.
He was last seen on screen when competing on Dancing with the Stars in 2017 (Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/ Getty Images)
He also competed on Dancing on the Stars in 2017 but was the third celebrity to be eliminated.
He’s not been seen on screens since.
In 2005 Mr T stopped wearing most of his gold jewellery after helping with clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
He said that after seeing people lose their lives, land and properties it felt it would be ‘a sin’, ‘insensitive’ and ‘disrespectful’ to continue wearing them.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Entertainment – MetroRead More
