The retired life of Mr. T, the icon of gold and muscles
Born in Chicago in 1952 under the name Laurence Tureaud, the world knew him by the simple nickname of Mr. T.
He rose to fame in the 1980s for his absolutely unmistakable style that no one else but him could have pulled off with the same result: a Mohawk haircut, several kilos of gold chained around his neck, and a defiant Care Bear attitude .
His role as Clubber Lang in Rocky III (1982) made him almost a cultural phenomenon, but when, later that year, he reprised his iconic role as M.A. Barracus in The A-Team, his fame exploded. His catchphrase, "I pity the fool," instantly became part of pop culture, and was exploited for decades by both the actor and advertising, even becoming a reality show as early as 2006.
Throughout his career, and demonstrating his popularity and charisma, Tureaud has been a regular at charitable causes and events. His "No to Drugs" campaign in the 1980s was one of the most successful of its time, and he won over children and young people with the program "Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!" , where he offered motivational advice .
It was in the mid-1990s that his career and life were severely cut short when he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma . He spent several years undergoing treatment for the disease, and his media presence was reduced to a minimum.
After his recovery, the actor changed his image in a way that was perceived as honest. For example, he said in several interviews that he had decided to stop wearing his iconic gold chains after Hurricane Katrina, because he considered such a display of wealth to be in poor taste while so many people were suffering. His image was then associated, as had become customary, with a strong, charismatic personality and deeply held Christian values.
Although he has continued to have occasional media presence in recent years, his television appearances are decreasing. One of his most well-known appearances in recent years was in 2017, when he participated in Dancing with the Stars , where, despite being eliminated in the early rounds, he managed to win over the audience with his usual sense of humor.
At seventy-three years old, he lives retired in his native Chicago , trying to stay away from the spotlight, although he occasionally recovers his "motivational coach" persona on social media and at conventions.
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