Timeline
Key dates and events in Mr T’s life and career. Sources cited for each entry.
| Date | Milestone/Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1952-05-21 | Laurence Tureaud is born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of 12 children | Wikipedia |
| 1971 | Graduates Dunbar Vocational High School | Biography.com |
| Early 1970s | Attends Prairie View A&M University, leaves after first year; later serves in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps | IMDB |
| Mid-1970s | Begins work as a bouncer and bodyguard, takes the name "Mr. T" | Wikipedia |
| 1980 | Wins NBC's "America’s Toughest Bouncer" competition | TIME |
| 1982 | Discovered by Sylvester Stallone; cast as Clubber Lang in Rocky III | IMDB |
| 1983 | B.A. Baracus in "The A-Team" series premiere | IMDB |
| 1984 | Releases "Mr. T's Commandments" anti-drug/anti-bullying album | Wikipedia |
| 1985 | Appears at the inaugural WrestleMania I with Hulk Hogan | WWE |
| 1988 | Stars in animated "Mister T" cartoon series | Wikipedia |
| 1995 | Diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma and undergoes treatment | Biography.com |
| 2001 | Returns to TV on "I Pity the Fool" reality and motivational show | TV Guide |
| 2014 | Receives Chicago Walk of Fame star; continues TV, motivational work, and appearances | Chicago Tribune |
| 2020s | Active in charity, conventions, and pop-culture appearances; notable for anti-bullying activism and media parodies | Wikipedia |