Seventy-three years of bouncing, brawling and broadcasting.
From the third floor of a Chicago tenement to the WWE Hall of Fame — the dates that defined Mr T, with sources for every entry.
-
21 May 1952
Born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago, Illinois
The youngest of twelve children, raised in a three-room tenement on the South Side.
Source · Wikipedia -
1971
Graduates Dunbar Vocational High School
Earned a football scholarship to Prairie View A&M; left after his first year.
Source · Biography.com -
Mid-1970s
U.S. Army Military Police Corps
Served as an MP, then took the name “Mr. T” and worked as a bouncer and bodyguard for celebrities.
Source · Wikipedia -
1980
Wins NBC’s “America’s Toughest Bouncer”
The televised win that put him on Sylvester Stallone’s radar.
Source · Wikipedia -
1982
Cast as Clubber Lang in Rocky III
His film debut — and a career-making introduction to a global audience.
Source · IMDb -
1983
B.A. Baracus debuts in The A-Team
The NBC action series ran for five seasons and 98 episodes, becoming an ‘80s primetime juggernaut.
Source · IMDb -
1984
Mr T’s Commandments released
An anti-drug, anti-bullying spoken-word album for kids.
Source · Wikipedia -
31 March 1985
Tag-team partner at WrestleMania I
Teamed with Hulk Hogan against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff at the inaugural WrestleMania.
Source · Wikipedia -
1988
Mister T animated series concludes
Three seasons of Saturday-morning crimefighting and motivational speeches with a gymnastics team.
Source · Wikipedia -
1995
Diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma
Underwent treatment and went into remission — later becoming a cancer awareness advocate.
Source · Biography.com -
2001
Returns to TV with “I Pity the Fool”
A reality / motivational show on TV Land that reintroduced Mr T to a new generation.
Source · Wikipedia -
2014
Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
Honoured in the celebrity wing for his contributions to WrestleMania I and II.
Source · WWE -
2020s
Conventions, charity, and pop-culture parodies
Continues to appear at fan events and remains a vocal anti-bullying advocate.
Source · Wikipedia