I pity the fool whohasn’t heard of Mr. T. This ‘80s legend first appeared on television screens asB. A. Baracus, a breakout character and cult icon from the hit TV series TheA-Team. This rough-and-tough persona, much loved by fans of the show, was amechanical genius with a bad attitude, instantly recognised by his uniquehairstyle, gold chains and iconic catchphrases.

The man behind thecharacter, Laurence Turead, is one of America’s most adored cult figures.Starting his career as a bodyguard to the stars, Turead was then spotted bySylvester Stallone while competing in NBC’s “America’s Toughest Bouncer”competition. Stallone offered him a small role in Rocky III that then developedinto a central part as Clubber Lang, the film’s main antagonist. It was thisdebut performance that spawned Turead’s legendary catchphrase, “I pity the fool”,and led him to be cast in the role that would go on to define his career: B. A.Baracus.

Since the A-Teamwrapped up in 1987, Turead has enjoyed premiere status as a beloved figure inAmerican pop culture, making a name for himself as a professional wrestler, andcontinuing to appear regularly on television in various guises. His NBC cartoonseries Mister T solidified his popularity, while appearances on shows such asDancing with the Stars and BBC Three’s World’s Craziest Fools have ensured hiscontinued relevance in the contemporary era.