A famous actor and wrestler, Mr. T was a household name in the 80s and is still a significant pop culture figure today. Here’s a quick breakdown of his height, age, and weight.
Mr. T is 213 pounds at 5 ’11. As of 2023, he is 71 years old.
There’s a lot to talk about in the storied life of Mr. T, and in this article, we’ll highlight all of his physical characteristics, as well as the famous roles he’s played in his career.
How Tall Is Mr. T?
Mr. T was once referred to in the 1984 Philly Inquirer as 5-foot-10 Mr. T,” although his actual height is 5 ’11. Mr. T jokingly said that his height was 5 ’11—when he wasn’t standing on his money. Some fans insist his actual height is 5 ’10 and ¾ on a good day.
How Old Is Mr. T?
As of 2023, Mr. T is 71 years old, putting him in the same vein as wrestling greats of his era.
How Much Does Mr. T Weigh?
The WWE recorded Mr. T’s weight at 236 pounds or 107 kg at his peak.
Mr. T’s Hairstyle
One of Mr. T’s most recognizable features is his unique hairstyle. Reportedly, the style was inspired by a Mandinka warrior featured in National Geographic. Mr T. felt the look would be more reflective of his African heritage than his traditional fare of gold accessories.
Moreover, Mr. T stopped wearing his gold after his involvement with the cleanup following Hurricane Katrina, noting that he believed it would be disrespectful to continue wearing it in light of the people who had lost everything.
Mr. T’s Early Life
Mr. T., formally known as Laurence Tureaud was born May 21, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the youngest of 12 children in the Tureaud family. He attended Dunbar vocational High School, where he was active in sports like wrestling and football. Laurence also studied martial arts. He was taught to be tough by his younger brother, a product of his upbringing in the rough ghetto of Chicago.
His sports skills would be recognized by a football scholarship to Prairie View A&M University, where he majored in mathematics.
After a year, he was expelled from the university. Soon after, he worked as a gym instructor and developed a passion for helping children. In 1975, he served in the Military Police Corps, after which he tried out for the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, due to a knee injury, he was rejected and instead took up work as a bouncer at Dingbats Discotheque, a club on Rush Street in Chicago.
The Origins of the Name
The name Mr. T stemmed from Laurence’s demand for respect from his community.
He cited that the men in his family, including his brother who fought in Vietnam, were belittled by being called “boy.” At the age of 18, Mr T. declared “I was old enough to be called a man.” As such, the iconic nickname was born so that he was given the respect he deserved by being called “Mr.”
At the Dingbats Discotheque, he started to take on his persona as Mr. T, wearing gold chains and jewelry left behind by customers after a fight.
Shunned customers could collect their accessories from the imposing Mr. T outside. Mr. T claims he was in over 200 fights and was sued multiple times, but won every case.
From bouncer to bodyguard, Mr. T played protector to models, judges, athletes, politicians, and millionaires alike. He also won two strongman competitions in his late twenties, boxing out a Honolulu bouncer named Tutefano Tufi in 20 seconds flat.
His unique name earned him some unusual requests, too, like tracking down runaway teens and debt collection—reportedly even assassination requests.
Acting Career
Mr. T is best known for his acting roles, and he originally got his start in boxing movies. Sylvester Stallone spotted him during “America’s Toughest Bouncer,” and liked what he saw. Mr. T was cast in Rocky III, originally as a small part, although he was eventually cast as the antagonist Clubber Lang.
Soon after, he would play in Penitentiary 2, before becoming a part of The A-Team, Sergeant Bosco Albert “B.A.” (Bad Attitude) Baracus. B.A. encapsulated Mr. T’s personality to a—well, to a T. An adept fighter and expert mechanic, B.A. brings a confrontational and direct approach to conflicts.
His role in the A-Team was instrumental in the success of his acting career. So much so that Mr. T featured in a cartoon called Mister T, which featured Mr. T as himself, training gym goers and solving mysteries ala Scooby Doo.
Mr. T would also feature in DC Cab (1983), a mish-mash of pop cultures from show business roleplaying as a misfit taxi company trying to hustle their way to success. The movie featured Mr. T prominently in promotional material and was praised for its entertaining plot.
He would go on to feature in many commercials and make cameos in film and television.
Wrestling Career
Mr. T was Hulk Hogan’s wrestling partner at WrestleMania in 1985, although he was disliked by some other wrestlers for a perceived lack of experience in professional wrestling. He would go on to become a popular fighter, taking on Bob Orton and Piper. He would referee in 1987 and appeared at the World Class Championship Wrestling event in 1989.
Since then, he’s made several celebrity appearances at wrestling events around the country.
Final Thoughts
Mr. T is an iconic actor, wrestler, and celebrity whose rough-and-tough exterior with a recognizable hairstyle and mannerisms. A popular star in the 80s, Mr. T has continued to make appearances in wrestling events, commercials, and other media.
Distinguished by his muscular physique, Mandinka haircut, and his gruff voice, Mr. T has earned critical acclaim and respect. Over the years, he’s cemented his legacy as one of the 80’s “tough guys” and is still a beloved media personality today.
