Mr. T is pitying the fool \u2014 or, in this case, Netflix.<\/p>\n
The 74-year-old \u2014 who turned his celebrity bodyguard experience into a professional wrestling and acting career \u2014 is the star of a new biographical Netflix documentary, \u201cUntold Mr. T: I Pity the Fool,\u201d which premiered Tuesday.<\/p>\n
But the \u201980s icon, whose image graced cereal boxes, lunchboxes, T-shirts and more, is not too pleased with the depiction of him as a ruthless, tough-as-nails figurehead, he shared with the Guardian<\/a> in the days leading up to the film\u2019s release.<\/p>\n According to Mr. T, who cooperated in the making of the documentary beginning April 2025, he was not shown the finished product until a month ago. <\/p>\n \u201cThat documentary pissed me off, because they didn\u2019t cover a lot of stuff. When I saw it I was like: \u2018what the heck?\u2019 \u201d Mr. T said to The Guardian. \u201cIt\u2019s garbage. You build me up, then you try to punk me out.\u201d<\/p>\n One example he provides to the news outlet is that his pastor was interviewed for two days, he said, but only received 30 seconds of screen time; Mr. T has long been open about his Christian faith, often posting reflections on the sermons he attends on his personal social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what we call, in the Black community, a white man wanting to change the story and control the narrative. If you don\u2019t know me, you\u2019re gonna think I\u2019m some monster,\u201d Mr. T shared with the Guardian.<\/p>\n The documentary also features his former agent, Peter Young, who makes comments about Mr. T\u2019s involvement in the 1993 film \u201cFreaked,\u201d in which he played the Bearded Lady.<\/p>\n The two had a falling-out and, according to the \u201cThe A-Team\u201d actor, he told documentary director Scott Weintrob not to include Young, claiming that he wanted \u201cnothing to do with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Representatives for Netflix did not immediately respond to The Times\u2019 request for comment.<\/p>\n Born Laurence Tureaud on May 21, 1952, in Chicago, the actor would later legally change his name to Mr. T. He told the Chicago Sun Times<\/a> last month that he grew up watching older male relatives being referred to as \u201cboy.\u201d He legally changed his name at 18.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I self-ordained myself Mr. T., so the first word out of everybody\u2019s mouth would be \u2018Mr.,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n He was expelled from Prairie View A&M University<\/a> in 1971 after protesting against the expulsion of the editor of the student newspaper. In 1975, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the military police corps, receiving an honorary discharge in 1978. Mr. T then turned to Chicago\u2019s nightlife, becoming a bouncer. It was in that role that he solidified his unique look, wearing stacks of heavy gold chains, often gathered from forgetful patrons who left them behind. He also chose a hairstyle patterned after the Mandinka warriors of West Africa \u2014 which has been commonly mistaken for a mohawk.<\/p>\n He transferred his bouncer skills to a bodyguard career, where he protected high-profile clients including Michael Jackson, LeVar Burton and Diana Ross.<\/p>\n After participating in the 1980 NBC series \u201cGames People Play,\u201d in a segment titled \u201cAmerica\u2019s Toughest Bouncer,\u201d the muscle man was spotted by filmmaker Sylvester Stallone, who cast him as Clubber Lang in \u201cRocky III.\u201d The antagonist role gave rise to his signature catchphrase, \u201cI pity the fool!\u201d a quote that has become synonymous with the actor himself.<\/p>\n Beyond legendary roles in the 1983-87 NBC series \u201cThe A-Team\u201d as Sgt. Bosco \u201cB. A.\u201d Baracus, an ex-Army commando fugitive, and as a professional wrestler with the World Wrestling Federation through the late 1980s, Mr. T is also known for his charitable contributions.<\/p>\n He famously gave away the money he earned after winning \u201cAmerica\u2019s Toughest Bouncer\u201d twice and donated food and clothes<\/a> to homeless shelters in Los Angeles, including meals to residents on Skid Row<\/a> at Thanksgiving. During his acting prime, the actor made visits to multiple children\u2019s hospitals through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Starlight Foundation, stating in a post on X<\/a> that they changed his life.<\/p>\n