Imagine living a life filled with wealth, fame, and success.
Now, picture giving it all up in the name of faith while simultaneously dealing with
a crippling and potentially life-ending illness.
This is the inspiring true story of one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood,
Mr. T. After years of living the high life, Mr. T's life took a drastic turn when he made
an announcement that shocked the world.
In this video, we'll explore Mr. T's incredible journey of faith, and how he came to make
one of the most significant decisions of his life.
So, get ready to be moved by the story of a man who chose faith over fortune, and discover
how his story can inspire you to live a more meaningful life.
Facts Verse Presents: Mr. T Gave Up All His Wealth for God at 70 Years Old
From The Projects To Hollywood
Born Laurence Tureaud on the 21st of May, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. T's childhood
was marked by poverty, a speech impediment, and bullying.
In his 1984 autobiography, "The Man With The Gold," Mr. T revealed that he grew up in a
dangerous environment where he witnessed heinous crimes such as murder and sexual assault on
a daily basis.
Although it once seemed as if the odds were stacked against him, he credits his survival
and success to his mother, who raised him and his 11 siblings single-handedly after
his father abandoned the family when he was just five years old.
Mr. T's fierce devotion to his mother was evident when he defended her from two criminals
who robbed her.
In fact, he once proudly declared, "I am at peace once again because I did what needed
to be done.
And I pity the fool who doesn't protect his mother."
As the youngest of twelve siblings, Mr. T grew up in the projects and had to fight for
everything he had.
He was a fierce competitor and reportedly once even accidentally beat up a police officer
during his youth.
Despite his rough upbringing, he was determined to succeed and soon began weightlifting, ultimately
becoming a bodyguard for celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson.
It's been reported that for his protection, Mr. T's clients would pay him upwards of $10,000
a day.
While Mr. T was working in security, he caught the attention of NBC, who asked him to participate
in a TV show called America's Toughest Bouncer.
The show featured participants from different countries competing in a variety of outlandish
"tough guy" challenges.
One such challenge involved throwing a stuntman as far as they could or running through a
solid wooden door.
To prepare for this challenge, Mr. T returned to his old ghetto neighborhood, found some
condemned buildings, and charged down walls and doors for two weeks.
His hard work and dedication – not to mention his machismo - paid off, as he went on to
win the title of America's Toughest Bouncer not once but twice twice, catching the eye
of none other than Sylvester Stallone, who offered him the role of Clubber Lang in the
1982 hit movie "Rocky III."
With his intimidating presence and iconic catchphrase, "I pity the fool," Mr. T quickly
became a household name and the ultimate tough guy.
From there, Mr. T's career continued to soar.
He landed his most famous role as B.A.
Baracus in the cult TV series "The A-Team" in 1983, and he also appeared in sitcoms like
"Diff'rent Strokes" and films like "D.C.
Cab."
He even inspired his own cartoon, fittingly titled "Mister T," which premiered on NBC
in 1983.
Mr. T's popularity led him to create a motivational video called "Be Somebody...
Or Be Somebody's Fool," aimed at children growing up in tough environments like the
one he had come from.
He also released an album called "Mr. T's Commandments," featuring his unique brand
of motivational rap.
In 1985, Mr. T entered the world of professional wrestling, becoming Hulk Hogan's tag-team
partner at WrestleMania, which they won.
Sadly, not long after this, his life took a very abrupt and dramatic turn.
Fortunately, his faith in God helped him to navigate through this challenging chapter
of his life courageously.
Mr T's Cancer Battle and Unwavering Faith
With his imposing appearance, Mr T. has played the tough guy in nearly all his roles.
However, at home, he is a devoted father and a deeply religious man.
Mr. T has a profound Christian faith that runs deep in his family history.
He was first introduced to the religion at an early age, having been baptized when he
was just four years old.
From childhood, he was keen on following in his father's footsteps and had aspirations
of becoming a preacher himself, often carrying his father's bible and placing it on the pulpit
so that he could give his own "sermons".
In adulthood, his devotion to his faith went beyond preaching, as he also contributed to
his church's charitable causes and supported the less fortunate members of his community
in any way he could as often as he could.
Even after acquiring a great deal of wealth and prestige, Mr. T. has refused to prioritize
those things over his faith.
In fact, even in the face of great adversity, he has continued to put God first in his life
no matter what.
Recently, the 70-year-old actor took to Instagram to share a photo of himself donning the American
flag as a bandana to cover his bald head, expressing excitement for the upcoming Olympics
and the chance to watch the curling team defend their title.
Fans of Mr. T enjoyed the post, but many were more interested in his appearance, with one
fan noting that he looked "excellent" and another commenting that he still looked strong,
adding that they still watched his famous movie "The A-Team."
However, Mr. T has not always been strong.
In 1995, when he was 43, he was diagnosed with cancer, and it wasn't until he was 49,
in 2001, that he went into remission.
Throughout his struggle with cancer and raising his three children, Lesa, Erica, and Lawrence,
he remained fervently devoted to his faith.
Mr. T once shared that he answers only to God, stating that no matter how much wealth
he has accumulated over the decades, he has never forgotten nor forsaken his faith and
always trusts God to provide for him.
Mr. T's children grew up with an unusual childhood.
Erica Clarke, his daughter, once said that she always thought it was funny that her dad
had on gold chains while everyone else's dad had on a suit.
Mr. T's children faced many other unusual situations as they grew up, including witnessing
Hulk Hogan crash through their dining room table on Thanksgiving.
Despite his position in Hollywood, Mr. T hoped his children would not enter the entertainment
industry.
However, Clarke couldn't resist the call of the stage and is now a comedian, admitting
that her father's name has opened many doors for her, but recognizing that she must be
funny, even if people book her just to see what she'll discuss on stage.
Mr. T undoubtedly had a successful career, but at one point in his journey, he made a
handful of questionable business decisions to the detriment of himself, his wife, and
his daughter.
He soon discovered, however, that being a good Christian meant helping others and striving
to be honest, and began helping people wherever possible, especially after his cancer diagnosis.
After appearing in "Dancing with the Stars" during season 24, he donated all the money
he made from the show to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Shriner's Hospital for
Children.
Since then, Mr. T encourages his fans to donate what they can to those in need, feed those
who can't provide for themselves, and he continues to take food down to the homeless, as his
mother once told him, "Son, if nobody else knows, God knows.
I do it for His glory."
He's Put The Down Gold Chains
Mr. T's faith was put to the ultimate test when he received the devastating news of his
cancer diagnosis back in 1995.
Despite the difficult ordeal, he remained steadfast in his devotion to God and likened
his experience to that of Job, the biblical figure who endured countless trials but remained
faithful to God throughout.
Mr. T prayed every day and entrusted himself to God's will, asking for healing or the strength
to endure whatever was to come.
He never questioned God or blamed him for his illness, but rather saw it as an opportunity
to grow in his faith.
The experience of battling cancer had a profound impact on Mr. T's outlook on life.
It made him more humble and grateful for each day he was given.
In a beautiful display of empathy, he stopped wearing his signature gold chains and most
of his other gold jewelry after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
Seeing the devastation and loss that so many people had suffered, he felt it would be insensitive
and disrespectful to continue wearing his flashy accessories.
As a Christian, he believed it was his duty to show compassion and solidarity with those
who were suffering, and he did so in the most meaningful way he could.
His Legacy Speaks For Itself
Mr. T's legacy is a multifaceted one that spans across various fields and industries.
He will be remembered as a wrestler, an actor, and an iconic figure of popular culture.
His tough-guy persona and signature gold chains have become a cultural phenomenon, earning
him a place in the hearts and minds of millions of fans around the world.
But perhaps Mr. T's most significant legacy will be his unwavering faith and his commitment
to using his platform for the greater good.
Despite his fame and fortune, he has remained grounded in his Christian beliefs and has
used his influence to make a positive impact on the world.
From his charitable work to his motivational speeches and public appearances, Mr. T has
inspired countless individuals to overcome adversity, stay true to themselves, and never
give up hope.
His message of perseverance and faith is one that resonates with people of all ages and
backgrounds, and it will continue to inspire and uplift for years to come.
In short, Mr. T's legacy will be one of strength, compassion, and faith - a shining example
of how one person's determination and dedication can make a significant difference in the world.
With that, we're going to go ahead and wrap this video up.
But before you go, we'd love to hear from you.
Did you know that Mr. T. is a devout Christian and were you aware that he was diagnosed with
cancer in 1995?
let us know in the comments and as always, thanks for watching!