Mr. T — he’s not exactly a one-named celebrity — but close enough. And no man, including the current president, is as closely aligned in the public consciousness with a particular hairstyle. Mr. T owns the mohawk — ever since he brought his Clubber Lang fierceness to Sylvester’s Stallone’s front door 37 years ago in Rocky III. (The film came out in 1982, but Stallone gave Mr. T his big break when he cast him a few years before that.) Mr. T’s celebrity rests on that casting decision — and he shouted out Stallone before his Dancing With the Stars debut.
Hey @TheSlyStallone I owe you much gratitude My Brother. Thanks Again for Believing in Me and Taking A Chance with Me 37 years ago!…
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 20, 2017
[LEFT: The enduring image of Rocky III, streaming at Amazon]
Mr. T says he’s the oldest man competing on the show, and is gracious enough not to mention the ages of the female competitors who predate him. (He does say Charo, a real one-namer, has seniority on him!) Mr. T turns 65 this May, but his age won’t hold him back because his motivation is the children of St. Jude and Shriners Hospital. Mr. T has the good fortune of partnering with Kym Johnson Herjavec.
I am Motivated and Inspired to Dance for the Children at @StJude and @shrinershosp Hospitals!
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 19, 2017
Now, That’s No Excuse if I Lose. But if I should Win, I Pity those Young Fools! Grrrr
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 10, 2017