Mr. T , whose real name is Laurence Tureaud ( born May 21 1952 in Chicago ) is an African American actor . He is famous for playing Sgt. Bosco `` B.A. '' Baracus in The A-Team and James `` Clubber '' Lang in Rocky III . Mr. T ( born Laurence Tureaud May 21 , 1951 ) is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team , as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III , and for his appearances as a professional wrestler .