Mr. T was born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest boy in a large family with twelve children.
Tureaud worked as a bouncer after he returned from the army. It was at this time that he created the persona of "Mr. T." His wearing of gold neck chains and other jewellery was the result of customers losing the items, leaving them behind at the bar/night club after a fight, or being removed from the place. A customer would not have to re-enter or even have to see anyone else again if Mr. T wore their jewellery as he stood out front. When a customer came back, their item was readily visible and available with no further confrontations required. Often, the "former" customers did not return. Mr. T thus built up a large collection and earned a reputation for wearing lots of gold neck chains and bracelets. As a bodyguard, Tureaud's business card read, "Next to God, there is no greater protector than I."
