In 1995, Mr. T was diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or mycosis fungoides.
Once in remission, he joked about the coincidence: “Can you imagine that? Cancer with my name on it personalized cancer! ” He wrote an as-yet unpublished book on this experience, called Cancer Saved My Life (Cancer Ain’t For No Wimps).
Mr. T is also known for his distinctive hairstyle inspired by Mandinka warriors in West Africa, his copious gold jewellery, his tough guy persona and his catchphrase, “I pity the fool!”.
On April 5, 2014, at the Smoothie King Centre in New Orleans, Mr T was inducted by Gene Okerlund into the WWE Hall of Fame’s celebrity wing.
His acceptance speech, largely a tribute to his mother and motherhood rather than wrestling, ran long and was eventually interrupted by Kane.