'The A-Team' Cast: Where Are They Now?
Ubiquitous
but what’s up with the actors (and actresses ... there were a few) who
first made ‘The A-Team’ one of TV land’s most beloved band of renegades?
We pity the fools who don’t read on and find out...
...
Mr. T
B. A. Baracus
A former celeb bodyguard, Mr. T protected the likes of Michael Jackson,
Steve McQueen, Diana Ross and Muhammad Ali (and earned $3,000 a day for
his services), before being spotted by Sylvester Stallone and cast as
Rocky Balboa opponent Clubber Lang in 1982’s ‘Rocky III.’ That helped
him land his signature role as Bosco “B.A.” Baracus, the chainadorned,
mohawk-sportin’, van-drivin’, no fools-sufferin’ member of the A-Team,
who served as the team’s mechanical expert and owner of its resident
fists of fury. Mr. T was far and away the breakout star of the series,
guest-starring on other shows like ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ and ‘Silver
Spoons,’ landing his own Saturday morning cartoon series (‘Mister T’),
recording a rap album a the kiddie motivational video ‘Be Somebody ...
or Be Somebody’s Fool!’ and joining the professional wrestling fray when
he teamed up with Hulk Hogan for the first Wrestlemania in 1985.
Post-‘A-Team,’ the beloved tough guy starred in the short-lived Canadian
drama ‘T. and T.,’ was featured in popular 1-800-COLLECT
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-COLLECT
end_of_the_skype_highlighting and Snickers commercials, starred in the
TV Land reality series ‘I Pity the Fool’ and survived a bout with
lymphoma. Most recently, Mr. T. (birth name: Laurence Tureaud), a
born-again Christian, has appeared in commercials for the videogame
‘World of Warcraft,’ where he touts the game’s mohawk grenade, but he’s
the only surviving cast member of the main four from the TV series who
doesn’t make a cameo in the new movie, as he considered the big-screen
makeover too violent.
George Peppard
John “Hannibal” Smith
A-Team leader Hannibal was the master planner (and a master of disguise)
and the cigarchompin’, fast talkin’ Colonel was played by George
Peppard, who had risen to the rank of Corporal during his stint in the
Marines. Before ‘The A-Team,’ Peppard was best known on the big screen
for his role opposite Audrey Hepburn in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s‘ and on
TV as the titular detective in the light-hearted ‘70s drama ‘Banacek.’
Peppard was also cast as the original Blake Carrington in ‘Dynasty,’
before being fired when he reportedly argued with producers that the
role was too similar to ‘Dallas’ millionaire J.R. Ewing. Post-‘ATeam,’
the life-long smoker was diagnosed with lung cancer, but had filmed the
pilot for a series that was to be a spin-off of the Andy Griffith lawyer
hit ‘Matlock.’ Peppard died on May 8, 1994, shortly after finishing the
pilot, of pneumonia.
Dirk Benedict
Templeton “Faceman” Peck
Known as Faceman because his good looks helped him woo the ladies and
land the team much-needed supplies and info at times, Templeton Peck was
the A-Team’s second in command. Already a tube star when he signed on to
play Faceman, Benedict had played Lt. Starbuck — yes, a dude! — in the
original ‘Battlestar Galactica’ movie and TV series. Since ‘The A-Team’
ended in 1987, Benedict has guest-starred on ‘Baywatch,’ ‘Murder, She
Wrote’ and ‘Walker, Texas Ranger,’ wrote a book — ‘Confessions of a
Kamikaze Cowboy’ —about his successful battle with prostate cancer, did
voicework for a ‘Battlestar Galactica’ videogame and appeared on
‘Celebrity Big Brother’ in England, where he arrived in an ‘ATeam’-
ish van and finished the 2007 season in third place. And, while he was
very critical of the ‘BG’ TV series makeover (chastising that “a
television show based on hope, spiritual faith, and family is unimagined
and regurgitated as a show of despair, sexual violence and family
dysfunction”), he is apparently okay with ‘The A-Team’ movie, as he
makes a cameo appearance as a prisoner named Milt.
Dwight Schultz
H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock
The “Howling Mad” says it all, as Murdock was not only the team’s ace
pilot, but also its resident crazy man (or was he?!), given to
hallucinations and talking to his invisible dog, Billy, both of which
irritate his A-Team frienemy B.A. The TV show was Schultz’ breakout
role, and post-‘A-Team,’ he became a fixture of made-for-TV movies and
voiceover work for TV cartoons and videogames, including ‘Grim & Evil,’
‘Ben 10’ and ‘Chowder’ on TV and videogames like ‘EverQuest II,’ ‘Mass
Effect 2’ and ‘God of War: Chains of Olympus.’ Schultz also became a
part of the ‘Star Trek’ universe with his recurring role as Lt.Reginald
Barclay in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (which he reprised in ‘Star
Trek: Voyager’ and ‘Star Trek: First Contact’), and is a radio talk show
host and writer on conservative topics. Schultz, like Benedict, filmed a
cameo for the ‘A-Team’ movie, playing a German doctor.
Melinda Culea
Amy Allen
Culea was the A-Team’s newspaper reporter friend, who left the show in
the second season, when her role continued to dwindle from the premiere
season. Several members of the production, including Peppard, reportedly
didn’t want a female among the cast, and rumor has it that Culea found
out she’d been cut when she was given a script and saw that Amy had no
lines in it. Post-‘A-Team,’ Culea, who began her career as a model, has
gueststarred on ‘Family Ties,’ ‘The X-Files,’ ‘Star Trek: The Next
Generation’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210,’ starred in the short-lived Aaron
Spelling drama ‘Glitter’ and spent two seasons as forest ranger (and
love interest to several men) Paula on ‘Knots Landing.’ Married to TV
director Peter Markle (‘Rescue Me,’ ‘Crash’ and ‘Without a Trace’), the
actress’ last TV appearance was in 2001 on the Dixie Carter drama
‘Family Law.’
Marla Heasley
Tawnia Baker
Heasley was a short-lived replacement as the show’s lone regular female
presence, playing Tawnia, another reporter who helped the A-Team, for
about 10 episodes. Again, Peppard reportedly was vocal about not wanting
a female cast member, and Heasley was written out early in the third
season. The actress went on to guest star on ‘The Love Boat’ and
have a role in the 1991 Kim Basinger/Alec Baldwin movie ‘The Marrying
Man,’ and was engaged to Las Vegas legend Wayne Newton for several
years. Heasley’s last major Hollywood role was the 1993 movie ‘Amore!’
but, via a Facebook post, confirmed that she attended ‘The A-Team’ movie
premiere in Los Angeles on June 3.
Eddie Velez
Frankie Santana
Velez’ Frankie was a special effects expert who assisted the A-Team
during the show’s final season. The actor has worked steadily in TV
since ‘The A-Team,’ including stints on daytime soaps like ‘Port
Charles,’ ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives,’ and guest
roles on series like ‘Empty Nest,’ ‘JAG,’ ‘Charmed’ and ‘Numb3rs.’ The
actor also has roles in two 2010 flicks, including the thriller
‘Bulletface’ and the post-apocalyptic action film ‘The Forgotten Jewel.’
William Lucking
Colonel Lynch
Col. Lynch was the commander at Fort Bragg, from which the A-Team
escaped, and he spent the first season trying to recapture them.
Lucking, a regular TV presence before the show, has continued to be a
regular presence on TV since his ‘A-Team’ days, with guest roles on
series like ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ ‘NYPD Blue,’ ‘ER,’ ‘The West Wing,’
‘Cold Case’ and ‘The Mentalist,’ though he might ultimately be best
known for his current role, that of SAMCRO co-founder Piney on FX’s hit
drama ‘Sons of Anarchy.’
Lance LeGault
Colonel Roderick Decker
LeGault’s Col. Decker was the second, and far meaner, military man to be
hot on the ATeam’s trail, hoping to further his career with the team’s
recapture. The actor began his own career as a stuntman for Elvis
Presley (including in the Elvis classic ‘Viva Las Vegas,’and was even
part of The King’s seminal ”68 Comeback Special,’ as a tambourine
player. LeGault has worked steadily in primetime before and since ‘The
A-Team,’ including recurring roles on ‘Magnum P.I.,’ ‘Werewolf’ and
‘Dallas,’ and guest roles on ‘MacGyver,’ ‘Quantum Leap’ and ‘Star Trek:
The Next Generation.’ Most recently, he starred in the 2009 movie
‘Stuntmen’ with Zachary Levi and Brandon Routh.
Robert Vaughn
General Hunt Stockwell
The A-Team’s boss in the show’s final season, ‘The Magnificent Seven’
and ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ legend Vaughn was brought in to try to
help boost the show’s sagging ratings, and to try to smooth out friction
between co-stars Peppard, a friend of Vaughn’s, and Mr. T. Since his
‘A-Team’ gig, Vaughn has continued to work largely in TV, from guest
roles on ‘The Nanny,’ ‘Law & Order’ and ‘The Magnificent Seven’ series
to the lead role on the current BBC con man drama ‘Hustle.’
--
It is simply breathtaking to watch the glee and abandon with which
the liberal media and the Angry Left have been attempting to turn
our military victory in Iraq into a second Vietnam quagmire. Too bad
for them, it's failing.
Your Name
web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote:
Among other things, Mr T is also appears in an "advertorial" for some
kitchen cooking equipment and does a voice-over for a confectionary
commercial (Snickers chocolate & nut bars, from memory).
Alls Quiet
>
> Melinda Culea
She was in that episode with Jonathan Frakes where she played some
androgynous alien. It was almost impossible to recognize her as the
girl from the A-Team.
Ubiquitous
I never realized that was her!
Alls Quiet
The episode is very good and probably Jonathan Frakes' best (his
character never fulfilled his potential). But Melinda Culea's
appearance and character were actually sort of upsetting to watch.
There was that whole 90's thing of gloom and doom versus 80's
happiness. Overall a huge downer.
Ubiquitous
>> >On Jun 14, 6:19 pm, web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote:
>> >> Melinda Culea
>> >She was in that episode with Jonathan Frakes where she played some
>> >androgynous alien. It was almost impossible to recognize her as the
>> >girl from the A-Team.
>>
>> I never realized that was her!
>
>The episode is very good and probably Jonathan Frakes' best (his
>character never fulfilled his potential). But Melinda Culea's
>appearance and character were actually sort of upsetting to watch.
>There was that whole 90's thing of gloom and doom versus 80's
>happiness. Overall a huge downer.
I don't recall that ep originally airing in the 1990's, but I do recall
it being both dissapointingly anvilicious and dancing around the obvious.
Anim8rFSK
<f0f35e33-3d1f-47ce...@c33g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>,
Alls Quiet <mut...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Sean Young claims that part was written for her, although she has it
confused with the Famke Jansen episode too.
--
TOM SWIFT 100th Anniversary convention! July 16-18 2010, San Diego, CA
TS100 Convention site: http://www.TomSwiftEnterprises.com
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Your Name
"Ubiquitous" <web...@polaris.net> wrote in message
news:JbidnfGk0cyu1YrR...@giganews.com...
> mut...@yahoo.com wrote:
> >On Jun 14, 6:19 pm, web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote:
>
> >> Melinda Culea
> >
> >She was in that episode with Jonathan Frakes where she played some
> >androgynous alien. It was almost impossible to recognize her as the
> >girl from the A-Team.
>
> I never realized that was her!
It took me a few minutes before I recognised who it actually was. :-)
Keltec
> In article <esGdnYV-48hzN4vRnZ2dnUVZ_oqdn...@giganews.com>,
>
> - Show quoted text -
I saw him doing an infomercial, and was surprised by the fact that
he's just a short little bastard.
Keltec
"Lt. Columbo" on stage in the UK.
Yes, I'm not kidding.