TVSquad: "The A-Team: Where Are They Now?"

[JamesG]

"The A-Team" Cast: Where Are They Now?
by Kim Potts
posted Jun 10th 2010



Mr. T as '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 chain-adorned, 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 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.


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 as 'John "Hannibal" Smith'




A-Team leader "Hannibal" was the master planner (and a master of disguise) and the cigar-chompin', 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-"A-Team", 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 as '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 "A-Team"-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 as '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 as '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 guest-starred 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, the actress' last TV appearance was in 2001 on the Dixie Carter drama "Family Law".











Marla Heasley as '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 as '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 as '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 as 'Colonel Roderick Decker'




LeGault's 'Col. Decker' was the second, and far meaner, military man to be hot on the A-Team'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 as '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".

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/06/10/a-...-are-they-now/