A-Team': Where Are They Now?
These smirking soldiers of fortune marauded across the airwaves for five cheese-tastic seasons, 1983-'87, pulling madcap capers that invariably helped "the little guy."
Dodging the military police trying to bust them for a crime they didn't commit back in Vietnam (don't you hate it when that happens?), 'The A-Team' lived in a world of cartoon violence where no one was seriously injured by rampant gunfire, explosions or car wrecks. Nice.
Our mission: find out what they've been up in the 30 years since they've been off the 'Team.' -- By Jefferson Reid
Related Links
Everett Collection
George Peppard
Col. John "Hannibal" Smith
Then: Versatility, thy name is George Peppard. The onetime movie star went from sharing a kiss with Audrey Hepburn ('Breakfast at Tiffany's') to sharing a white van with Mr. T. The The cigar-chomping honcho led a merry band of mercenaries, always cooking up a new scheme to stay ahead of the MPs. Master of disguise Hannibal relished the chase, and often remarked, "I love it when a plan comes together." Hey, us too.
Related Links
Everett Collection
George Peppard
Col. John "Hannibal" Smith
Now: 'The A-Team' gave Peppard a whole new generation of fans; he worked steadily in TV movies and was all set for a 'Matlock' spinoff once 'Team' was off the air. Sadly, his career renaissance was cut short when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1992 and died from complications of the disease two years later.
Related Links
AP
Mr. T.
Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus
Then: With a Fort Knox of gold chains around his neck, his 'fro-hawk hairdo and his "I pity the fool..." tagline, B.A. was easily the Team's breakout star. Wheelman, muscleman and mechanic for the crew, B.A. (Bad Attitude) could apparently handle anything -- except flying, so the team always had to drug or hypnotize him to get him airborne. So that's why they drove that van.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Mr. T.
Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus
Now: Mr. T's post-'A-Team' career was golden with gigs as a pro wrestling personality and TV pitchman in addition to acting jobs. A born-again Christian, Mr. T now pities the fool who wears gold chains (as it's an insult to God). Diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in 1995, the former bouncer eventually bounced the big C and now lives in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Related Links
Eric Charbonneau, WireImage
Dirk Benedict
Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck
Then: Benedict already had a TV following, as Starbuck on the original run of 'Battlestar Galactica.' His 'A-Team' character shared Starbuck's gift of gab and went one better, with the gift of 'MacGyver': Face had the ability to make a plane out of a parachute and talk it into the air. As the Team's con artist, scrounge, safe-cracker and chick magnet, Face was a master at scamming the ladies -- and everyone else.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Dirk Benedict
Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck
Now: Faceman settled down in real life, marrying actress Toni Hudson (who appeared in a season 4 'A-Team' episode) in 1986. They divorced in 1995, but Dirk got custody of their two sons, raising them in a log cabin in his home state of Montana. He continues to act on stage and screen and competed in the 2007 season of the UK's 'Celebrity Big Brother,' ranking third (coincidentally, he also ranked third on 'The A-Team').
Related Links
Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
Dwight Schultz
Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
Then: Crazy like a fox, Howling Mad lived rent-free in an insane asylum between 'A-Team' missions. Accompanied by his invisible dog Billy, Murdock's convenient insanity didn't keep him from helping Face with his con games, speaking many languages or flying a chopper like nobody's business. Insanely funny, unless you asked his straight man Mr. T.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Dwight Schultz
Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
Now: After the Team broke up, Schultz went on to play Reginald Barclay in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' 'Star Trek: Voyager' and 'Star Trek: First Contact.' He also tried his hand as a conservative talk show host with the now defunct 'Howling Mad Radio,' but has enjoyed much more success doing voice work for animated shows and video games.
Related Links
Michelson, ZUMA Press
John Ashley
Narrator
Then: His voice kicked off every episode of the first four seasons explaining over the exaggeratedly heroic theme music how the Team broke out after being unjustly imprisoned. His spiel ended with, "If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team." Or just watch 'em on TV.
Now: Ashley, also an 'A-Team' exec producer, passed away in 1997 of a heart attack. His long and varied acting career included sidekick duty for Frankie Avalon in youth flicks like 'Beach Blanket Bingo' as well as producing '70s exploitation flicks such as 'Black Mama, White Mama' and prestige films such as 'Apocalypse Now.'
Related Links
Everett Collection
Reader Comments (32)
Brad at 6:23AM on Dec 17th 2008
Hey guys! I found Jessica Simpson's SEX TAPE here:
http://celebcvid.com/video.php?v=Jessica_Simpson_sex_tape
iphonerulez at 7:24AM on Dec 17th 2008
Never liked the show at all. Calling a guy "Face" is really stupid. Mr. T's character was an insult to Blacks everywhere. The basic premise of the show was fine since they always tried to help the little guy. The show was just harmless fluff and ran forever in re-runs.
Darryl at 7:43AM on Dec 17th 2008
He is NOT 63! He and I were born only a few months apart in 1950! Somebody can't do Math!
He's only 58!!!!!!!
Sharon0104 at 8:15AM on Dec 17th 2008
His birthday is March 1, 1945. He is 63.
megwolff at 9:37AM on Dec 17th 2008
An interesting fact about Dirk Benedict is that he moved to the log cabin after he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer at an early age. He adopted a macrobiotic diet (whole grains, vegetables & beans) and healed it. He went on to write a book about this called, Kamikazi Cowboy. It was an interesting story. He is still cancer-free and looks teriffic!
mimi at 9:26AM on Dec 17th 2008
in the related story, you say Larry Hagman got a kidney transplant, when in reality he got a liver transplant -- highly controversial, since it appeared he got preferential treatment without having to wait nearly as long as others (see Mickey Mantle and David Crosby for more details). These aol stories really blow -- you should hire me as your fact checker!
fmmende08 at 9:45AM on Dec 17th 2008
Always thought the show was fun to laugh at. I wish it still came on!
But is it just me, or do the people that write these articles for AOL fucking suck at using proper grammar? Seeing their stupid mistakes makes me feel like alot of the information in their articles isn't all correct either.
Steve at 9:42AM on Dec 17th 2008
Don't go to Brad's link to Jessica Simpson's sex tape, it has a very bad trojen horse virus connected to it!! Too bad that scumbags like Brad have nothing better to do then spread viruses....Get a life BRAAAADDD
Yikesoh at 10:18AM on Dec 17th 2008
Xander Berkeley's wife and former "24" co-star is Sarah CLARKE, not "Scrub's" Sarah CHALKE.
John F.C. Taylor at 10:53AM on Dec 17th 2008
Face & Starbuck. Heard there wasw plans for a big screen adaptation of A Team in the works. Sure hope Dirk gets some role in the movie if that rumor is true. As for the new BSG, I'm glad he dfidn't show up on that. Changed too much from original to evet really like it. Would have been disappointed to see him in it.