Pity the fool behind Best Buy ad

Mr. T. alleges likeness used without permission

By JANET SHPRINTZ

Mr. T

Mr. T has sued Best Buy Co. for using his likeness and voice in a television advertising campaign.

According to the complaint, filed Tuesday in L.A. Superior Court, Best Buy, one of the nation's largest retailers of consumer electronics, ran a series of advertisements beginning in November that use footage of Mr. T lifted from the 1982 motion picture "Rocky III." In the ad, Mr. T's co-star, Sylvester Stallone, has been replaced with an imaginary Best Buy salesman, making it appear the Best Buy salesman is in the boxing ring with Mr. T.

Mr. T., star of long-running television series "The A Team," alleges his likeness was used without his permission. In addition, while Mr. T is portrayed as dramatic and noble in the "Rocky" film, the lawsuit says the Best Buy ad makes him look foolish, because he is being toyed with by a middle-aged, balding, out-of-shape salesman.

The suit, which was filed by Michael Dempsey on behalf of Mr. T., born Laurence Tureaud, seeks injunctive relief and unspecified damages.