Lawrence Tureaud, better known as Mr. T, was in true form as he waited outside a suburban Chicago courthouse to be called for jury duty. Sporting his usual Mohawk and wearing an FBI sweatshirt and hat, but not a gold chain, the star of Rocky III and TV’s The A-Team signed autographs and made his feelings known. He said, “I pity the criminals today,” as he explained he had been designated a potential juror for a trial scheduled for Friday. The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Ill., reports the 62-year-old said he never considered “playing hooky” after receiving the jury summons to the Rolling Meadows court. Mr. T said he understood his duty and said it’s not his style to shirk responsibilities. He wasn’t picked as a juror.
Holding flickering candles, fans of Elvis Presley made a slow, nighttime walk past his grave site at Graceland on Friday, marking the anniversary of his death 37 years ago. Fans strolled quietly through the Meditation Garden at Graceland, Presley’s longtime Memphis home. Presley’s grave is in the garden, and his mother, father and grandmother are buried there. The home is now a museum and a centerpiece of the Graceland tourist attraction that draws about 500,000 fans each year from around the world. People began arriving early in the day to get places in line outside Graceland’s gates. Tourists also watched Elvis tribute artists sing and dance, and they visited gift shops and Elvis-related exhibits across the street from the home. The scene is repeated each year on the anniversary of the death of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. Presley died at age 42 on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack, shocking and saddening his fans worldwide. Mark Summers, 31, said it was his first time attending the vigil. Summers of Birmingham, England, is an Elvis tribute artist who performs theater shows across Europe. He said he admired Presley not only for his music and his act but also for his good qualities as a person. Presley was known for giving money to charities and cars to fans. The vigil is a highlight of Elvis Week, an annual celebration of Presley’s career and his life. This year, other Elvis Week events have included an auction of authenticated Presley artifacts — which included a 1977 Cadillac Seville used by Presley — and the groundbreaking of a planned 450-room hotel at the Graceland tourist attraction.