Though perfect in his breakout role in 'District 9,' it seems Sharlto Copley was born to play "Howling Mad Murdock" in the new 'The A-Team.'

As the South African explained on 'Lopez Tonight' (weeknights, 11PM ET on TBS), the actor established an 'A-Team' gang when he was 11 years old. When a rival A-Team band of kids started up, the two gangs had "war on the field" after school.

"We had a fight, and my gang won," said Copley, who fought the other team's Murdock with a stick. Copley even had a birthday cake that proved his fandom -- and confirmed the political and cultural importance of Mr. T. "That [was] a black iconic character in apartheid-era South Africa. That was the power of Mr. T to cross cultural, racial barriers."