Biography
Who is Ice-T?
Early life and background
Ice-T: Tracy Lauren Marrow was born in Newark, New Jersey, on February 16, 1958. His parents, Solomon and Alice Marrow, were both African American. The family later moved to the town of Summit, New Jersey. His mother passed away from a heart attack when he was in the third grade. When he was thirteen years old, his father also died from a heart attack.
After losing both parents, he lived with an aunt in South Los Angeles. He attended Crenshaw High School in the Crenshaw District. During high school, he became interested in heavy metal music through his cousin Earl. He did not use drugs or smoke tobacco during his school years. He began reciting the novels of Iceberg Slim to his friends, which led to his stage name.
Military and early career
He enlisted in the United States Army in October 1977. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division after basic training. While stationed in Hawaii, he learned how to be a pimp and became interested in turntablism. He was discharged in December 1979 as a Private First Class after serving two years and two months.
Following his military service, he focused on a career as a DJ and rapper. He signed to Sire Records in 1987 and released his debut album, Rhyme Pays. In 1988, he founded the record label Rhyme Syndicate Records. His 1988 album Power remains his only album certified platinum by the RIAA. He later gained critical acclaim for albums such as O.G. Original Gangster and Home Invasion.
Acting and television work
His acting career began with small parts in the films Breakin and Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. He made his major role debut in 1991, playing detective Scotty Appleton in the film New Jack City. He also received top billing in the 1994 film Surviving the Game.
Since 2000, he has portrayed Odafin Tutuola on the NBC police drama Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. This role made him the longest-running male series actor in American television history. He also starred in the reality television show Ice Loves Coco, which ran on E! From 2011 to 2013. In 2018, he began hosting the documentary series In Ice Cold Blood on the Oxygen channel.
Music and personal life
He co-founded the heavy metal band Body Count in 1990. The group released their self-titled debut album in 1992. The band has released eight studio albums, including the 2024 release titled Merciless. He faced controversy in the 1990s over the track Cop Killer, which resulted in him asking for a release from his contract with Warner Bros. Records.
He is married to Coco Austin. They have one child together named Chanel Nicole Marrow. He has previously spoken about his past involvement in bank robberies during the 1980s. He also faced a mistaken arrest in July 2010, though charges were dropped a month later after the prosecution admitted to a clerical error.
Birthday and age
Ice-T was born on February 16, 1958, which makes Ice-T 68 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Ice-T shares the date with 53 other famous people.
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