Ice-T Lets Mariska Hargitay Call Him A Cooler Nickname Because Of Their 25 Years Of Friendship

Feb 22, 2023 by apost team

Ice-T worked his way to the top before becoming one of the biggest rappers in the 1980s and '90s. Becoming an underground rapper in the early 1980s made him persevere until he got signed on to Sire Records in 1987, the same year he released his debut album, “Rhyme Pays.”

The year after, Ice-T founded his own record label, Rhyme $yndicate Records, named after his own hip-hop collective. Later on, he earned his first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for his collaboration on “Back on the Block.” He was nominated twice again before earning another gramophone in 2021 for Best Metal Performance for “Bum-Rush.”

Apart from his successful music career, Ice-T also ventured into acting in the mid-1980s. His first appearance was in the 1984 film “Breakin'” and its sequel, “Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.” The decade after, Ice-T acted alongside Denzel Washington and John Lithgow in the 1991 American action film “Ricochet.” He even had his first lead role performance in “Surviving the Game” in 1994. 

Ice-T has gained prominence in his acting career, eventually landing the role of Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola in the hit crime series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” along with Mariska Hargitay. He joined the cast in Season 2 and has been deemed by Entertainment Tonight as the longest-running actor in television history, with over 450 episodes under his belt. 

In February 2023, Ice-T achieved an incredible milestone when he finally earned his Hollywood Walk of Fame panel. Hargitay, his co-star for the past two decades, joined him at the special ceremony. To make Hargitay’s honorary speech to Ice-T even more special, Hargitay revealed the special nickname that only she could call the rapper/actor. 

Read on to learn more about Ice-T’s special nickname and his incredible friendship with Hargitay. 

Hargitay has been in the spotlight since she was a child due to her celebrity parents. As the daughter of bombshell Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, it is no wonder that Mariska went into show business. 

Before she was Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Hargitay appeared in a number of films and TV series. Her debut came in 1984 when she was featured in a music video for "She Loves My Car" by Ronnie Milsap. After that, the actress had a small role in a horror film called "Ghoulies." 

Having starred in the popular television drama "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" since 1999, Hargitay is the winner of a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her performance on the show.

In 2013, Hargitay received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star panel, receiving the 2,511th star at the time. It is a monumental moment for an artist to receive their own Hollywood Walk of Fame panel because of the prestige and recognition it brings to them. 

“Law & Order” showrunner Dick Wolf was present and honored her in his presentation speech.

"I love you; you've done an incredible job. You are one of the icons of television, and certainly, I think the female icon for millions of women not only here, but all around the world," he told Hargitay at the time. 

Ten years later, Hargitay was present at her co-star Ice-T’s own Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, in which she cheekily revealed a special nickname that only she could call the award-winning actor. 

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Hargitay was one of the many who honored Ice-T during the ceremony. She also spoke highly of their friendship during her speech. 

“The reason that you have fame in my heart is because you are the OG of friendship. You are my real deal, my true blue, authentic, unshakable friend, and I cannot tell you what that means to me,” Hargitay shared. "As simple and as deep and as glorious as that is, and I know that you know in your heart and in your marrow how full the word 'friend' is when I say it to you, but I'm going to explain it anyway. You have been such a joy in my life. You are the embodiment of loyalty. You tell the truth. You keep it real."

At one point in the speech, Hargitay cheekily revealed that the reason why she loved Ice-T so much is that he let him call her nicknames that no one else is allowed to call him. 

“He lets me call him Icey! You are my friend. So, my dear dear sweet, wise, brave, unique, fierce, beautiful, precious, Ice-T, welcome to this sacred space; my mom and I are happy to have you here,” Hargitay said in her speech. 

When Entertainment Tonight asked Ice-T what he thought about Hargitay’s revelation, the rapper sent his love back to his dear friend and co-actor. 

"I told her to be careful with that, but she put me on blast. I love Mariska. Mariska's become a close friend. Like I say, how many friends have you had for 25 years that you see every day? You know? So, of course we became close, and we understand we got a job to do and we made a show that's been on longer than any other show,” Ice-T admitted. 

Congratulations on earning your Hollywood Wall of Fame panel, Ice-T! What do you think of Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay’s friendship? Isn’t her nickname adorable? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends and other “Law & Order: SVU” fans!