After more than two decades of marriage, Ice-T has opened up about the habits he believes have helped keep his relationship strong.
Born Tracy Lauren Marrow, Ice-T is widely recognized for his work as both a rapper and an actor, especially for his long-running role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
While he has built a major career across music, film, and television, he has also enjoyed remarkable longevity in his personal life.
The 68-year-old rapper and actor married TV personality, actor and model Coco Austin in 2002, and after more than 20 years together, he has shared four key ideas he thinks matter most in a lasting relationship.
His first piece of advice is about holding on to the things that brought you together in the beginning. Speaking to Fox News, Ice-T said:
“I think in a relationship, I think you just have to do what got you guys started. You know, when you first started dating, you can’t get rid of date night.”
He also acknowledged that relationships inevitably face outside pressure, explaining that everyday life can bring stress, drama and tension, so it is important to reconnect with the bond you had at the start whenever possible.
Another major point for him is communication. He said:
“And then talk a lot. You know? Never let a problem fester. If there’s a problem, let’s get it out. Let’s talk about it quick. Don’t let it sit,” he add.
His final tip focused on being open and making sure issues are fully discussed rather than left to grow in silence.
“Don’t be mad at me for like a month about something I didn’t even know got you mad. Yeah, expand. I expand. If I don’t expand right, you know, women need expansion,” he resolved.
Taken together, those are the four principles Ice-T says have helped sustain his marriage for more than 20 years.
His dedication does not stop at his personal life, either. The actor is also preparing for a bigger presence in season 28 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, with Ice-T recently saying he will appear in every episode after a reduced role in season 27.
According to TMZ, he said he will not just be appearing briefly, but is expected to be in every episode of the upcoming season.
Before that, viewers can also see him in FOX’s celebrity competition series Nation’s Dumbest, which is hosted by Jack Whitehall.
The program features 12 celebrities taking part in a mix of physical and mental challenges.
Those competing include Hilaria Haldwin, Carmen Electra, Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Heder, Chase Hudson, Ice-T, Ellie King, Matthew Leinart, Dr Drew Pinsky, Steve-O, JoJo Siwa and Andrew Yang.
Contestants who win a challenge avoid the risk of ending up with the title of the ‘Nation’s Dumbest’.
The show premiered on July 15, 2026, and viewers can stream it through Fubo, DirecTV Stream and Sling.