Born in Newark, New Jersey, Ice-T was orphaned at a young age and eventually became involved in Los Angeles gangs before spending four years in the U.S. Army. His first break occurred in 1984 when the producers of “Breakin’” asked him to rap in the film. He went on to become a Grammy Award-winning performer, whose outspoken hip-hop music has earned him international attention. He formed Rhyme Syndicate Records in 1989, released a string of groundbreaking rap records and was voted Best Male Rapper in Rolling Stone’s 1992 Readers’ Poll. Recently, he released a greatest hits album, “The Greatest Hits: Evidence.”

Ice-T has continued with his feature-film career as well, having appeared in “New Jack City” (opposite Wesley Snipes), “Ricochet” (with Denzel Washington), “Johnny Mnemonic” (with Keanu Reeves), “Tank Girl” and Walter Hill’s “Trespass.” He was also seen in the recent films “3000 Miles to Graceland” (opposite Kevin Costner and Courteney Cox Arquette) and in Abel Ferrara’s “R-Xmas.”

Ice-T is directing the upcoming “Common Sense,” a film based on one of his songs. Additionally, he will be featured in the IFC documentary “Crossover,” which spotlights musicians who have become actors.

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” marks the fourth project on which Ice-T has worked with executive producer Dick Wolf, having previously starred in Wolf’s 1997-98 series “Players” (which he helped develop with Wolf), the NBC movie “Exiled: A Law & Order Movie” and several high-profile guest-starring appearances on Wolf’s former series “New York Undercover.”

“Working with Ice is always a pleasure; he is a consummate professional, a great actor, a terrific person and he has a great sense of humor,” says Wolf.

Ice-T has also published a book, “The Ice Opinion” (St. Martin’s Press, 1994), and is extensively involved in several revolutionary Internet-related deals, including MP3.com and AtomicPop. His birthday is February 16.