Ice-T at the ‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 25 anniversary party on Jan. 16, 2024.Photo:Todd Williamson/NBC via GettyIce-Tis celebrating 25 years ofLaw & Order: SVU.The rapper-turned-actor spoke to PEOPLE forlast week’s cover storyonMariska Hargitay, and between his leading lady costar and his long-running spot on the “special” NBC series, he says he’s truly “hit the jackpot.”“I thinkSVUis a special show because it’s the first time I’ve ever done something where people walk up in the street and say thank you,” he says. “And I found out thatSVUis as much entertainment as it is therapy for a lot of women because a lot of women that watch the show are survivors — guys too. So it has a different feeling versus just normal entertainment.”Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay are seen filming at the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ film set in Times Square on November 28, 2023 in New York City.Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesIce-T joinedSVUas Detective Fin Tutuola in the show’s second season, and his performance has since earned him the distinction of being the longest-running male actor on television. The irony is that he originally only signed on to do the series for a few episodes.Fast forward two decades, says Ice-T, and “SVUwas a four-episode stint that ended up 25 years.“The beauty ofSVUis that its entertainment doubles as a source of comfort for many. Characters like Fin Tutuola, Hargitay’s Olivia Benson and evenKelli Giddish’s Amanda Rollins are determined to get justice, and they can do it all in the span of 45 minutes.Kelli Giddish attends the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ 25th Anniversary Celebration on January 16, 2024 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/GettySays Giddish at theLaw & Order: SVUSeason 25 celebration: “The subject matter is hard for us to talk about, but we present it in a way that has kind of a beginning, a middle and an end, so that gives the audience some kind of resolve and some kind of relief, I think.“Fans also stop Giddish to express their gratitude just like they do for Ice-T, and it’s those moments, she says, that are the most meaningful.“I know, for me, that’s the most rewarding part about being on this show. The interactions I have at the coffee shop where somebody will just come up and say thank you, that means the world,” she says. “It’s amazing.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Law & Order: Special Victims Unitreturns for its 25th season tonight at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
Ice-T at the ‘Law & Order: SVU’ season 25 anniversary party on Jan. 16, 2024.Photo:Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty
Todd Williamson/NBC via Getty
Ice-Tis celebrating 25 years ofLaw & Order: SVU.The rapper-turned-actor spoke to PEOPLE forlast week’s cover storyonMariska Hargitay, and between his leading lady costar and his long-running spot on the “special” NBC series, he says he’s truly “hit the jackpot.”“I thinkSVUis a special show because it’s the first time I’ve ever done something where people walk up in the street and say thank you,” he says. “And I found out thatSVUis as much entertainment as it is therapy for a lot of women because a lot of women that watch the show are survivors — guys too. So it has a different feeling versus just normal entertainment.”Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay are seen filming at the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ film set in Times Square on November 28, 2023 in New York City.Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesIce-T joinedSVUas Detective Fin Tutuola in the show’s second season, and his performance has since earned him the distinction of being the longest-running male actor on television. The irony is that he originally only signed on to do the series for a few episodes.Fast forward two decades, says Ice-T, and “SVUwas a four-episode stint that ended up 25 years.“The beauty ofSVUis that its entertainment doubles as a source of comfort for many. Characters like Fin Tutuola, Hargitay’s Olivia Benson and evenKelli Giddish’s Amanda Rollins are determined to get justice, and they can do it all in the span of 45 minutes.Kelli Giddish attends the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ 25th Anniversary Celebration on January 16, 2024 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/GettySays Giddish at theLaw & Order: SVUSeason 25 celebration: “The subject matter is hard for us to talk about, but we present it in a way that has kind of a beginning, a middle and an end, so that gives the audience some kind of resolve and some kind of relief, I think.“Fans also stop Giddish to express their gratitude just like they do for Ice-T, and it’s those moments, she says, that are the most meaningful.“I know, for me, that’s the most rewarding part about being on this show. The interactions I have at the coffee shop where somebody will just come up and say thank you, that means the world,” she says. “It’s amazing.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Law & Order: Special Victims Unitreturns for its 25th season tonight at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
Ice-Tis celebrating 25 years ofLaw & Order: SVU.
The rapper-turned-actor spoke to PEOPLE forlast week’s cover storyonMariska Hargitay, and between his leading lady costar and his long-running spot on the “special” NBC series, he says he’s truly “hit the jackpot.”
“I thinkSVUis a special show because it’s the first time I’ve ever done something where people walk up in the street and say thank you,” he says. “And I found out thatSVUis as much entertainment as it is therapy for a lot of women because a lot of women that watch the show are survivors — guys too. So it has a different feeling versus just normal entertainment.”
Ice-T and Mariska Hargitay are seen filming at the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ film set in Times Square on November 28, 2023 in New York City.Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Ice-T joinedSVUas Detective Fin Tutuola in the show’s second season, and his performance has since earned him the distinction of being the longest-running male actor on television. The irony is that he originally only signed on to do the series for a few episodes.
Fast forward two decades, says Ice-T, and “SVUwas a four-episode stint that ended up 25 years.”
The beauty ofSVUis that its entertainment doubles as a source of comfort for many. Characters like Fin Tutuola, Hargitay’s Olivia Benson and evenKelli Giddish’s Amanda Rollins are determined to get justice, and they can do it all in the span of 45 minutes.
Kelli Giddish attends the ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ 25th Anniversary Celebration on January 16, 2024 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Says Giddish at theLaw & Order: SVUSeason 25 celebration: “The subject matter is hard for us to talk about, but we present it in a way that has kind of a beginning, a middle and an end, so that gives the audience some kind of resolve and some kind of relief, I think.”
Fans also stop Giddish to express their gratitude just like they do for Ice-T, and it’s those moments, she says, that are the most meaningful.
“I know, for me, that’s the most rewarding part about being on this show. The interactions I have at the coffee shop where somebody will just come up and say thank you, that means the world,” she says. “It’s amazing.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unitreturns for its 25th season tonight at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
