Tracy Marrow, better known as Ice-T, is no stranger to fatherhood. He was just 18 years old and still in high school when he had his first child, a daughter named LeTesha Marrow. He had his first son – Tracy Marrow Jr. – 15 years later and a second daughter – Chanel Nicole Marrow – more recently in 2015.
His family has grown little by little over the past 47 years and his role as a father has continued to change every step of the way – he was still a teenager when he had his first, had just started to make a name for himself when he had his second, and was an established actor/rapper by the time he had his third child.
Ice-T Says 7-Year-Old Daughter Chanel 'Still Sleeps In The Bed’ With Him & Wife Coco pic.twitter.com/b56ltcQl9L
— Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) May 10, 2023
On May 10, Ice-T sat down for an interview on the That Moment with Daymond John podcast. He talked about his relationship with his youngest daughter, who turns 8 years old later this year, and how it differs from the relationships he had/has with his two older children – LeTesha is 47 today, while Tracy is 31.
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“I think the difference with Chanel and my other kids is I’m very conscious of this baby,” Ice-T said during the podcast interview – adding that he started having children in high school, before his career in music and television took off. “I was ripping and running, so it was presents over presence. I wasn’t there.”
By the time his second child was born, his career was taking off and he was spending less time with his children. He admitted that his music/acting career created a flurry of distractions that kept him away from home, but that all changed when Chanel was born – he decided to give her the attention she deserved.
“I’m comfortable. I’m in a cruise pattern. I was there when Coco was pregnant. I went to the hospital, and (Chanel) now still sleeps in the bed with us. I’m so much more connected to her than my other kids … it’s been a beautiful thing,” he told Daymond John – who is a father to three daughters from two marriages.
Ice-T went on to describe his youngest daughter as the ‘best gift I could ever get’ and says her birth allowed him to ‘reset’ his life in much-needed ways. Not only did it help him ‘create new goals’ in life, but her birth made him want to live forever – he recently celebrated his 65th birthday on February 16.
Ice-T Honored With Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
On February 17, just one day after his 65th birthday, Ice-T was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – a tremendous honor for anyone in the entertainment industry. He was accompanied by his wife, Coco Austin, and their daughter, Chanel – who ended up stealing the show as his mini-me.
“Let me shout out my family. My son, my daughter, Coco my wife. (Chanel), who obviously is in the position to stand behind one of these podiums one day. She has no fear of the stage,” he said during his acceptance speech. And from what we’re hearing, Chanel could very well follow in her father’s footsteps.
When I say Chanel is attached to the hip, I mean literally… lol pic.twitter.com/gfkMASSeTd
— Coco (@cocosworld) May 6, 2023
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Coco Austin confirmed that she’s currently managing Chanel and is excited to see her forge her own path in the entertainment industry. The 7-year-old has already auditioned for several shows – including Sesame Street – and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
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“I like it, more than managing myself. Actually, I put my stuff aside for so long, because I love doing her more than me. You know, I kinda stepped up a little bit and started doing more social media, but I like having more fun with her,” Austin said – adding that she doesn’t want her daughter to take the easy route.