Ice-T Confirms He’ll Be in ‘Every Episode’ of SVU Season 28 After Reduced Screen Time Last Season

NEED TO KNOW

• Ice-T is ready for more action in season 28 of Law & Order: SVU
• The series star revealed to The TMZ Podcast that Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola will be in “every episode” of the new season
• This follows a reduced screen time in season 27 for Ice-T

Ice-T has a promising update for fans of Fin.

The multi-hyphenate performer, 68, revealed in a new interview with The TMZ Podcast that he will appear in “every episode” of Law & Order: SVU season 28, following his reduced role in the procedural’s 27th season.

Ice-T, who has played Sgt. Odafin “Fin” Tutuola since the show’s second season in 2000, previously discussed how his less screen time was “basically business” and cited budgetary reasons while speaking with PEOPLE in January.

He now tells TMZ that the decision to bring Kelli Giddish back meant moving “some things around” and making a little more “free time” for him. “People think, ‘Oh, they take you off the show, you lose money.’ No, I make money because now I have time to do other things,” he said. “When you have to put in five days a week on a show, it kind of restricts my hustle.”

He then confirmed, “This next season, ‘imma be in every episode. But, it was one of those things where the boss comes to you and you don’t go, ‘Well, I’ve been on here 27 seasons, you gon’ do this.’ No, I got it. It’s all good.”

Ice-T reiterated that his reduced screen time “wasn’t because of Kelli” but rather how the production operated. “I did my deal and they want me in every episode,” he said. “Think of it as, a show consists of about 44 scenes. So as an actor, it’s about how many scenes you’re gonna be in. They could put me in 10 scenes an episode and you’ll see enough of Fin. And then they’ll do one where it’s all about me.”

He added, “But it’s all good. After all these years, I’m not dying for screen time. I’m good.”

Also speaking with TMZ, he revealed his secret to longevity on the series. “Dick Wolf said, ‘Ice-T is the least pain in my ass.’ That’s how you stay on a show a long time or stay on your job a long time. Become the boss’ least pain in the ass.”

The Body Count frontman previously told TMZ in November 2025 that his reduced presence on season 27 was “basically business” and coincided with Giddish’s return. He also reassured fans that he’s “not leaving” the show and that “everything was cool with me.” Speaking with PEOPLE at the Law & Order 25th Anniversary Celebration in New York City on Jan. 6, Ice-T confirmed he “wasn’t really concerned with them working me less because I got so many other things on my plate.”

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“But I’m just more concerned with getting to season 28,” he said at the time. “You know, that’s what I want to do. So if they feel that that’s what they needed to do this year, I’m cool, you know what I’m saying? But Kelli came back, they got new cops in there and stuff, but it’s never gonna be the same without Fin up in there, you know what I’m saying? They need a little funk up in there.”

Season 28 of Law & Order: SVU is slated to premiere on Oct. 8 at 9 p.m.