Vanilla Ice will be competing on Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars with pro partner Witney Carson.

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The rapper, actor and television host -- who is formally known as Robert Van Winkle and has starred on DIY Network's The Vanilla Ice Project since 2009 -- skyrocketed to fame with his first hip-hop single "Ice Ice Baby," which he wrote at age 16.

Ever since then, Vanilla Ice has taken on numerous interesting projects.

When looking into his personal life, Vanilla Ice has overcome many obstacles, but now he appears happily married to Laura Giaritta with two children -- Dusti Rain (born in 1998) and KeeLee Breeze (born in 2000).

Vanilla Ice showed he can breakdance at a young age, but will he shine on the Dancing with the Stars stage when he has to learn styles like the Argentine tango or cha cha?

Below is a list of 7 facts Reality TV World has compiled about Vanilla Ice:

- Vanilla Ice was born on October 31, 1967 in South Dallas and was raised in both Texas and Florida. He has never known his biological father.

- He first became known as "MC Vanilla" because he'd breakdance with all African American friends and would rap at parties. His stage name later became "Vanilla Ice," inspired by one of his breakdance moves called "The Ice."  

- Vanilla Ice survived a suicide attempt with a heroin overdose and vowed to change his life for the better after that moment. He also survived a nightclub stabbing almost 30 years ago.

- The former vegetarian dated the famous Madonna in late 1990 for about eight months.

- The reality TV star has appeared in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, The New Guy, The Surreal Life, the UK's Dancing on Ice, That's My Boy and more.

- Vanilla Ice is a published author and has won professional motocross championships as well as jet skiing competitions.

- His latest album is titled WTF -- Wisdom, Tenacity & Focus -- and it was released in August 2011. He's currently signed with Psychopathic Records and has toured with Boyz II Men and New Kids on the Block.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.