LJ
Photo of LL Cool J

LL Cool J

Actor, Producer, Writer, Additional CreditsBorn January 14, 1968 (57 years)
James Todd Smith, better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.

Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, his breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam.

A two-time Grammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known for hip hop songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as R&B hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence.

While he first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"), his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. He continued to work in movies from then until 1995 when he landed his own television sitcom, In the House (1995-2000).

He has appeared in numerous films, including Last Holiday, Edison, Mindhunters, S.W.A.T., Deliver Us from Eva, Rollerball, Charlie's Angels, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, Halloween H20, B.A.P.S., Toys, and The Hard Way.

In 2005, he returned to television in a guest starring role on the FOX medical drama House. He also guest starred on 30 Rock in 2007, and on Sesame Street 's 39th season where he introduced the word of the day, "Unanimous” and performed "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (Sept. 30, 2008).

As of 2011, he stars as Special Agent Sam Hanna on CBS's police procedural NCIS: L.A., a spin-off of NCIS. He was also the host of MTV's Lip Sync Battle.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Edison
  • Caught Up
  • The Right to Remain Silent
  • Out-of-Sync

Known For

  • Deep Blue Sea
  • S.W.A.T.
  • Mindhunters
  • Any Given Sunday
  • Last Holiday
  • NCIS: Los Angeles
  • Charlie's Angels
  • Rollerball
  • Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
  • Edison
  • Deliver Us from Eva
  • Toys
  • Lip Sync Battle
  • In Too Deep
  • The Hard Way
  • Kingdom Come
  • Slow Burn
  • In the House
  • WWII in HD
  • NCIS: Hawai'i
  • The Deal
  • Woo
  • Out-of-Sync

Filmography

2022
2021
NCIS: Hawai'i (TV Series) · as Sam Hanna
2016
Greatest Hits (TV Series)
2015
In Their Own Words (2015) (TV Series) · as Rapper
2015
Lip Sync Battle (TV Series) · as Host
2014
2013
Grudge Match · as Frankie Brite
2010
Hawaii Five-0 (TV Series) · as Sam Hanna
2009
WWII in HD (TV Series) · as Shelby Westbrook (voice)
2009
NCIS: Los Angeles (TV Series) · as Sam Hanna
2008
The Deal · as Bobby Mason
2007
The Man · as Manny Baxter
2006
Rachael Ray (TV Series)
2006
30 Rock (TV Series) · as Ridikolus
2006
Last Holiday · as Sean Matthews
2005
Slow Burn · as Luther Pinks
2005
Edison · as Deed
2005
2005
American Dad! (TV Series) · as Sam Hanna (voice)
2004
House (TV Series) · as Clarence
2004
Mindhunters · as Gabe Jensen
2003
NCIS (TV Series) · as Sam Hanna
2003
S.W.A.T. · as Deacon 'deke' Kaye (as James Todd Smith Aka Ll Cool J)
2003
Deliver Us from Eva · as Ray Adams
2002
Rollerball · as Marcus Ridley
2001
Kingdom Come · as Ray Bud Slocumb
2000
Charlie's Angels · as Mr. Jones
2000
106 & Park (TV Series)
1999
Any Given Sunday · as Julian Washington
1999
In Too Deep · as Dwayne Gittens / God
1999
Deep Blue Sea · as Preacher
1998
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later · as Ronald 'ronny' Jones
1998
Woo · as Darryl
1998
Caught Up · as Roger
1997
Oz (TV Series) · as Jiggy Walker
1996
The Right to Remain Silent · as Charles Red Taylor
1995
Out-of-Sync · as Jason St. Julian
1995
In the House (TV Series) · as Marion Hill
1992
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (TV Series) · as Mr. Throneberry
1992
Toys · as Patrick Zevo
1991
The Hard Way · as Billy
1990
1986
Wildcats · as Rapper

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