LL Cool J
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James Todd Smith (better known as LL Cool J, an acronym for Ladies Love Cool James; born January 14, 1968) 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.
Known for
Credits
Charlie's Angels (2000)
as Mr. Jones
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
as Preacher
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
as Ronny
S.W.A.T. (2003)
as Deacon 'Deke' Kaye
Last Holiday (2006)
as Sean Williams
Any Given Sunday (1999)
as Julian Washington
Grudge Match (2013)
as Frankie Brite
The Hard Way (1991)
as Billy
Mindhunters (2004)
as Gabe Jensen
Edison (2005)
as Deed
Toys (1992)
as Patrick Zevo
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2007)
as Self
Rollerball (2002)
as Marcus Ridley
SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (2025)
Actor
In Too Deep (1999)
as Dwayne Gittens / God
One World: Together at Home (2020)
as Self
B.A.P.S (1997)
as LL Cool J
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025)
as Self (archive footage)
Wildcats (1986)
as Rapper
How Bruce Lee Changed the World (2009)
as Self
You're Watching Video Music Box (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
Kingdom Come (2001)
as Ray Bud Slocumb
Slow Burn (2005)
as Luther Pinks
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2022)
as Self
Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars (2012)
as Self
NCISverse: The First 1,000 (2024)
as Self
Deliver Us from Eva (2003)
as Ray Adams
The Right to Remain Silent (1996)
as Charles Red Taylor
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop (2023)
as Self
It's Black Entertainment (2002)
as Self (archive footage)
Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert (2015)
as Self
Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America (2019)
as Self - Musician and Actor
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles (2014)
as Self - Host
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell (2021)
as Self - Hip-Hop Artist (archive footage)
The Deal (2008)
as Bobby Mason
Ricky Powell: The Individualist (2020)
as Self
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ (2012)
as Self
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute (2015)
as Self
Jennifer Lopez: The Reel Me (2003)
as Self
Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1 (2002)
Actor
Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular (2024)
as Self
Stans (2025)
as Self
MVP: Most Valuable Performer (2018)
Actor
Mayweather (2013)
as Narrator
Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues (1987)
as Self
Quincy Jones, Music Man (2025)
as Self (archive footage)
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones (2018)
as Self
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You (2012)
as Self
Krush Groove (1985)
as LL Cool J
A Hip Hop Minute (2024)
as Self
2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2023)
as Self
Big Fun in the Big Town (1986)
as Self
DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd (2009)
as Self (archive footage)
Woo (1998)
as Darryl
Caught Up (1998)
as Roger
Touch (1997)
as LL Cool J
Beef (2003)
as Self (archive footage)
Out-of-Sync (1995)
as Jason St. Julian
The Show (1995)
as Self
LL Cool J Presents The Rock the Bells Festival Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop (—)
as Self
Future Of The Funk (1991)
as Self
Simply Mad About the Mouse (1991)
as Self
Comin' Up Short (2024)
as Self
Rapmania: The Roots of Rap (1999)
Actor
The Man (2007)
as Manny Baxter
A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary (2018)
as Self - Host