LL Cool J

LL Cool J

Acting
Born 1968-01-14Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA

Biography

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.

Movies (65)

Charlie's Angels
5.9

Charlie's Angels

2000Movie5.9
S.W.A.T.
6.2

S.W.A.T.

2003Movie6.2
Deep Blue Sea
6.0

Deep Blue Sea

1999Movie6.0
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
6.0

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

1998Movie6.0
Last Holiday
7.3

Last Holiday

2006Movie7.3
Grudge Match
6.1

Grudge Match

2013Movie6.1
Mindhunters
6.4

Mindhunters

2004Movie6.4
Any Given Sunday
6.8

Any Given Sunday

1999Movie6.8
The Hard Way
6.2

The Hard Way

1991Movie6.2
Toys
5.3

Toys

1992Movie5.3
In Too Deep
6.4

In Too Deep

1999Movie6.4
Edison
5.3

Edison

2005Movie5.3
Rollerball
3.9

Rollerball

2002Movie3.9
Quincy Jones, Music Man
9.0

Quincy Jones, Music Man

2025Movie9.0
Kingdom Come
6.6

Kingdom Come

2001Movie6.6
Slow Burn
5.4

Slow Burn

2005Movie5.4
Krush Groove
6.4

Krush Groove

1985Movie6.4
Wildcats
6.3

Wildcats

1986Movie6.3
One World: Together at Home
7.1

One World: Together at Home

2020Movie7.1
SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)
7.1

SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)

2025Movie7.1
Comin' Up Short

Comin' Up Short

2024Movie
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
8.0

How Bruce Lee Changed the World

2009Movie8.0
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
8.2

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2022Movie8.2
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute
8.0

Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute

2015Movie8.0
Touch
5.6

Touch

1997Movie5.6
Caught Up
5.2

Caught Up

1998Movie5.2
B.A.P.S
5.4

B.A.P.S

1997Movie5.4
Deliver Us from Eva
6.4

Deliver Us from Eva

2003Movie6.4
It's Black Entertainment
8.7

It's Black Entertainment

2002Movie8.7
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway
7.2

ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

2007Movie7.2
Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars

Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars

2012Movie
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
7.7

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025Movie7.7
The Deal
5.4

The Deal

2008Movie5.4
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
7.1

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles

2014Movie7.1
Beef
7.1

Beef

2003Movie7.1
Stans
7.1

Stans

2025Movie7.1
You're Watching Video Music Box
6.4

You're Watching Video Music Box

2021Movie6.4
The Right to Remain Silent
5.2

The Right to Remain Silent

1996Movie5.2
NCISverse: The First 1,000
9.0

NCISverse: The First 1,000

2024Movie9.0
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell
7.1

Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell

2021Movie7.1
Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
9.3

Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert

2015Movie9.3
MVP: Most Valuable Performer
1.0

MVP: Most Valuable Performer

2018Movie1.0
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
5.0

Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’

2012Movie5.0
Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America

Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America

2019Movie
Woo
4.3

Woo

1998Movie4.3
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
7.5

Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You

2012Movie7.5
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop
9.0

A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop

2023Movie9.0
2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
8.1

2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2023Movie8.1
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
7.0

Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones

2018Movie7.0
Out-of-Sync
4.5

Out-of-Sync

1995Movie4.5
Ricky Powell: The Individualist
4.8

Ricky Powell: The Individualist

2020Movie4.8
DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
6.6

DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd

2009Movie6.6
A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary

A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary

2018Movie
Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular
6.0

Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular

2024Movie6.0
The Show
7.2

The Show

1995Movie7.2
Big Fun in the Big Town
7.5

Big Fun in the Big Town

1986Movie7.5
Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues

Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues

1987Movie
Mayweather
4.5

Mayweather

2013Movie4.5
Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1
6.0

Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1

2002Movie6.0
A Hip Hop Minute
6.5

A Hip Hop Minute

2024Movie6.5
The Man

The Man

2007Movie
Simply Mad About the Mouse
6.0

Simply Mad About the Mouse

1991Movie6.0
Rapmania: The Roots of Rap
8.0

Rapmania: The Roots of Rap

1999Movie8.0
LL Cool J Presents The Rock the Bells Festival Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop

LL Cool J Presents The Rock the Bells Festival Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop

Movie
Future Of The Funk

Future Of The Funk

1991Movie

TV Shows (74)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
4.9

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

2009Series4.9
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
5.8

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014Series5.8
NCIS
7.6

NCIS

2003Series7.6
American Dad!
7.0

American Dad!

2005Series7.0
The Daily Show
6.4

The Daily Show

1996Series6.4
The Kelly Clarkson Show
6.3

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019Series6.3
House
8.6

House

2004Series8.6
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
Late Show with David Letterman
6.4

Late Show with David Letterman

1993Series6.4
Hawaii Five-0
7.7

Hawaii Five-0

2010Series7.7
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
The Late Late Show with James Corden
5.1

The Late Late Show with James Corden

2015Series5.1
Conan
7.2

Conan

2010Series7.2
NCIS: Los Angeles
7.5

NCIS: Los Angeles

2009Series7.5
The Jennifer Hudson Show
5.6

The Jennifer Hudson Show

2022Series5.6
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
5.3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003Series5.3
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
7.4

WWE Friday Night SmackDown

1999Series7.4
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
5.6

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988Series5.6
Project Runway
6.3

Project Runway

2004Series6.3
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
The Talk
3.0

The Talk

2010Series3.0
30 Rock
7.5

30 Rock

2006Series7.5
Desus & Mero
5.1

Desus & Mero

2019Series5.1
American Idol
5.0

American Idol

2002Series5.0
Hot Ones
7.1

Hot Ones

2015Series7.1
Oz
8.0

Oz

1997Series8.0
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
5.6

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003Series5.6
So You Think You Can Dance
6.8

So You Think You Can Dance

2005Series6.8
NCIS: Hawaiʻi
7.7

NCIS: Hawaiʻi

2021Series7.7
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
6.2

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

2015Series6.2
MTV Video Music Awards
7.9

MTV Video Music Awards

1984Series7.9
The Tyra Banks Show
5.0

The Tyra Banks Show

2005Series5.0
The Tony Danza Show
6.4

The Tony Danza Show

2004Series6.4
Finding Your Roots
6.5

Finding Your Roots

2012Series6.5
Today
5.6

Today

1952Series5.6
People's Choice Awards
9.2

People's Choice Awards

1975Series9.2
Steve
6.0

Steve

2017Series6.0
The $100,000 Pyramid
7.0

The $100,000 Pyramid

2016Series7.0
Lip Sync Battle
6.4

Lip Sync Battle

2015Series6.4
MTV Unplugged
7.1

MTV Unplugged

1989Series7.1
The Word
6.0

The Word

1990Series6.0
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
7.7

The Adventures of Pete & Pete

1993Series7.7
The Chris Rock Show
4.6

The Chris Rock Show

1997Series4.6
Rachael Ray
5.1

Rachael Ray

2006Series5.1
In the House
7.8

In the House

1995Series7.8
Entertainment Tonight
4.3

Entertainment Tonight

1981Series4.3
Last Call with Carson Daly
3.1

Last Call with Carson Daly

2002Series3.1
Kids' Choice Awards
8.8

Kids' Choice Awards

1987Series8.8
MTV Europe Music Awards
10.0

MTV Europe Music Awards

1994Series10.0
The Frank Skinner Show
7.5

The Frank Skinner Show

1995Series7.5
Yo! MTV Raps
7.5

Yo! MTV Raps

1988Series7.5
106 & Park
6.8

106 & Park

2000Series6.8
Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party
8.5

Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party

2016Series8.5
The Early Show
6.2

The Early Show

1999Series6.2
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
4.1

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

1996Series4.1
Clive Anderson All Talk
7.5

Clive Anderson All Talk

1996Series7.5
Payback
4.0

Payback

2022Series4.0
WWII in HD
7.6

WWII in HD

2009Series7.6
They Call Me Magic
7.3

They Call Me Magic

2022Series7.3
NCIS: New York

NCIS: New York

2026Series
Shut Up and Dribble
1.0

Shut Up and Dribble

2018Series1.0
Spike TV VGA Video Game Awards
10.0

Spike TV VGA Video Game Awards

2003Series10.0
MADtv
7.1

MADtv

1995Series7.1
Supreme Team
7.0

Supreme Team

2022Series7.0
James Brown: Say It Loud
8.0

James Brown: Say It Loud

2024Series8.0
Greatest Hits
5.0

Greatest Hits

2016Series5.0
Hip Hop Was Born Here
3.6

Hip Hop Was Born Here

2025Series3.6
Superfan

Superfan

2023Series
Hip Hop Treasures

Hip Hop Treasures

2023Series
Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World
7.0

Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World

2023Series7.0
Fat Joe Talks

Fat Joe Talks

2024Series
Teen Choice Awards
9.1

Teen Choice Awards

1999Series9.1
The Grammys
8.6

The Grammys

1959Series8.6