LL Cool J
Acting Born Jan 14, 1968 Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA 150 credits
Biography
James Todd Smith, better known as LL Cool J, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, he is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. He signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984 and experienced his breakthrough with the single I Need a Beat and his landmark debut album, Radio, released in 1985. He went on to achieve further commercial and critical success with several subsequent albums, including Bigger and Deffer, Walking with a Panther, Mama Said Knock You Out, Mr. Smith, Phenomenon, and his twelfth album, Exit 13.
Sources & verification
LL Cool J — The Movie Database (TMDB)
LL Cool J – Wikipedie
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Career overview
James Todd Smith, better known professionally as LL Cool J, is an American actor, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, he is also recognized by the acronym LL Cool J, which stands for Ladies Love Cool James. He is additionally known as L.L. Cool J and James Todd Smi.
As a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, LL Cool J has accumulated 142 known credits in his career spanning both movies and television shows. His professional work includes contributions as an actor, and he is a two-time Grammy Award winner.
The provided documentation details his extensive involvement in film and television through his known credits on the database, highlighting his dual career as a recording artist and an actor based out of the United States.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
NCIS: New York
StansLadies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicSLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)Hip Hop Was Born HereHip Hop Was Born Here · Executive Producer
NCISverse: The First 1,000Comin' Up ShortJames Brown: Say It LoudJimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning SpectacularA Hip Hop Minute
Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the WorldA GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-HopA GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop · Executive ProducerSuperfanHip Hop Treasures
The Jennifer Hudson ShowPaybackThey Call Me MagicSupreme Team2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
NCIS: HawaiʻiBiggie: I Got a Story to TellYou're Watching Video Music Box
One World: Together at HomeRicky Powell: The Individualist
The Kelly Clarkson ShowDesus & MeroHenry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America
MVP: Most Valuable PerformerShut Up and DribbleStory of Cool · Executive ProducerQ85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy JonesA Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary
Steve
The $100,000 PyramidMartha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner PartyGreatest Hits
The Late Late Show with James CordenHot OnesClose Up with The Hollywood ReporterLip Sync BattleSinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersThe Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
Grudge MatchMayweather
Finding Your RootsSesame Street: Singing with the StarsYo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
Hawaii Five-0ConanConanThe Talk
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenNCIS: Los AngelesWWII in HDHow Bruce Lee Changed the WorldDJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
The Deal
ShowBusiness: The Road to BroadwayThe Man
30 RockRachael RayLast Holiday
American Dad!The Tyra Banks ShowSo You Think You Can DanceEdisonSlow Burn
HouseProject RunwayThe Tony Danza ShowMindhunters
NCISJimmy Kimmel Live!Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowS.W.A.T.
American IdolLast Call with Carson DalyRollerballIt's Black EntertainmentHype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1
Kingdom Come
Charlie's Angels106 & Park
WWE Friday Night SmackDownDeep Blue SeaThe Early ShowAny Given SundayIn Too Deep
Halloween H20: 20 Years LaterWooCaught Up
The ViewOzThe Chris Rock ShowTouchB.A.P.S
The Daily ShowThe Rosie O'Donnell ShowThe Right to Remain SilentClive Anderson All Talk
Full Filmography
150 titles- NCIS: New York (2026) as Sam Hanna
- Stans (2025) as Self
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) (2025)
- Hip Hop Was Born Here (2025) as Self - Host
- Hip Hop Was Born Here (2025) Executive Producer
- Hip Hop Was Born Here (2025) Creator
- Quincy Jones, Music Man (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- NCISverse: The First 1,000 (2024) as Self
- Comin' Up Short (2024) as Self
- James Brown: Say It Loud (2024) as Self
- Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular (2024) as Self
- A Hip Hop Minute (2024) as Self
- Fat Joe Talks (2024) as Self - Guest
- Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World (2023) as Self
- A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop (2023) as Self
- A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop (2023) Executive Producer
- Superfan (2023) as Self
- Hip Hop Treasures (2023) as Self
- 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2023) as Self
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
- Payback (2022) as Self - Funeral Attendee (archive footage)
- They Call Me Magic (2022) as Self
- Supreme Team (2022) as Self
- 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2022) as Self
- NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2021) as Sam Hanna
- Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell (2021) as Self - Hip-Hop Artist (archive footage)
- You're Watching Video Music Box (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- One World: Together at Home (2020) as Self
- Ricky Powell: The Individualist (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Desus & Mero (2019) as Self - Illustrious Guest
- Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America (2019) as Self - Musician and Actor
- MVP: Most Valuable Performer (2018)
- Shut Up and Dribble (2018) as Self - Musician
- Story of Cool (2018) Executive Producer
- Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones (2018) as Self
- A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary (2018) as Self - Host
- Steve (2017) as Self
- The $100,000 Pyramid (2016) as Self
- Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party (2016) as Self
- Greatest Hits (2016)
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Lip Sync Battle (2015) as Host
- Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert (2015) as Self
- Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles (2014) as Self - Host
- Grudge Match (2013) as Frankie Brite
- Mayweather (2013) as Narrator
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars (2012) as Self
- Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ (2012) as Self
- Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You (2012) as Self
- Hawaii Five-0 (2010) as Sam Hanna
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest``````
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- The Talk (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) as Sam Hanna
- WWII in HD (2009) as Shelby Westbrook (voice)
- How Bruce Lee Changed the World (2009) as Self
- DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- The Deal (2008) as Bobby Mason
- ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway (2007) as Self
- The Man (2007) as Manny Baxter
- 30 Rock (2006) as Ridikolus
- Rachael Ray (2006)
- Last Holiday (2006) as Sean Matthews
- American Dad! (2005) as Sam Hanna (voice)
- The Tyra Banks Show (2005) as Self
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005)
- Edison (2005) as Deed
- Slow Burn (2005) as Luther Pinks
- House (2004) as Clarence
- Project Runway (2004) as Self - Guest Judge
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self
- Mindhunters (2004) as Gabe Jensen
- NCIS (2003) as Sam Hanna
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- S.W.A.T. (2003) as Deacon 'Deke' Kaye
- Spike TV VGA Video Game Awards (2003)
- Beef (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Deliver Us from Eva (2003) as Ray Adams
- American Idol (2002) as Self - Guest Judge
- Last Call with Carson Daly (2002) as Self
- Rollerball (2002) as Marcus Ridley
- It's Black Entertainment (2002) as Self (archive footage)
- Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1 (2002)
- Kingdom Come (2001) as Ray Bud Slocumb
- Charlie's Angels (2000) as Mr. Jones
- 106 & Park (2000)
- WWE Friday Night SmackDown (1999) as Self
- Deep Blue Sea (1999) as Preacher
- The Early Show (1999) as Self
- Any Given Sunday (1999) as Julian Washington
- In Too Deep (1999) as Dwayne Gittens / God
- Rapmania: The Roots of Rap (1999)
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self
- Teen Choice Awards (1999) as Self - Presenter
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) as Ronny
- Woo (1998) as Darryl
- Caught Up (1998) as Roger
- The View (1997) as Self
- Oz (1997) as Jiggy Walker
- The Chris Rock Show (1997) as Self
- Touch (1997) as LL Cool J
- B.A.P.S (1997) as LL Cool J
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self
- The Right to Remain Silent (1996) as Charles Red Taylor
- Clive Anderson All Talk (1996) as Self
- The Frank Skinner Show (1995) as Self
- In the House (1995) as Marion Hill
- MADtv (1995) as Self - Host
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- The Show (1995) as Self
- Out-of-Sync (1995) as Jason St. Julian
- MTV Europe Music Awards (1994) as Self - Presenter
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1993) as Mr. Throneberry
- Toys (1992) as Patrick Zevo
- Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution (1992) Songs
- The Hard Way (1991) as Billy
- Simply Mad About the Mouse (1991) as Self
- Future Of The Funk (1991) as Self
- The Word (1990)
- MTV Unplugged (1989) as Self
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Yo! MTV Raps (1988) as Self
- Kids' Choice Awards (1987) as Self - Co-Host
- Wildcats (1986) as Rapper
- Big Fun in the Big Town (1986) as Self
- Krush Groove (1985) as LL Cool J
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self - Host
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Musical Guest
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Presenter
- The Grammys (1959) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- LL Cool J Presents The Rock the Bells Festival Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop as Self
- My Life With the Team: Bimmy's Story Thanks
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is LL Cool J best known for?
LL Cool J is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022), NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2021), The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019), Desus & Mero (2019).
When and where was LL Cool J born?
LL Cool J was born on January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
How many credits does LL Cool J have?
LL Cool J has accumulated over 150 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1952 to 2026.
What is LL Cool J's background in cinema and television?
James Todd Smith, better known as LL Cool J, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, he is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. He signed to Def J...