LL Cool J: movies and TV shows
LL Cool J has 150 credits in the archive: 67 films and 83 TV series, from 1952 to 2026. Highest rated: MTV Europe Music Awards (10.0/10).
Career timeline
1952 – 2026 · busiest year: 1999 (8 credits)
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Full filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Rating | Age then |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | NCIS: New York | Sam Hanna | TV | — | 58 |
| 2025 | Stans | Self | Film | 7.2 | 57 |
| 2025 | Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.8 | 57 |
| 2025 | SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) | Film | 6.9 | 57 | |
| 2025 | Hip Hop Was Born Here | Self - Host | TV | 3.6 | 57 |
| 2025 | Hip Hop Was Born Here | TV | 3.6 | 57 | |
| 2025 | Hip Hop Was Born Here | TV | 3.6 | 57 | |
| 2025 | Quincy Jones, Music Man | Self (archive footage) | Film | 9.0 | 57 |
| 2024 | NCISverse: The First 1,000 | Self | Film | 9.0 | 56 |
| 2024 | Comin' Up Short | Self | Film | — | 56 |
| 2024 | James Brown: Say It Loud | Self | TV | 8.0 | 56 |
| 2024 | Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular | Self | Film | 6.0 | 56 |
| 2024 | A Hip Hop Minute | Self | Film | 6.5 | 56 |
| 2024 | Fat Joe Talks | Self - Guest | TV | — | 56 |
| 2023 | Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World | Self | TV | 7.0 | 55 |
| 2023 | A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop | Self | Film | 9.0 | 55 |
| 2023 | A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop | Film | 9.0 | 55 | |
| 2023 | Superfan | Self | TV | — | 55 |
| 2023 | Hip Hop Treasures | Self | TV | — | 55 |
| 2023 | 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | Self | Film | 8.1 | 55 |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show | TV | 5.6 | 54 | |
| 2022 | Payback | Self - Funeral Attendee (archive footage) | TV | 4.0 | 54 |
| 2022 | They Call Me Magic | Self | TV | 7.2 | 54 |
| 2022 | Supreme Team | Self | TV | 7.0 | 54 |
| 2022 | 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | Self | Film | 8.2 | 54 |
| 2021 | NCIS: Hawaiʻi | Sam Hanna | TV | 7.7 | 53 |
| 2021 | Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell | Self - Hip-Hop Artist (archive footage) | Film | 7.1 | 53 |
| 2021 | You're Watching Video Music Box | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.4 | 53 |
| 2020 | One World: Together at Home | Self | Film | 7.1 | 52 |
| 2020 | Ricky Powell: The Individualist | Self | Film | 4.8 | 52 |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Self | TV | 6.3 | 51 |
| 2019 | Desus & Mero | Self - Illustrious Guest | TV | 5.1 | 51 |
| 2019 | Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America | Self - Musician and Actor | Film | — | 51 |
| 2018 | MVP: Most Valuable Performer | Film | 1.0 | 50 | |
| 2018 | Shut Up and Dribble | Self - Musician | TV | 1.0 | 50 |
| 2018 | Story of Cool | TV | — | 50 | |
| 2018 | Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones | Self | Film | 7.0 | 50 |
| 2018 | A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary | Self - Host | Film | — | 50 |
| 2017 | Steve | Self | TV | 6.0 | 49 |
| 2016 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Self | TV | 7.0 | 48 |
| 2016 | Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party | Self | TV | 8.5 | 48 |
| 2016 | Greatest Hits | TV | 5.0 | 48 | |
| 2015 | The Late Late Show with James Corden | Self | TV | 5.1 | 47 |
| 2015 | Hot Ones | Self | TV | 7.0 | 47 |
| 2015 | Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter | Self | TV | 6.2 | 47 |
| 2015 | Lip Sync Battle | Host | TV | 6.4 | 47 |
| 2015 | Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert | Self | Film | 9.3 | 47 |
| 2015 | Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute | Self | Film | 8.0 | 47 |
| 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Self | TV | 5.8 | 46 |
| 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Self - Guest | TV | 5.8 | 46 |
| 2014 | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Self - Guest | TV | 5.1 | 46 |
| 2014 | The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles | Self - Host | Film | 7.1 | 46 |
| 2013 | Grudge Match | Frankie Brite | Film | 6.1 | 45 |
| 2013 | Mayweather | Narrator | Film | 4.5 | 45 |
| 2012 | Finding Your Roots | Self | TV | 6.5 | 44 |
| 2012 | Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars | Self | Film | — | 44 |
| 2012 | Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ | Self | Film | 5.0 | 44 |
| 2012 | Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You | Self | Film | 7.5 | 44 |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Sam Hanna | TV | 7.7 | 42 |
| 2010 | Conan | Self - Guest`````` | TV | 7.2 | 42 |
| 2010 | Conan | Self - Guest | TV | 7.2 | 42 |
| 2010 | The Talk | Self | TV | 3.0 | 42 |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Self - Guest | TV | 5.0 | 41 |
| 2009 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Sam Hanna | TV | 7.5 | 41 |
| 2009 | WWII in HD | Shelby Westbrook (voice) | TV | 7.5 | 41 |
| 2009 | How Bruce Lee Changed the World | Self | Film | 8.0 | 41 |
| 2009 | DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd | Self (archive footage) | Film | 6.6 | 41 |
| 2008 | The Deal | Bobby Mason | Film | 5.4 | 40 |
| 2007 | ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway | Self | Film | 7.2 | 39 |
| 2007 | The Man | Manny Baxter | Film | — | 39 |
| 2006 | 30 Rock | Ridikolus | TV | 7.5 | 38 |
| 2006 | Rachael Ray | TV | 5.1 | 38 | |
| 2006 | Last Holiday | Sean Matthews | Film | 7.3 | 38 |
| 2005 | American Dad! | Sam Hanna (voice) | TV | 7.0 | 37 |
| 2005 | The Tyra Banks Show | Self | TV | 5.0 | 37 |
| 2005 | So You Think You Can Dance | TV | 6.8 | 37 | |
| 2005 | Edison | Deed | Film | 5.4 | 37 |
| 2005 | Slow Burn | Luther Pinks | Film | 5.3 | 37 |
| 2004 | House | Clarence | TV | 8.6 | 36 |
| 2004 | Project Runway | Self - Guest Judge | TV | 6.3 | 36 |
| 2004 | The Tony Danza Show | Self | TV | 6.4 | 36 |
| 2004 | Mindhunters | Gabe Jensen | Film | 6.5 | 36 |
| 2003 | NCIS | Sam Hanna | TV | 7.6 | 35 |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Self | TV | 5.3 | 35 |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Self - Guest | TV | 5.3 | 35 |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Self | TV | 5.5 | 35 |
| 2003 | S.W.A.T. | Deacon 'Deke' Kaye | Film | 6.2 | 35 |
| 2003 | Spike TV VGA Video Game Awards | TV | 10.0 | 35 | |
| 2003 | Beef | Self (archive footage) | Film | 7.1 | 35 |
| 2003 | Deliver Us from Eva | Ray Adams | Film | 6.4 | 35 |
| 2002 | American Idol | Self - Guest Judge | TV | 5.0 | 34 |
| 2002 | Last Call with Carson Daly | Self | TV | 3.1 | 34 |
| 2002 | Rollerball | Marcus Ridley | Film | 3.9 | 34 |
| 2002 | It's Black Entertainment | Self (archive footage) | Film | 8.7 | 34 |
| 2002 | Hype Williams: The Videos Vol. 1 | Film | 6.0 | 34 | |
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Ray Bud Slocumb | Film | 6.5 | 33 |
| 2000 | Charlie's Angels | Mr. Jones | Film | 5.9 | 32 |
| 2000 | 106 & Park | TV | 6.8 | 32 | |
| 1999 | WWE Friday Night SmackDown | Self | TV | 7.5 | 31 |
| 1999 | Deep Blue Sea | Preacher | Film | 6.0 | 31 |
| 1999 | The Early Show | Self | TV | 6.3 | 31 |
| 1999 | Any Given Sunday | Julian Washington | Film | 6.8 | 31 |
| 1999 | In Too Deep | Dwayne Gittens / God | Film | 6.4 | 31 |
| 1999 | Rapmania: The Roots of Rap | Film | 8.0 | 31 | |
| 1999 | Teen Choice Awards | Self | TV | 9.1 | 31 |
| 1999 | Teen Choice Awards | Self - Presenter | TV | 9.1 | 31 |
| 1998 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | Ronny | Film | 6.0 | 30 |
| 1998 | Woo | Darryl | Film | 4.4 | 30 |
| 1998 | Caught Up | Roger | Film | 5.2 | 30 |
| 1997 | The View | Self | TV | 4.3 | 29 |
| 1997 | Oz | Jiggy Walker | TV | 8.0 | 29 |
| 1997 | The Chris Rock Show | Self | TV | 4.6 | 29 |
| 1997 | Touch | LL Cool J | Film | 5.7 | 29 |
| 1997 | B.A.P.S | LL Cool J | Film | 5.4 | 29 |
| 1996 | The Daily Show | Self | TV | 6.4 | 28 |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Self | TV | 4.1 | 28 |
| 1996 | The Right to Remain Silent | Charles Red Taylor | Film | 5.2 | 28 |
| 1996 | Clive Anderson All Talk | Self | TV | 7.5 | 28 |
| 1995 | The Frank Skinner Show | Self | TV | 7.5 | 27 |
| 1995 | In the House | Marion Hill | TV | 7.7 | 27 |
| 1995 | MADtv | Self - Host | TV | 7.1 | 27 |
| 1995 | MADtv | Self | TV | 7.1 | 27 |
| 1995 | The Show | Self | Film | 7.0 | 27 |
| 1995 | Out-of-Sync | Jason St. Julian | Film | 4.5 | 27 |
| 1994 | MTV Europe Music Awards | Self - Presenter | TV | 10.0 | 26 |
| 1993 | Late Show with David Letterman | Self - Guest | TV | 6.4 | 25 |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Self - Guest | TV | 7.3 | 25 |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Pete & Pete | Mr. Throneberry | TV | 7.7 | 25 |
| 1992 | Toys | Patrick Zevo | Film | 5.3 | 24 |
| 1992 | Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution | Film | — | 24 | |
| 1991 | The Hard Way | Billy | Film | 6.2 | 23 |
| 1991 | Simply Mad About the Mouse | Self | Film | 6.0 | 23 |
| 1991 | Future Of The Funk | Self | Film | — | 23 |
| 1990 | The Word | TV | 6.0 | 22 | |
| 1989 | MTV Unplugged | Self | TV | 7.1 | 21 |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark | Self - Guest | TV | 5.6 | 20 |
| 1988 | Yo! MTV Raps | Self | TV | 7.5 | 20 |
| 1987 | Kids' Choice Awards | Self - Co-Host | TV | 8.8 | 19 |
| 1986 | Wildcats | Rapper | Film | 6.3 | 18 |
| 1986 | Big Fun in the Big Town | Self | Film | 7.5 | 18 |
| 1985 | Krush Groove | LL Cool J | Film | 6.3 | 17 |
| 1984 | MTV Video Music Awards | Self - Host | TV | 7.8 | 16 |
| 1984 | MTV Video Music Awards | Self | TV | 7.8 | 16 |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight | Self | TV | 4.3 | 13 |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Musical Guest | TV | 6.9 | 7 |
| 1975 | People's Choice Awards | Self - Presenter | TV | 9.2 | 7 |
| 1959 | The Grammys | Self | TV | 8.6 | 8 |
| 1952 | Today | Self | TV | 5.6 | 15 |
| LL Cool J Presents The Rock the Bells Festival Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop | Self | Film | — | — | |
| My Life With the Team: Bimmy's Story | Film | — | — |