
Acting
Born January 14, 1968 · Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA
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.

Quincy Jones | Music Man
2025

Stans
2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025

SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)
2025

Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular
2024

A Hip Hop Minute
2024

NCISverse: The First 1,000
2024

Comin' Up Short
2024

A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop
2023

2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2023

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022

You're Watching Video Music Box
2021

Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell
2021

Ricky Powell: The Individualist
2020

One World: Together at Home
2020
Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America
2019

A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary
2018

Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
2018
MVP: Most Valuable Performer
2018

Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
2015

Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute
2015

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
2014

Grudge Match
2013
Mayweather
2013

Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
2012

Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
2012

Sesame Street: Singing with the Stars
2012