LL Cool J
Born January 14, 1968 (Age: 58)
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Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA
Biography
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.
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.
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Filmography
Stans
2025
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as Self
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Age: 57
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 57
One World: Together at Home
2020
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as Self
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Age: 52
No Image
Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America
2019
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as Self - Musician and Actor
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Age: 51
Grudge Match
2013
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as Frankie Brite
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Age: 45
No Image
The Man
2007
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as Manny Baxter
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Age: 39
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway
2007
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as Self
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Age: 39
Last Holiday
2006
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as Sean Matthews
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Age: 37
Slow Burn
2005
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as Luther Pinks
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Age: 37
Edison
2005
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as Deed
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Age: 37
Mindhunters
2004
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as Gabe Jensen
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Age: 36
S.W.A.T.
2003
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as Deacon 'Deke' Kaye
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Age: 35
Rollerball
2002
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as Marcus Ridley
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Age: 34
It's Black Entertainment
2002
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as Self (archive footage)
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Age: 34
Charlie's Angels
2000
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as Mr. Jones
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Age: 32
Any Given Sunday
1999
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as Julian Washington
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Age: 31
In Too Deep
1999
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as Dwayne Gittens / God
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Age: 31
Deep Blue Sea
1999
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as Preacher
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Age: 31
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
1998
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as Ronald 'Ronny' Jones
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Age: 30
Woo
1998
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as Darryl
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Age: 30
Caught Up
1998
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as Roger
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Age: 30
B.A.P.S
1997
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as LL Cool J
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Age: 29
Touch
1997
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as LL Cool J
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Age: 29
The Right to Remain Silent
1996
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as Charles Red Taylor
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Age: 27
The Show
1995
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as Self
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Age: 27
Toys
1992
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as Patrick Zevo
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Age: 24
Simply Mad About the Mouse
1991
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as Self
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Age: 23
The Hard Way
1991
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as Billy
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Age: 23
Future Of The Funk
1991
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as Self
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Age: 22
Wildcats
1986
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as Rapper
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Age: 18
Krush Groove
1985
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as LL Cool J
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Age: 17