LL Cool J

Personal Info

Birthday

January 14, 1968

(57 years old)

Place of Birth

Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA

Also Known As

L.L. Cool J

James Todd Smith

Ladies Love Cool James

LL Cool J

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).

Known For

NCIS

House

American Dad!

NCIS: Los Angeles

Hawaii Five-0

30 Rock

NCIS: Hawaiʻi

Filmography

2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self
2024
Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular
as Self
A Hip Hop Minute
as Self
NCISverse: The First 1,000
as Self
Comin' Up Short
as Self
2023
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop
as Self
2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
2021
You're Watching Video Music Box
as Self (archive footage)
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell
as Self - Hip-Hop Artist (archive footage)
2020
Ricky Powell: The Individualist
as Self
One World: Together at Home
as Self
2019
Henry Louis Gates Jr.: Uncovering America
as Self - Musician and Actor
2018
A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary
as Self - Host
Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones
as Self
2015
Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
as Self
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute
as Self
2014
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
as Self - Host
2013
Grudge Match
as Frankie Brite
Mayweather
as Narrator
2012
Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You
as Self
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
as Self
2010
We Are the World 25 For Haiti
as Self
2009
How Bruce Lee Changed the World
as Self
DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
as Self (archive footage)
2008
The Deal
as Bobby Mason
2007
The Man
as Manny Baxter
ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway
as Self
2006
Last Holiday
as Sean Matthews
2005
Slow Burn
as Luther Pinks
Edison
as Deed
2004
Mindhunters
as Gabe Jensen
2003
S.W.A.T.
as Deacon 'Deke' Kaye (as James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J)
Beef
as Self (archive footage)
Deliver Us from Eva
as Ray Adams
2002
Rollerball
as Marcus Ridley
It's Black Entertainment
as Self (archive footage)
2001
Kingdom Come
as Ray Bud Slocumb
2000
Charlie's Angels
as Mr. Jones
1999
Any Given Sunday
as Julian Washington
In Too Deep
as Dwayne Gittens / God
Deep Blue Sea
as Preacher
1998
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
as Ronald 'Ronny' Jones
Woo
as Darryl
Caught Up
as Roger
1997
B.A.P.S
as LL Cool J
Touch
as LL Cool J
1996
The Right to Remain Silent
as Charles Red Taylor
1995
The Show
as Self
Out-of-Sync
as Jason St. Julian
1992
Toys
as Patrick Zevo
1991
Simply Mad About the Mouse
as Self
The Hard Way
as Billy
Future Of The Funk
as Self
1986
Big Fun in the Big Town
as Self
Wildcats
as Rapper
1985
Krush Groove
as LL Cool J