Charismatic “NCIS: Los Angeles” star LL Cool J, who also hosts Spike TV’s hit show “Lip Sync Battle,” is a prime-time fixture. But he made his mark in rap and hip-hop first! He’s also got the gift of gab in other languages, a long-running romance with his teenage sweetheart — and absolutely no desire to do insane stunts! Here are 10 things you didn’t know about the 48-year-old actor and musician.
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1. “LL Cool J” is short for “Ladies Love Cool James.” His real name is James Todd Smith.
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2. He began rapping at age 9 while growing up in Queens, N.Y.
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3. LL’s first movie role was a bit part in the 1986 Goldie Hawn film “Wildcats.”
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4. LL is nearly fluent in Spanish and has studied Arabic because his “NCIS: L.A.” character, Sam Hanna, speaks it.
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5. He published a children’s book in 2002 called “And the Winner Is …”
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6. LL was the first hip-hop artist to ever be on “American Bandstand.”
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7. He’s released 13 studio albums and two greatest-hits compilations.
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8. “I do about 90 percent of my own stunts, and the things I can’t do for insurance reasons, like swinging out of a flying helicopter, I wouldn’t want to do anyway,” he says.
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9. He’s been married to jewelry designer wife Simone (pictured) since 1995. They met as teens and now have four kids.
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10. His favorite cologne is Gendarme.
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