Speaking at a New York Comic Con panel for “NCIS: New York,” the 58-year-old rapper put his share at 80 to 90 percent.
The same commitment had shaped his work on “NCIS: Los Angeles” years earlier. In a 2011 interview, LL said doing the physical work showed his investment in Sam and gave viewers a more direct experience. He compared handing those scenes to someone else with sending a look-alike on tour to rap in his place. Back then, he also described how learning to handle, take apart and clean weapons made him more comfortable with the role’s technical demands. He recalled sliding across a car’s trunk during a chase scene as one stunt he particularly enjoyed. At the time, LL also said he liked leaving Sam’s past a mystery. The new series gave that familiar action hero a different kind of test. The death of a friend brought Sam back to New York, showrunner Byron Balasco explained. That personal case paired him with Scott Caan’s Nick Schaeffer.
LL said Sam felt out of place after years away. The neighborhoods and people had changed, and coming back forced the character to work out where he belonged. Balasco said the series would explore the people and ties that shaped Sam before viewers met him in Los Angeles. Coming home also meant facing the responsibilities those old connections carried. The physical side still required upkeep. LL told People before the premiere that he tried to stay consistent in the gym. He also said years of action work helped him remain calm afterward.