Entertainment

LL Cool J says he almost drowned on the set of 'Deep Blue Sea' after a crew member 'bailed' on him during a stunt

LL Cool J.
LL Cool J played Sherman "Preacher" Dudley in 1999's "Deep Blue Sea." Warner Bros./Getty/Roy Rochlin
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LL Cool J has recalled the time he almost drowned on the set of the movie "Deep Blue Sea."

The "Luv U Better" rapper, whose real name is James Todd Smith, played cook Sherman "Preacher" Dudley in the 1999 science fiction movie, which centers around genetically engineered sharks rampaging an underwater research facility.

During an appearance on "Hot Ones" Thursday, LL said the incident occurred when he was abandoned by a crew member while shooting a stunt involving an animatronic shark.

"I was in the middle of a take and [they called] 'Lunch!' and the guy holding the little [shark] joystick goes," he said. "They just bailed on me."

LL said he was then left thrashing around alone in the water like it was a "real" shark attack.

"They said 'Oh!' and gave me this little breathing apparatus, like something you blow out and then breathe in," he continued. "I blow out, I breathe in, all water! Took it to another level. But I ended up struggling and getting out, I climbed out, and there was one dude sitting there with a cigarette, like, 'I saw what happened.' So, it was cool."  

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Barnaby Lane was an Entertainment Reporter at Insider. A former radio presenter, he has previously written for The Times of London and TalkSPORT.When not writing, you can find Barnaby producing music and DJing across the UK.