Rapper LL Cool J Almost Died While Filming “Deep Blue Sea” With An Animatronic Shark

While filming the 1999 film “Deep Blue Sea,” LL Cool J came dangerously close to death from an animatronic shark.

In a horror movie about scientists at a remote underwater research facility who are hunted by highly intelligent genetically engineered sharks they created in an attempt to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the rapper/actor played a chef. He later revealed that he almost drowned when a remote-controlled shark grabbed his leg and held him underwater.

“One of them almost drowned me,” he said to the Guardian newspaper. At the time, a man with a joystick operated the animatronic sharks; they were not AI.

He depressed the button, the shark snagged my leg, they ordered lunch, and the shark simply submerged me. One guy was sitting there smoking a cigarette on the set when I finally pulled my leg free and ran off. He said, “I guess you made it out, huh?”

Even though filming was occasionally risky, LL Cool J continued to say he had a great experience creating the film.

“Making that film was a great experience, but it was dangerous with a lot of water flying around,” he continued. It was a pleasure collaborating with Sam [L Jackson]. My favorite part was seeing him get devoured.

Prior to filming the movie, Thomas Jane, the rapper’s co-star, had acknowledged that he was afraid of sharks, and the underwater scenes in which he was filmed with real sharks in the Bahamas caused him great fear.