Who does LL Cool J play in NCIS: Hawai'i? Actor set to play recurring guest role in season 3

Sam Hanna, the character played by LL Cool J, shockingly showed up in the season finale of NCIS: Hawai'i and even managed to save Jane Tennant and Kate from a life-threatening situation. This appearance was unexpected but fans were glad to see him. It was even recently revealed that the actor will be a recurring guest star in the show's next season. NCIS: Hawai'i was renewed for season 3 in February 2023.

NCIS: Hawai'i stars Vanessa Lachey as Jane Tennant, Alex Tarrant as Kai Holman, Noah Mills as Jesse Boone, Yasmine Al-Bustami as Lucy Tara, Jason Antoon as Ernie Malik, Tori Anderson as Kathrine Marie "Kate" Whistler and Kian Talan as Alex Tennant.

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LL Cool J's Sam Hanna to play recurring guest role in NCIS: Hawai'i season 3

In the season finale of NCIS: Hawai'i season 2, Jane Tennant was trying to rectify a mistake she had made alongside her former friend Maggie Shaw. She had promised a dangerous criminal named Adrian Creel a second chance in life but later took matters into her own hands.

She blew up the car Creel was in, but Creel survived. She knew that his survival was a threat to national security. Creel was enraged by this betrayal and wanted revenge. He slyly abducted Tennant and transported her in a car guarded by goons.

Kate arrived to save her and took down a couple of guards but soon got trapped in the ruckus. It was at this moment that LL Cool J's Sam Hanna made a heroic entrance and systematically took down the goons. He had arrived from his trip to Morroco and saved both moth Kate and Tennant.

The synopsis of this episode reads:

"When a figure from Tennant's CIA past reemerges, the NCIS team seeks help from the most unlikely place to catch a killer who threatens to destroy everything Tennant has built."

LL Cool J's character will be making appearances in NCIS: Hawai'i season 3 from time to time. The actor made a name for himself by playing Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles for over a decade.

Pleased by the addition of LL Cool J to the cast, executive producers of the show Matt Bosack, Jan Nash, and Christopher Silber said,

"All of us at ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ have been huge fans of LL Cool J for years and couldn’t be more thrilled or honored to be adding his spectacular talent to our ohana for season three,"

Show lead Vanessa Lachey added,

“One of the most beautiful things about working on ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ is the show’s ability to bring the franchise together. We have had so much fun spreading the aloha to “NCIS” and “NCIS: LA” with the triple crossover."

She concluded her statement by saying,

"Now, we have the amazing opportunity to bring Sam Hanna to Hawai’i to help the island solve some cases and maybe have a few laughs in the process. Welcome to the ohana, Todd! It’s going to be a fun ride!"

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NCIS: Hawai'i synopsis

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the synopsis of the show reads,

"The first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, Jane Tennant, has thrived and risen through the ranks by equal parts confidence and strategy in a system that has pushed back on her every step of the way. Together with her unwavering team of specialists, they balance duty to family and country while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security, and the mysteries of the sun-drenched island paradise itself."

The show was created by Christopher Silber, Jan Nash, and Matt Bosack. The trio also serve as executive producers, alongside Larry Teng.