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Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba Gooding Jr 2022 (cropped).jpg
Gooding in 2022
Born
Cuba Mark Gooding Jr.

(1968-01-02) January 2, 1968 (age 57)
Education Apple Valley High School
Occupation Actor
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s)
Sara Kapfer
(m. 1994; div. 2017)
Children 3, including Mason Gooding
Parent(s) Cuba Gooding Sr.
Shirley Sullivan
Relatives Omar Gooding (brother)
Awards Full list

Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. (born January 2, 1968) is an American actor. He has won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Gooding became famous after starring in the movie Boyz n the Hood (1991). He then appeared in films like A Few Good Men (1992) and Jerry Maguire (1996). For his role as a football star in Jerry Maguire, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in Men of Honor (2000), Pearl Harbor (2001), and Radio (2003). He also lent his voice to animated movies like Home on the Range (2004).

Later, Gooding worked with producer Ryan Murphy on TV shows like The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story and American Horror Story: Roanoke (both in 2016). He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for playing O. J. Simpson. Gooding also performed on Broadway in the play The Trip to Bountiful (2013) and the musical Chicago (2018).

Early Life and Education

Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in the Bronx, New York City. His mother, Shirley Sullivan, was a singer. His father, Cuba Gooding Sr., was the lead singer of the soul group The Main Ingredient. Cuba has three siblings: April, Omar, and Thomas.

His family moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Two years later, his father left the family. Gooding was raised by his mother. He attended four different high schools in Los Angeles. He was a leader, serving as class president in three of them. He became a born-again Christian when he was 13 years old.

Career Highlights

Early Roles and Breakthrough

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. by Kozaryn
Gooding in 2000

Gooding's first job in entertainment was as a breakdancer. He performed with singer Lionel Richie at the closing ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. After high school, he studied Japanese martial arts for three years. Then, he decided to focus on acting.

He got small roles on TV shows like Hill Street Blues (1987) and MacGyver. He also had a small part in the comedy Coming to America (1988).

Gooding's first big role was in John Singleton's movie Boyz n the Hood (1991). He played the main character, Tre Styles. The film was a big success and is now seen as a classic. After this, Gooding appeared in other major films. These included A Few Good Men (1992) and Outbreak (1995). He also played Billy Roberts in the TV movie The Tuskegee Airmen (1995).

In 1996, Gooding became even more famous. He played a confident football player in the movie Jerry Maguire. He starred alongside Tom Cruise. The movie was very popular. Gooding won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role. His line "Show me the money!" became a popular saying.

Becoming an Established Actor

Cuba Gooding Jr. 2016 Daytona 500
Gooding at the 2016 Daytona 500

After Jerry Maguire, Gooding had a supporting role in the comedy As Good as It Gets (1997). He also starred in What Dreams May Come (1998). In the naval drama Men of Honor (2000), he played the main role with Robert De Niro.

Gooding also appeared in the movie Pearl Harbor (2001) as Doris Miller. He was in the comedy Rat Race (2001) and the musical The Fighting Temptations (2003). He played the main character in the football drama Radio (2003). The family comedy Snow Dogs (2002) was also a commercial success. In 2002, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He voiced Buck the Horse in the Disney animated film Home on the Range (2004). Gooding also played Ben Carson in the TV film Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009). He had a small role in Ridley Scott's American Gangster (2007).

Gooding's next big film role was in the 2012 World War II movie Red Tails. This film was produced by George Lucas.

Broadway Debut and TV Roles

In 2013, Gooding appeared in several movies. These included a role in Lee Daniels's The Butler. He also had brief appearances in Don Jon and Machete Kills.

He made his Broadway theatre debut in The Trip to Bountiful. He starred alongside Cicely Tyson and Vanessa Williams.

In 2014, he played Civil Rights Movement attorney Fred Gray in the historical drama Selma. He has since appeared more often in television shows. He played Samuel Fraunces in the miniseries The Book of Negroes. He also played O. J. Simpson in American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson. For this role, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2018, Gooding played Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago in London's West End.

His first movie as a director, Bayou Caviar, was released on October 5, 2018.

Personal Life

Family Life

In 1994, Gooding married his high school girlfriend, Sara Kapfer. They had three children together: Spencer, Piper, and Mason Gooding. Mason has also become an actor.

In 2014, Sara Kapfer filed for legal separation from Gooding. Gooding filed for divorce in January 2017.

Charity Work

In 2006, Gooding received an award from the American Academy of Neurology. This was for his work in raising awareness about multiple sclerosis.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Coming to America Boy Getting Haircut
1989 Sing Stanley
1991 Boyz n the Hood Jason "Tre" Styles III
1992 Gladiator Abraham Lincoln Haines
Judgment Officer Alvarez
Few Good Men, AA Few Good Men Corporal Carl Edward Hammaker
1993 Judgment Night Mike Peterson
1994 Lightning Jack Ben Doyle
Blown Away Bomb Squad Class Member Cameo
1995 Outbreak Major Salt
Losing Isaiah Eddie Hughes
1996 Jerry Maguire Rod Tidwell
1997 Trading Favors Liquor Store Clerk
As Good as It Gets Frank Sachs
1998 What Dreams May Come Albert Lewis
Welcome to Hollywood Himself Cameo
Murder of Crows, AA Murder of Crows Lawson Russell Also producer
1999 Instinct Theo Caulder
Chill Factor Arlo
2000 Men of Honor BM2 /Chief / Senior Chief Carl Brashear
The Kid Wedding Guest Uncredited cameo
2001 Pearl Harbor Petty Officer Doris Miller
Rat Race Owen Templeton
In the Shadows FBI Agent Draven
Zoolander Himself Cameo
2002 Snow Dogs Theodore "Ted" Brooks
Boat Trip Jerry Robinson
2003 Fighting Temptations, TheThe Fighting Temptations Darrin Hill
Radio James Robert "Radio" Kennedy
2004 Home on the Range Buck The Domestic Horse Voice
2005 Shadowboxer Mikey
Dirty Salim Adel
2006 End Game Alex Thomas Direct-to-video
2007 Norbit Deion Hughes
What Love Is Tom
Daddy Day Camp Charlie Hinton
American Gangster Nicky Barnes
Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends, TheThe Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends Loofah The Beipiaosaurus Voice role; direct-to-video
2008 Hero Wanted Liam Case Direct-to-video
Harold Cromer Also producer
Linewatch Michael Dixon Direct-to-video
2009 Way of War, TheThe Way of War David Wolfe
Devil's Tomb, TheThe Devil's Tomb Captain Mack
Lies & Illusions Isaac
Hardwired Luke Gibson
Wrong Turn at Tahoe Joshua
2011 Ticking Clock Lewis Hicks
Sacrifice Detective John Hebron
The Hit List Jonas Arbor
2012 Red Tails Major Emanuel Stance
One in the Chamber Ray Carver Direct-to-video
2013 Don Jon Hollywood Actor #2 Cameo
Absolute Deception John Nelson Direct-to-video
Life of a King Eugene Brown
The Butler Carter Wilson
Machete Kills El Chameleón 2
2014 Freedom Samuel Also executive producer
Selma Fred Gray
2018 Bayou Caviar Rodney Jones Also director and co-writer
2020 Life in a Year Xavier
2023 The Weapon "Blue"
2024 Skeletons in the Closet Andres
Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace Balthazar
The Firing Squad Samuel Wilson
2025 Athena Saves Christmas Sheriff Jacobs In post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Better Days Bully Episode: "Wooly Bully"
The Dating Game Himself / Contestant IDK
1987 Hill Street Blues Gang member #2 / Ethan Dillon 2 episodes
1988 CBS Schoolbreak Special Paul Episode: "No Means No"
Amen Kenny Episode: "Thelma's Handyman"
1989–1991 MacGyver Billy Colton 4 episodes
1992 Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story Tyree TV film
1993 Daybreak Stephen "Torch" Tolkin
The Untouchables Tommy Taylor Episode: "Betrayal in Black & Tan"
1995 Tuskegee Airmen, TheThe Tuskegee Airmen Billy Roberts TV film
1999 Saturday Night Live Himself Host; episode: "Cuba Gooding Jr./Ricky Martin"
2007 Sesame Street 2 episodes
2009 Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story Ben Carson TV film
2012 Firelight Dwayne Johnson (DJ)
Guilty Billy Remz Pilot
2013 Summoned Detective Callendar TV film
2015 Empire Dwayne "Puma" Robinson Episode: "The Devil Quotes Scripture"
The Book of Negroes Samuel Fraunces 2 episodes
Big Time in Hollywood, FL Himself 6 episodes
Forever Isaac Monroe 3 episodes
2016 American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson O. J. Simpson Miniseries; 10 episodes
American Horror Story: Roanoke Matt Miller / Dominic Banks 5 episodes
Oxford Street 24/7 Himself 1 episode

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue
2013 The Trip to Bountiful Ludie Watts Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway
2018 Chicago Billy Flynn Phoenix Theatre, West End
Ambassador Theatre, Broadway

Video Game

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Quest for the Code Cyrus Live-action

Awards and Nominations

Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
1991 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Boyz n the Hood Nominated
1995 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in Television Tuskegee Airmen, TheThe Tuskegee Airmen Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Outbreak Nominated
1996 Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Jerry Maguire Won
American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Won
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role Won
1997 Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture As Good as It Gets Nominated
1998 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture What Dreams May Come Nominated
2000 BET Award Best Actor Men of Honor Nominated
Black Reel Award Best Actor Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
2003 Razzie Award Worst Actor Boat Trip Nominated
Fighting Temptations, TheThe Fighting Temptations Nominated
Radio Nominated
2004 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Won
2007 Razzie Award Worst Actor Norbit Nominated
Daddy Day Camp Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture American Gangster Nominated
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Special Won
2012 Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Special Firelight Won
2013 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture The Butler Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2016 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Actor in a Movie/Limited Series Nominated
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Miniseries or Special Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cuba Gooding Jr. para niños

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