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Cuba Gooding Jr.

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Cuba Gooding Jr.
Gooding in 2022
Born
Cuba Gooding Jr.

(1968-01-02)January 2, 1968(age 56)
New York City, U.S.
EducationApple Valley High School
OccupationActor
Years active1986–present
Spouse
Sara Kapfer
​
​
(m.1994;div.2017)​
Children3, includingMason Gooding
Parent(s)Cuba Gooding Sr.
Shirley Sullivan
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor

Cuba Mark Gooding Jr.(born January 2, 1968) is an American actor. After his breakthrough role as Tre Styles inBoyz n the Hood(1991) he won theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actorplaying a football star inJerry Maguire(1996). His other notable films includeOutbreak(1995),As Good as It Gets(1997),What Dreams May Come(1998),Men of Honor(2000),Pearl Harbor(2001),Rat Race(2001),The Fighting Temptations(2003),Radio(2003),American Gangster(2007),The Tuskegee Airmen(1995),The Butler(2013), andSelma(2014). He voiced Buck theHorsein the animated feature filmHome on the Range(2004).

For his portrayal ofO. J. Simpsonin theFXdrama seriesThe People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story(2016), he earned a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie,and co-starred in theFXseriesAmerican Horror Story: Roanoke(2016). He played Billy Roberts in theHBOfilmThe Tuskegee Airmen(1995), and Dr.Ben Carsonin theTNTfilmGifted Hands(2009).

Gooding Jr. made hisBroadwaydebut playing Ludie Watts in the 2013 revival of theHorton FooteplayThe Trip to Bountiful.In 2018, he playedBilly Flynnin the musicalChicagoon both theWest Endand on Broadway.

Early life and education[edit]

Gooding was born on January 2, 1968, inthe Bronx,New York City.[1]His mother, Shirley Sullivan, is a singer, and his father,Cuba Gooding Sr.,was the lead vocalist ofsoulgroupThe Main Ingredient.[2][3]Gooding has three siblings: April,Omar,and Thomas.[4]His paternal grandfather, Dudley MacDonald Gooding, was a native ofBarbados.[3]His family moved toLos Angelesin 1972 after his father's music group had their hit single "Everybody Plays the Fool";two years later, the elder Gooding left the family. Gooding himself was raised by his mother and attended four different high schools:North Hollywood High School,Tustin High School,Apple Valley High School,andJohn F. Kennedy High SchoolinGranada HillsinLos Angeles.He served as class president in three of them.[5]He became aborn-again Christianat the age of 13.[6]

Career[edit]

1984–1994: Early roles andJerry Maguire[edit]

Gooding in 2000

Gooding's first job as an entertainer was as a breakdancer, performing with singerLionel Richieat the closing ceremonies of the1984 Summer Olympicsin Los Angeles.[2]After high school, Gooding studiedJapanese martial artsfor three years before turning his focus toward acting. Early on, he landed guest starring roles on shows likeHill Street Blues(1987),Amen(1988) andMacGyver(1988, 1989 and 1990) and also had a small part in the popular comedyComing to America(1988). Gooding's first major role was inJohn Singleton's inner-city crime dramaBoyz n the Hood(1991), in which he played the lead, Tre Styles. The film was a box office surprise and critical hit, and is considered a modern classic.[7][8]He followed this success with supporting roles in major films such asA Few Good MenandGladiator(both 1992),Judgment Night(1993),Lightning Jack(1994), andOutbreak(1995).

In 1996, Gooding reached a new level of prominence when he was cast as an arrogant yet charismatic football player inCameron Crowe's dramatic sports comedyJerry Maguire(1996) with co-starTom Cruise,which was a major critical and commercial success and was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Pictureand earned Gooding an Oscar forBest Supporting Actor.His exuberant "Show me the money!" line in the film became a nationwide catch phrase.[9]His Oscar acceptance speech has often been cited for its enthusiasm.[10]

1997–2012: Established actor[edit]

Gooding at the2016 Daytona 500

In 1997, Gooding followed his breakout with a notable supporting role in the acclaimed Academy Award-winning comedyAs Good as It Gets(1997), but in the following years his career was inconsistently successful. Some of his best received performances include turns in films such as the mystical dramaWhat Dreams May Come(1998) and the US Naval dramaMen of Honor(2000), in which he played the lead role and co-starred withRobert De Niro.Gooding also received attention for his roles in the epicPearl Harbor(2001) asDoris Miller,the ensemble farceRat Race(2001), musical dramedyThe Fighting Temptations(2003), and the football dramaRadio(2003), in which he played the title role. Additionally, though not well received critically, the family comedySnow Dogs(2002) was a commercial success. In 2002, he was given a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.Gooding starred in an online video game called "The Quest For The Code" which focuses on juvenile asthma management.[11]

Other roles during this time include Theo Caulder in the psychological thrillerInstinct(1999) and the voice of Buck theHorsein theDisneyanimated filmHome on the Range(2004). However, during this stage of his career, he appeared in a series of films which were not critically or commercially successful, such asChill Factor(1999),Boat Trip(2002),Norbit(2007) andDaddy Day Camp(2007), all of which had received extremely negative reviews and, with the exception ofNorbit,performed poorly at the box office. Since then, in great contrast to earlier stages of his acting career, Gooding has appeared in many more critically ignored,direct-to-DVDfilms than theatrical or television releases. A well-received performance asBen CarsoninGifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story(2009), and a small supporting role inRidley Scott'sAmerican Gangster(2007), both proved to be exceptions to this trend. Gooding's next major film role was in the 2012World War IIfilmRed Tails,produced byGeorge Lucas.In 2012, Gooding starred in a TV pilot forFoxcalledGuiltythat was directed byMcG.Though it was well received in screenings, it was ultimately not picked up by the network. He appeared onChannel 4'sChris Moyles' Quiz Nighton August 5, 2011, closing the show dueting "Bad Romance"withLulu.

2013–present: Broadway debut and TV roles[edit]

In 2013, Gooding had roles in several theatrical release films, including a well received supporting performance in Lee Daniels'sThe Butlerand brief appearances inDon JonandMachete Kills.He also made hisBroadway theatredebut alongsideCicely TysonandVanessa Williamsin aTony Award-nominated production ofThe Trip to Bountiful.[12]

In 2014, he appeared asCivil Rights MovementattorneyFred Grayin the widely acclaimed historical dramaSelma.He has since appeared much more frequently on television, including performances asSamuel Frauncesin the miniseriesThe Book of Negroes,as a comedically embellished version of himself onBig Time in Hollywood, FL,and asO. J. Simpsonin the anthology seriesAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson.Despite his performance receiving mixed reviews,[13][14][15]he received aPrimetime Emmy Awardnomination forOutstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.Gooding's Emmy nomination for his work on the series was criticized by some reviewers.[16]In 2018, Gooding headlined the 21st Anniversary revival of the musicalChicagoin the West End asBilly Flynnat the Phoenix Theatre.

His directorial debut,Bayou Caviar,was released on October 5, 2018. On March 3, 2018, Gooding appeared as star guest announcer on the 100th episode ofITV'sAnt and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.[17]

Personal life[edit]

Marriage[edit]

In 1994, Gooding married his high school sweetheart, Sara Kapfer, with whom he has three children: Spencer Gooding, Piper Gooding, and actorMason Gooding.In 2014, Kapfer filed for legal separation from Gooding.[18]Gooding filed for divorce in January 2017.[19][20]

Charity work[edit]

In 2006, Gooding earned the Public Leadership in Neurology Award from theAmerican Academy of Neurologyfor his work raising awareness aboutMultiple Sclerosis.[21]

Legal issues[edit]

See also:Weinstein effect

On June 13, 2019, Gooding was booked on charges ofmisdemeanorforcible touchingand sexual abuse in the third degree in New York City relating to an incident in which he allegedly groped a woman at a bar inTimes Square.[22]On October 10, he was indicted on a separate, additional sexual abuse charge.[23]As of August 2020, 30 women have accused Gooding of unwanted sexual touching.[24][25][26]

Gooding was formally charged for three incidents, each resulting in misdemeanor charges of forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse.[27]

On August 19, 2020, a woman filed a lawsuit against Gooding accusing him of raping her in 2013 in New York City.[28][29]The two parties came to a settlement agreement on June 6, 2023.[30]As a result of the settlement, Gooding will not face trial.[31]Despite the settlement, Gooding's lawyers insisted that he and the woman had consensual sex and that the woman bragged afterwards to others that she had sex with a celebrity.[31]

On April 12, 2022, Gooding pleaded guilty to forcibly touching a woman at a New York nightclub in 2018, telling the judge he "kissed the waitress on her lips" without her consent at the LAVO New York nightclub. He also admitted to the two other alleged incidents of non-consensual contact, which took place in October 2018 and June 2019.[32]

The plea deal that Gooding reached with prosecutors called for no jail time, and it allowed him to withdraw his misdemeanor plea and plead to the lesser violation of harassment as long as he continued counseling for six months.[33]

On February 26, 2024, Gooding was mentioned in a sexual assault lawsuit brought againstSean Combsby music producer Rodney Jones. The lawsuit alleged that Gooding had "groped and fondled [Jones] non-consensually."[34]On March 26, 2024, Jones amended the lawsuit to include Gooding as a co-defendant.[35][36]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

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
A 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 As Good as It Gets Frank Sachs
1998 What Dreams May Come Albert Lewis
A Murder of Crows Lawson Russell Also producer
1999 Instinct Theo Caulder
Chill Factor Arlo
2000 Men of Honor BM2/Chief/Senior ChiefCarl Brashear
2001 Pearl Harbor Petty OfficerDoris Miller
Rat Race Owen Templeton
In the Shadows Draven
Zoolander Himself Cameo
2002 Snow Dogs Theodore "Ted" Brooks
Boat Trip Jerry Robinson
2003 The 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
Daddy Day Camp Charlie Hinton
What Love Is Tom
American Gangster Nicky Barnes
The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends Loofah The Beipiaosaurus Voice; direct-to-video
2008 Hero Wanted Liam Case Direct-to-video
Harold Cromer Also producer
Linewatch Michael Dixon Direct-to-video
2009 The Way of War David Wolfe Direct-to-video
The Devil's Tomb Captain Mack Direct-to-video
Lies & Illusions Isaac Direct-to-video
Hardwired Luke Gibson Direct-to-video
Wrong Turn at Tahoe Joshua Direct-to-video
2011 Ticking Clock Lewis Hicks Direct-to-video
Sacrifice Detective John Hebron Direct-to-video
The Hit List Jonas Arbor Direct-to-video
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 [37]
TBA Athena Saves Christmas TBA

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Better Days Bully Episode: "Wooly Bully"
The Dating Game Himself/ Contestant IDK[38]
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"
1989–91 MacGyver Billy Colton 4 episodes
1992 Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story Tyree Television film
1993 Daybreak Stephen 'Torch' Tolkin Television film
The Untouchables Tommy Taylor Episode: "Betrayal in Black & Tan"
1995 The Tuskegee Airmen Billy Roberts Television film
1999 Saturday Night Live Himself Host; episode: "Cuba Gooding Jr./Ricky Martin"
2007 Sesame Street Himself 2 episodes
2009 Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story Ben Carson Television film
2012 Firelight Dwayne Johnson (DJ) Television film
Guilty Billy Remz Pilot
2013 Summoned Detective Callendar Television 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 5 episodes
Dominic Banks 5 episodes

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Venue Refs.
2013 The Trip to Bountiful Ludie Watts Stephen Sondheim Theatre,Broadway [39]
2018 Chicago Billy Flynn Phoenix Theatre,West End [40]
Ambassador Theatre,Broadway [41]

Video game[edit]

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

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Association Category Project Result Refs.
1991 Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actor Boyz n the Hood Nominated
1995 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in Television The Tuskegee Airmen Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Outbreak Nominated
1996 Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Jerry Maguire Won [42]
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 [43]
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 [44]
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
The 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 [45]
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story Nominated [46]
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 [47]
2016 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson Nominated [48]
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

References[edit]

  1. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr.: Actor (1968–)".Biography.A&E Networks.Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2018.
  2. ^abGaul, Lou (August 7, 2008)."Cuba Gooding Jr. talks 'Daddy Day Camp'".Phillyburbs.Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2009.RetrievedJuly 6,2009.
  3. ^ab"The Cuba Gooding Sr. Story is coming to film",soulandfunkmusic.
  4. ^"Inside Cuba Gooding Sr.'s Incredible Family History, Career and Love Life".The Philadelphia Sunday Sun.April 22, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
  5. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr Bio: movies.yahoo".Yahoo. Archived fromthe originalon January 14, 2012.RetrievedJune 6,2014.
  6. ^Williams, Kam (August 15, 2007)."Cuba Gooding: The Daddy Day Camp Interview with Kam Williams".Kamwilliams.RetrievedJuly 6,2009.
  7. ^Barboza, Craigh (January 1, 2009).John Singleton: Interviews.University Press of Mississippi.ISBN9781604731163.
  8. ^Ebony.November 1, 1998.ISBN9780945800286.
  9. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr".Vibe.Archived fromthe originalon April 30, 2009.RetrievedJuly 6,2009.
  10. ^Nolfi, Joey (February 24, 2017)."The 15 most memorable Oscar speeches since Cuba Gooding Jr".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedApril 19,2020.
  11. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr".Lodi News-Sentinel.Associated Press. January 18, 2002.RetrievedJune 5,2011.
  12. ^Busis, Hillary (December 20, 2012)."Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vanessa Williams head to Broadway".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJune 6,2014.
  13. ^Schilling, Dave (February 5, 2016)."The People v OJ Simpson: episode one – great casting, with one exception".The Guardian.London, England.
  14. ^Starr, Michael (February 23, 2016)."Cuba Gooding Jr. has made despicable O.J. Simpson boring".New York Post.RetrievedApril 3,2016.
  15. ^McGovern, Joe (February 9, 2016)."In defense of Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedApril 3,2016.
  16. ^Marcus, Stephanie (July 14, 2016)."Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Emmy Nomination For Playing O.J. Simpson Is Puzzling To Say The Least".Huffington Post.RetrievedJuly 16,2016.
  17. ^Miller, Adam (March 3, 2018)."Saturday Night Takeaway: Ant and Dec SNUBBED by Cuba Gooding Jr. during 100th episode".Daily Express.
  18. ^Lee, Ken; Rouse, Wade (April 23, 2014)."Cuba Gooding Jr. Separates from Wife".People Magazine.RetrievedMarch 27,2015.
  19. ^Vulpo, Mike; Passalaqua, Holly (January 19, 2017)."Cuba Gooding Jr. Files for Divorce From His Wife Sara Kapfer After 22 Years of Marriage".E! Online.New York City:NBCUniversal Media.RetrievedJanuary 19,2017.
  20. ^Biden, David (August 29, 2016)."Beautiful Interracial Celeb Couples".Semesterz.Archived fromthe originalon November 30, 2022.RetrievedApril 8,2017.
  21. ^"Public Leadership in Neurology Award Honors Cuba Gooding, Jr., for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Efforts".aan.RetrievedNovember 20,2020.
  22. ^Dickson, E. J. (June 14, 2019)."Cuba Gooding Jr. Turns Himself In on Groping Charges".Rolling Stone.New York City.RetrievedJune 15,2019.
  23. ^Menendez, Pilar (October 10, 2019)."Cuba Gooding Jr. Indicted for 'Additional Incident' in Groping Case: Prosecutors".Daily Beast.New York City:IAC/Daily Beast Company.RetrievedOctober 10,2019.
  24. ^"Prosecutors say 30 women have come forward with groping accusations against Cuba Gooding Jr".CNN.August 13, 2020.
  25. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr. Accused of 2013 Rape in Lawsuit".Associated Press.August 19, 2019.RetrievedAugust 18,2020.
  26. ^Cuba Gooding Jr. hearingCNN, 2020/08/13
  27. ^Jacobs, Julia (October 31, 2019)."Cuba Gooding Jr. Faces Third Set of Groping Charges".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
  28. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr accused of raping woman".BBC News.London, England:BBC.August 19, 2020.RetrievedAugust 19,2020.
  29. ^"Actor Cuba Gooding Jr accused of 2013 rape in lawsuit".The Guardian.Reuters.August 18, 2020.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
  30. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr settles rape lawsuit ahead of civil trial".BBC News.June 6, 2023.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  31. ^abBrisco, Ellse (June 6, 2023)."Cuba Gooding Jr. settles civil rape case, avoiding New York trial".USA Today.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  32. ^Moghe, Sonia; Henderson, Jennifer; Flexner, Allison (April 13, 2022)."Cuba Gooding Jr. pleads guilty to forcible touch".CNN.RetrievedApril 14,2022.
  33. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr. pleads guilty in NYC groping case".ABC7 New York.Associated Press.April 13, 2022.RetrievedApril 13,2022.
  34. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr. mentioned in latest sexual assault lawsuit against Diddy".Yahoo! News. February 28, 2024.
  35. ^Moorman, Taijuan (March 26, 2024)."Sean 'Diddy' Combs accuser Lil Rod adds Cuba Gooding Jr. to sexual assault lawsuit".USA Today.RetrievedMarch 27,2024.
  36. ^Ushe, Naledi (March 27, 2024)."Ex-Diddy associate alleges arrested Brendan Paul was mogul's drug 'mule,' Yung Miami was sex worker".USA Today.RetrievedMarch 27,2024.
  37. ^"Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Kevin Sorbo Star in" The Firing Squad "".Indiewrap.April 24, 2024.
  38. ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:"The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments 2 (2002)".YouTube.
  39. ^"The Trip to Bountiful (2013, Broadway)".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  40. ^"Casting Complete for London Revival of Chicago, Starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ruthie Henshall".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  41. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  42. ^"69th Academy Awards".Oscars.org.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  43. ^"Cuba Gooding Jr".Golden Globe Awards.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  44. ^"3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards".Screen Actors Guild Awards.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  45. ^"14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards".Screen Actors Guild Awards.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  46. ^"16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards".Screen Actors Guild Awards.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  47. ^"20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards".Screen Actors Guild Awards.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
  48. ^"2016 Primetime Emmy Awards".Emmys.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.

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