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Cuba Gooding Jr.

CUBA GOODING, JR. (Charlie Hinton) is best known for his Academy Award winning portrayal of the charmingly arrogant professional football player Rod Tidwell in JERRY MAGUIRE. Starring opposite Tom Cruise in the Cameron Crowe-directed film, Gooding solidified his position as one of Hollywood's most talented actors. In addition to the Oscar, he was also honored with the Screen Actors Guild Award, the Broadcast Film Critics Award, The Critics Choice Award, and the Chicago Film Critics Award for this role.

Born in the Bronx in 1968 to parents Cuba Gooding Sr. (of R&B group The Main Ingredient) and Shirley Gooding (of the Sweethearts), Gooding was exposed to the entertainment industry early in his life. He began as a dancer and break-dancer, performing at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics with Lionel Ritchie. Gooding's break-out movie role was in the 1991 John Singleton coming-of-age classic BOYZ N THE HOOD.

Gooding has gained recognition in films including the Oscar nominated A FEW GOOD MEN (1992), staring opposite Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME with Robin Williams, AS GOOD AS IT GETS, opposite Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, and the critically acclaimed MEN OF HONOR, with Robert DeNiro.

Gooding often shows his versatile acting chops by taking on roles that are diverse and eclectic, as recently exhibited by his turns in both the independent heartfelt comedy WHAT LOVE IS, with Matthew Lillard and Anne Heche as well as the family comedy NORBIT, starring Eddie Murphy.

Come November, Gooding will appear alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott's newest crime drama, AMERICAN GANGSTER.

Perhaps one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, Gooding recently finished shooting the drama HERO WANTED with Ray Liotta and Jean Smart, and in August he will begin filming HAROLD, a Napoleon Dynamite-esque comedy.

In 2002, Gooding received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honoring his achievements as an actor. Cuba Gooding Jr. now resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2007.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Cuba Gooding Jr. Facts

OccupationActor
BirthdayJanuary 2, 1968 (56)
SignCapricorn
BirthplaceNew York, New York, USA
Height5' 10" (1m78)  How tall is Cuba Gooding Jr. compared to you?
Awards1997 Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (for Jerry Maguire)
1997 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role (for Jerry Maguire)

Selected Filmography

Home on the Range (2004)
Radio (2003)
Snow Dogs (2002)
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Rat Race (2001)
Zoolander (2001)
What Dreams May Come (1998)
Outbreak (1995)
The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)
A Few Good Men (1992)
Coming to America (1988)
More ...