Cuba Gooding Jr.
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Cuba Gooding, Jr. (January 2, 1968 The Bronx, New York City, New York - ) is an Academy Award-winning American actor. Cuba grew up in Los Angeles after his family moved to the area in 1972. His father left the family two years after the move and he and his two siblings were raised by his mother. He was involved in student government in three of the four high schools he attended. He met wife, Sara Kapfer in high school and the two married in 1994. They have three children, Spencer, Mason, and Piper.
Gooding began acting in the '80s, appearing in commercials. He made guest appearances in the late '80s on Hill Street Blues and The Bronx Zoo and made his film debut in a minor role in Coming to America. In 1989, he landed a recurring role on McGyver during the series' fourth season. He made appearances in notable films A Few Good Men with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, the sci-fi film Daybreak, 1995's Outbreak with Dustin Hoffman, Losing Isaiah with Halle Berry and the historical drama The Tuskeegee Airmen.
It was Gooding's role in Jerry Maguire that won him fame and a best supporting actor Oscar for his starring role as a football player opposite Tom Cruise. He also appeared in As Good as it Gets with Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson and What Dreams May Come with Robin Williams. His followup films proved much less successful. In 1999 he starred with Anthony Hopkins in Instinct and followed up with the thriller Chill Factor.
Goodings other roles include Men of Honor, Pearl Harbor and the comedic flops Rat Race, Snowdogs, and Boat Trip. He returned to drama with 2003's Radio and received mostly positive reviews though the film was not a great success. He appeared in several forgettable films including the Eddie Murphy comedy Norbit. Recent roles include Daddy Day Camp, American Gangster and Harold.
Genre Roles
Torch (Daybreak) 1993 (TV Movie)
Major Salt (Outbreak) 1995 (Movie)
Albert Lewis (What Dreams May Come) 1998 (Movie)
Arlo (Chill Factor) 1999 (Movie)
Other
He had a star-making turn as the "show me the money" Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire (1996). He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and was Golden Globe nominated for that performance.
External Links
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