Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. (born January 2, 1968) is an American actor. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Emmy nomination. He was born in Bronx, New York to Shirley, a singer with the Sweethearts, and Cuba Gooding, Sr., a lead vocalist of soul group The Main Ingredient. He has two brothers, musician Tommy Gooding and fellow actor Omar Gooding, and sister, April Gooding. His family moved to Los Angeles after Gooding Sr.'s music group had a hit single with "Everybody Plays the Fool" in 1972 but abandoned his family two years later. Gooding Jr. was raised by his mother and attended four different high schools: North Hollywood High School, Tustin High School, Apple Valley High School, and John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills in Los Angeles. He served as class president in three of them. His first job as a professional entertainer was as a break-dancer performing with singer Lionel Richie at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. After high school, Gooding studied Japanese martial arts for three years, before turning his focus toward acting. Early on, he landed guest starring roles on shows like Hill Street Blues (1981) and MacGyver (1985). His first major role was in the John Singleton's box office surprise and critical hit Boyz n the Hood (1991). He followed this success with roles in major films like A Few Good Men (1992), Lightning Jack (1994), Outbreak (1995), Men of Honor (2000), Rat Race ...

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As Good as It Gets (1997)

FunnyCharmingThought provokingEnjoyable

Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction, is rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor, Simon. After Simon is hospitalized, Melvin finds his life turned upside down when he has to look after Simon's dog. In ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James L. Brooks
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Helen Hunt  •  Greg Kinnear  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction, is rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor, Simon. After Simon is hospitalized, Melvin finds his life turned upside down when he has to look after Simon's dog. In ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James L. Brooks
CAST:  Jack Nicholson  •  Helen Hunt  •  Greg Kinnear  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

Outbreak (1995)

ThrillingFast pacedGrippingSuspenseful

A deadly airborne virus finds its way into the USA and starts killing off people at an epidemic rate. Col. Sam Daniels' job is to stop the virus spreading from a small town, which must be quarantined, and to prevent an over reaction by the White House.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wolfgang Petersen
CAST:  Dustin Hoffman  •  Rene Russo  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Kevin Spacey

A deadly airborne virus finds its way into the USA and starts killing off people at an epidemic rate. Col. Sam Daniels' job is to stop the virus spreading from a small town, which must be quarantined, and to prevent an over reaction by the White House.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wolfgang Petersen
CAST:  Dustin Hoffman  •  Rene Russo  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Kevin Spacey

Zoolander (2001)

MindlessFunnyGoofyOriginal

Clear the runway for Derek Zoolander, VH1's three-time male model of the year. His face falls when hippie-chic Hansel scooters in to steal this year's award. The evil fashion guru Mugatu seizes the opportunity to turn Derek into a killing machine. It's a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Stiller
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Owen Wilson  •  Christine Taylor  •  Will Ferrell

Clear the runway for Derek Zoolander, VH1's three-time male model of the year. His face falls when hippie-chic Hansel scooters in to steal this year's award. The evil fashion guru Mugatu seizes the opportunity to turn Derek into a killing machine. It's a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Stiller
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Owen Wilson  •  Christine Taylor  •  Will Ferrell

A Few Good Men (1992)

ThrillingEpicThought provokingIntense

When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Reiner
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Jack Nicholson  •  Demi Moore  •  Kevin Bacon

When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Reiner
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Jack Nicholson  •  Demi Moore  •  Kevin Bacon

American Gangster (2007)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ridley Scott
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Russell Crowe  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Josh Brolin

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ridley Scott
CAST:  Denzel Washington  •  Russell Crowe  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Josh Brolin

Blown Away (1994)

Blown Away tells the story of Jimmy Dove who works for the Boston bomb squad. Shortly after Dove leaves the force his partner is killed by a bomb that Dove thinks might have been made by someone he knows.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Hopkins
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Lloyd Bridges  •  Forest Whitaker

Blown Away tells the story of Jimmy Dove who works for the Boston bomb squad. Shortly after Dove leaves the force his partner is killed by a bomb that Dove thinks might have been made by someone he knows.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Hopkins
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Tommy Lee Jones  •  Lloyd Bridges  •  Forest Whitaker

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Thought provokingTragicReal

Boyz n the Hood is the popular and successful film and social criticism from John Singleton about the conditions in South Central Los Angeles where teenagers are involved in gun fights and drug dealing on a daily basis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Laurence Fishburne  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Ice Cube  •  Morris Chestnut

Boyz n the Hood is the popular and successful film and social criticism from John Singleton about the conditions in South Central Los Angeles where teenagers are involved in gun fights and drug dealing on a daily basis.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Singleton
CAST:  Laurence Fishburne  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Ice Cube  •  Morris Chestnut

Coming to America (1988)

FunnyEnjoyable

An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Landis
CAST:  Eddie Murphy  •  Arsenio Hall  •  James Earl Jones  •  John Amos

An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Landis
CAST:  Eddie Murphy  •  Arsenio Hall  •  James Earl Jones  •  John Amos

Home on the Range (2004)

When a greedy outlaw schemes to take possession of the "Patch Of Heaven" dairy farm, three determined cows, a karate-kicking stallion and a colorful corral of critters join forces to save their home. The stakes are sky-high as this unlikely animal alliance risk ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Will Finn  •  John Sanford
CAST:  Randy Quaid  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Judi Dench  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

When a greedy outlaw schemes to take possession of the "Patch Of Heaven" dairy farm, three determined cows, a karate-kicking stallion and a colorful corral of critters join forces to save their home. The stakes are sky-high as this unlikely animal alliance risk ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Will Finn  •  John Sanford
CAST:  Randy Quaid  •  Steve Buscemi  •  Judi Dench  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

Instinct (1999)

In a prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell is set to be examined by a bright young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder. Driven by ambition and a hunger for the truth, Caulder will eventually risk everything—even put his very life on the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Turteltaub
CAST:  Anthony Hopkins  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Donald Sutherland  •  Maura Tierney

In a prison for the criminally insane, deranged anthropologist Ethan Powell is set to be examined by a bright young psychiatrist, Theo Caulder. Driven by ambition and a hunger for the truth, Caulder will eventually risk everything—even put his very life on the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jon Turteltaub
CAST:  Anthony Hopkins  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Donald Sutherland  •  Maura Tierney

Jerry Maguire (1996)

BrilliantCharmingSmartFunny

Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cameron Crowe
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Kelly Preston

Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cameron Crowe
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Kelly Preston

Judgment Night (1993)

While racing to a boxing match, Frank, Mike, John and Rey get more than they bargained for. A wrong turn lands them directly in the path of Fallon, a vicious, wise-cracking drug lord. After accidentally witnessing Fallon murder a disloyal henchman, the four become ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Hopkins
CAST:  Emilio Estevez  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Denis Leary  •  Jeremy Piven

While racing to a boxing match, Frank, Mike, John and Rey get more than they bargained for. A wrong turn lands them directly in the path of Fallon, a vicious, wise-cracking drug lord. After accidentally witnessing Fallon murder a disloyal henchman, the four become ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Hopkins
CAST:  Emilio Estevez  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Denis Leary  •  Jeremy Piven

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Futuristic

The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson. But the rivalry between the friends-turned-foes is immediately ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Bay
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Josh Hartnett  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson. But the rivalry between the friends-turned-foes is immediately ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Bay
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Josh Hartnett  •  Kate Beckinsale  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

Radio (2003)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

High school football coach, Harold Jones befriends Radio, a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades, where Radio transforms from a shy, tormented man into an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Tollin
CAST:  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Ed Harris  •  Alfre Woodard  •  S. Epatha Merkerson

High school football coach, Harold Jones befriends Radio, a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades, where Radio transforms from a shy, tormented man into an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Tollin
CAST:  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Ed Harris  •  Alfre Woodard  •  S. Epatha Merkerson

Rat Race (2001)

In an ensemble film about easy money, greed, manipulation and bad driving, a Las Vegas casino tycoon entertains his wealthiest high rollers -- a group that will bet on anything -- by pitting six ordinary people against each other in a wild dash for $2 million ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Zucker
CAST:  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Seth Green  •  Whoopi Goldberg  •  Breckin Meyer

In an ensemble film about easy money, greed, manipulation and bad driving, a Las Vegas casino tycoon entertains his wealthiest high rollers -- a group that will bet on anything -- by pitting six ordinary people against each other in a wild dash for $2 million ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Zucker
CAST:  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Seth Green  •  Whoopi Goldberg  •  Breckin Meyer

Shadowboxer (2005)

Mikey and Rose are professional assassins. They are also lovers, and once upon a time Rose also knew Mikey's father. During an elaborate hit job for a malicious gangster, Rose fails to kill the main target, the gangster's pregnant girlfriend. Instead, she delivers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lee Daniels
CAST:  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Helen Mirren  •  Vanessa Ferlito  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Mikey and Rose are professional assassins. They are also lovers, and once upon a time Rose also knew Mikey's father. During an elaborate hit job for a malicious gangster, Rose fails to kill the main target, the gangster's pregnant girlfriend. Instead, she delivers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lee Daniels
CAST:  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Helen Mirren  •  Vanessa Ferlito  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Snow Dogs (2002)

When a Miami dentist inherits a team of sled dogs, he's got to learn the trade or lose his pack to a crusty mountain man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Levant
CAST:  James Coburn  •  Sisqó  •  Nichelle Nichols  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

When a Miami dentist inherits a team of sled dogs, he's got to learn the trade or lose his pack to a crusty mountain man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Levant
CAST:  James Coburn  •  Sisqó  •  Nichelle Nichols  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.

The Fighting Temptations (2003)

Darrin Hill, a slick-talking but down-on- his-luck NYC advertising exec, returns to his hometown in Georgia to claim the inheritance his aunt left him. But before Darrin can collect the money, he must fulfill his aunt's final wish -- to create a local choir.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Lynn
CAST:  Beyoncé  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Wendell Pierce  •  LaTanya Richardson Jackson

Darrin Hill, a slick-talking but down-on- his-luck NYC advertising exec, returns to his hometown in Georgia to claim the inheritance his aunt left him. But before Darrin can collect the money, he must fulfill his aunt's final wish -- to create a local choir.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Lynn
CAST:  Beyoncé  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Wendell Pierce  •  LaTanya Richardson Jackson

What Dreams May Come (1998)

BrilliantIntenseMind blowingInspiring

Chris Neilson dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he dies, his wife, Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in hades for the small chance that ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vincent Ward
CAST:  Robin Williams  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Annabella Sciorra  •  Max von Sydow

Chris Neilson dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he dies, his wife, Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in hades for the small chance that ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Vincent Ward
CAST:  Robin Williams  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Annabella Sciorra  •  Max von Sydow

Losing Isaiah (1995)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, and her husband, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gyllenhaal
CAST:  Jessica Lange  •  Halle Berry  •  David Strathairn  •  Samuel L. Jackson

Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, and her husband, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gyllenhaal
CAST:  Jessica Lange  •  Halle Berry  •  David Strathairn  •  Samuel L. Jackson
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