Biography

His performance as high-maintenance NFL star Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire (1996) made Cuba Gooding, Jr. a star. ("Show me the money!" -- Tidwell's demand of his agent, played by Tom Cruise -- became an enduring pop culture catch phrase.) The role won Gooding a 1997 Oscar as best supporting actor. Throughout his career, Gooding has mixed dramas like Boyz 'N the Hood (1991) and Men of Honor (2000, co-starring Robert DeNiro) with extra-nutty comedies like the frantic Rat Race (2001) and the I'm-not-really-gay flick Boat Trip (2002). He had a surprise hit with the Disney comedy Snow Dogs (2002). His other films include The Fighting Temptations (2003), Radio (2003, co-starring Ed Harris), and Shadowboxer (2005, with Helen Mirren).

His brother, actor Omar Gooding, also played a football star in the 2003 ESPN series Playmakers... His father, Cuba Gooding, Sr., sang lead for the pop group The Main Ingredient; their big hit (1972) was "Everybody Plays the Fool"... Cuba Gooding, Jr. has two sons: Spencer (b. 1993) and Mason (b. 1996)... Gooding's exuberant Oscar acceptance speech featured him shouting, "Tom Cruise, I love you brother, I love you man... Everybody who's involved with this, I love you, I love you!"