---
name: "Cuba Gooding Jr."
canonical: "https://film.one/person/cuba-gooding-jr"
fi1m_id: "cuba-gooding-jr"
imdb_id: "nm0000421"
tmdb_id: 9777
wikidata_id: "Q136209"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 January 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-23T04:07:29.283679+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Cuba Gooding Jr.

## Identity

Cuba Gooding Jr.

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/cuba-gooding-jr
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** cuba-gooding-jr
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000421
- **TMDB ID:** 9777
- **Wikidata ID:** Q136209
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba_Gooding_Jr., https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136209, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000421/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9777

Actor. Born 2 January 1968 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 January 1968, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1988–2016
- **Also known as:** Cuba Mark Gooding Jr.
- **Frequently works with:** [James L. Brooks](https://film.one/person/james-l-brooks.md), [John Singleton](https://film.one/person/john-singleton.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 76 (1), 1990s 78 (5), 2000s 52 (2), 2010s 76 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 65 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Comedy 5, Romance 3, Crime 2, Action 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,832m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba_Gooding_Jr., https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q136209, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000421/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9777

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Boyz n the Hood*](https://film.one/film/boyz-n-the-hood.md) (86), [*As Good as It Gets*](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md) (77), [*The Butler*](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md) (66), [*Outbreak*](https://film.one/film/outbreak.md) (66)
- **Disney+:** [*Jerry Maguire*](https://film.one/film/jerry-maguire.md) (81), [*American Crime Story*](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*Norbit*](https://film.one/film/norbit.md) (31)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Cuba Gooding Jr.

> Cuba Gooding Jr. is worth watching when a film gives his exuberance something to do. *Jerry Maguire* gets the balance right: he supplies the comedy without reducing Rod Tidwell to a comic interruption.

Rod Tidwell arrives with enough energy to interrupt Jerry Maguire’s prolonged self-examination. In *Jerry Maguire* (1996), Cuba Gooding Jr. gives Cameron Crowe’s romantic comedy a useful impatience: Jerry can keep wondering about himself, but we have someone else worth watching. We laughed at Rod because Gooding makes the humour part of a forceful personality, rather than a pause for a joke. The performance helps keep a film with a crowded script enjoyable even when it takes too long to make its points.

Gooding had already gained notice as Tré Styles in *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), before Rod brought wider recognition. The later career is less tidy: supporting parts in studio films, a stretch of varied and often lower-profile work, and ensemble appearances including Nicky Barnes in *American Gangster* (2007). By *The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story* (2016), he was taking a leading role in television as O.J. Simpson. Those changes of format matter less to us than the recurring demands of his parts: charisma, vulnerability and comic timing alongside the dramatic weight.

Crowe gives those qualities useful company in *Jerry Maguire*. Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger help carry the film, while Regina King, playing Marcee Tidwell, supplies a briskness that keeps the sentiment in check. Gooding can be expansive without having to supply all the feeling himself. Crowe’s interest in the people around Jerry makes the script overcrowded, but it also gives Gooding room to matter. We would rather accept a little of that excess than lose the attention paid to Rod.

The reservation is how readily exuberance can become ingratiating, a criticism that has followed some of Gooding’s performances. The uneven material of his 2000s comedies also makes it difficult to treat enthusiasm alone as a recommendation. Our preference is for the actor in *Jerry Maguire*, where the humour has a character to sustain it and other performers to keep it in proportion. Start there, and allow for Crowe taking longer than he needs to.

## Biography

Cuba Gooding Jr. is an American actor. Born Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. on 2 January 1968 in the Bronx, New York City, he is the son of singer Cuba Gooding Sr. and Shirley Sullivan. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1972; he was raised by his mother and attended several high schools there.

Gooding began as a breakdancer, performing at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His first major film role was as Tré Styles in *Boyz n the Hood* (1991). He received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Rod Tidwell in *Jerry Maguire* (1996). Other notable credits include *A Few Good Men* (1992), *As Good as It Gets* (1997), *Men of Honor* (2000) and *Pearl Harbor* (2001).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *American Crime Story* (2016), Fi1m 78, as O. J. Simpson — [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Selma* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Fred Gray — [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md)
- *The Butler* (2013), Fi1m 66, as Carter Wilson — [page](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md)
- *Norbit* (2007), Fi1m 31, as Deion Hughes — [page](https://film.one/film/norbit.md)
- *Zoolander* (2001), Fi1m 74, as Cuba Gooding Jr. — [page](https://film.one/film/zoolander.md)
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), Fi1m 77, as Frank Sachs — [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *Jerry Maguire* (1996), Fi1m 81, as Rod Tidwell — [page](https://film.one/film/jerry-maguire.md)
- *Outbreak* (1995), Fi1m 66, as Major Salt — [page](https://film.one/film/outbreak.md)
- *A Few Good Men* (1992), Fi1m 79, as Cpl. Carl Hammaker — [page](https://film.one/film/a-few-good-men.md)
- *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), Fi1m 86, as Tré Styles — [page](https://film.one/film/boyz-n-the-hood.md)
- *Coming to America* (1988), Fi1m 76, as Boy Getting Haircut — [page](https://film.one/film/coming-to-america.md)

## Complete filmography (97)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Atlas King* (2026), Actor
- *Quantum Supremacy* (2026), as Captain Marcus Monroe
- *Dog Patrol: Operation Santa Paws* (2025), as Sheriff Jacobs
- *A Line of Fire* (2025), as Javier Cardona
- *The Firing Squad* (2024), as Samuel Wilson
- *Angels Fallen: Warriors of Peace* (2024), as Balthazar
- *Skeletons in the Closet* (2024), as Andres
- *The Weapon* (2023), as Blue
- *Life in a Year* (2020), as Xavier
- *For NYC* (2020), Actor
- *Bayou Caviar* (2018), as Rodney Jones · Director, Writer
- *American Crime Story* (2016), series, as O. J. Simpson — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Big Time in Hollywood, Fl* (2015), series, as Cuba Gooding Jr.
- *Empire* (2015), series, as Puma
- *The Book of Negroes* (2015), series, as Sam Fraunces
- *Selma* (2014), as Fred Gray — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md)
- *Freedom* (2014), as Samuel
- *Don Jon* (2013), as Hollywood Actor #2
- *Machete Kills* (2013), as El Camaleón 2
- *The Butler* (2013), as Carter Wilson — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md)
- *Summoned* (2013), as Detective Callendar
- *Life of a King* (2013), as Eugene Brown
- *Absolute Deception* (2013), as John Nelson
- *Timmy Muldoon and the Search for the Shadoweyes Bandit* (2013), as Shadoweyes
- *One in the Chamber* (2012), as Ray Carver
- *Firelight* (2012), as DJ
- *Red Tails* (2012), as Major Emanuelle Stance
- *Double Victory: The Tuskegee Airmen at War* (2012), as Narrator (voice)
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, as Dominic Banks
- *Sacrifice* (2011), as John Hebron
- *The Hit List* (2011), as Jonas Arbor
- *Ticking Clock* (2011), as Lewis Hicks
- *2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift* (2010), as (archive footage)
- *Wrong Turn at Tahoe* (2009), as Joshua
- *Hardwired* (2009), as Luke Gibson
- *Lies & Illusions* (2009), as Isaac
- *The Devil's Tomb* (2009), as Mack
- *The Way of War* (2009), as David Wolfe
- *Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story* (2009), as Ben Carson
- *Linewatch* (2008), as Michael Dixon
- *Harold* (2008), as Cromer
- *Hero Wanted* (2008), as Liam Case
- *The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends* (2007), as Loofah (voice)
- *American Gangster* (2007), as Nicky Barnes
- *Daddy Day Camp* (2007), as Charlie Hinton
- *What Love Is* (2007), as Tom
- *Norbit* (2007), as Deion Hughes — Fi1m 31, [page](https://film.one/film/norbit.md)
- *End Game* (2006), as Agent Alex Thomas
- *Dirty* (2005), as Salim Adel
- *Shadowboxer* (2005), as Mikey
- *A Dairy Tale* (2004), as Buck (voice)
- *Home on the Range* (2004), as Buck (voice)
- *Radio* (2003), as Radio
- *The Fighting Temptations* (2003), as Darrin Hill
- *Boat Trip* (2002), as Jerry Robinson
- *Snow Dogs* (2002), as Ted Brooks
- *Zoolander* (2001), as Cuba Gooding Jr. — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/zoolander.md)
- *Rat Race* (2001), as Owen Templeton
- *In the Shadows* (2001), as Draven
- *Pearl Harbor* (2001), as Dorie Miller
- *Welcome to Hollywood* (2000), as Cuba Gooding Jr.
- *Men of Honor* (2000), as Senior Chief Carl Brashear
- *Chill Factor* (1999), as Arlo
- *A Murder of Crows* (1999), as Lawson Russell · Producer
- *Instinct* (1999), as Dr. Theo Caulder
- *What Dreams May Come* (1998), as Albert Lewis
- *As Good as It Gets* (1997), as Frank Sachs — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md)
- *Trading Favors* (1997), as Liquor Store Clerk
- *Jerry Maguire* (1996), as Rod Tidwell — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/jerry-maguire.md)
- *The Tuskegee Airmen* (1995), as Billy Roberts
- *Losing Isaiah* (1995), as Eddie Hughes
- *Outbreak* (1995), as Major Salt — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/outbreak.md)
- *Blown Away* (1994), as Bomb Squad Class Member
- *Lightning Jack* (1994), as Ben Doyle
- *Judgment Night* (1993), as Mike Peterson
- *Daybreak* (1993), as Torch
- *The Untouchables* (1993), series, Actor
- *A Few Good Men* (1992), as Cpl. Carl Hammaker — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/a-few-good-men.md)
- *Judgement* (1992), as Officer Alvarez
- *Gladiator* (1992), as Abraham Lincoln Haines
- *Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story* (1992), as Tyree
- *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), as Tré Styles — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/boyz-n-the-hood.md)
- *Nasty Boys* (1990), series, as Poptop
- *Mancuso, F.B.I.* (1989), series, Actor
- *Sing* (1989), as Stanley
- *Coming to America* (1988), as Boy Getting Haircut — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/coming-to-america.md)
- *The Bronx Zoo* (1987), series, Actor
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Billy Colton, Ray Collins
- *227* (1985), series, Actor
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Sesame Street* (1969), series, Actor
- *Above the Break*, as Frank Kitner
- *Break the Cycle*, Actor
- *The Madness of Judge Jeremiah Doherty*, Actor
- *Padilla*, Actor
- *Lotus*, Actor
- *Giving Thanks*, as Calvin

## Gallery

- ![Cuba Gooding Jr.](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-76f2a842be76.jpg) Cuba Gooding Jr. — Bandit1155, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Cuba_Gooding_Jr_2022_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Cuba Gooding Jr., star of "Men of Honor," a film about the Navy's first black diver, Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, arrives at a military concert in  (2000)](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-696464b33dfa.jpg) Cuba Gooding Jr., star of "Men of Honor," a film about the Navy's first black diver, Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear, arrives at a military concert in  (2000) — Photo by Linda D. Kozaryn (American Forces Press Service), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Actor_Cuba_Gooding_Jr._by_Kozaryn.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear (center), the Navy's first African-American diver, received an Outstanding Public Service Award in October 2000 from ac](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-d97821cdae82.jpg) Master Chief Petty Officer Carl Brashear (center), the Navy's first African-American diver, received an Outstanding Public Service Award in October 2000 from ac — U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Scott Ash, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Brashear_Gooding.jpg/1280px-Brashear_Gooding.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Virginia Beach. Actor Cuba Gooding signs an autograph Fort Story Virginia. (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-fe4de62f3569.jpg) Virginia Beach. Actor Cuba Gooding signs an autograph Fort Story Virginia. (2006) — Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Eugene Kretshmer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/CubaGoodingJr.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Cuba Gooding Jr.](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-088cbe1fbe51.jpg) Cuba Gooding Jr. — Image via TMDB
- ![Cuba Gooding Jr.](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-d03b8c6dcde5.jpg) Cuba Gooding Jr. — Image via TMDB
- ![Cuba Gooding Jr. addresses the audience during a screening of the documentary "Double Victory" Nov. 10, 2011, at the Pentagon. Double Victory tells the story of](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-ba0da0e147f5.jpg) Cuba Gooding Jr. addresses the audience during a screening of the documentary "Double Victory" Nov. 10, 2011, at the Pentagon. Double Victory tells the story of — Staff Sgt. Tiffany Trojca, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Cuba_Gooding_Jr._111110-F-WK497-122.jpg/1280px-Cuba_Gooding_Jr._111110-F-WK497-122.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cuba Gooding Jr. at the Firelight Hallmark Hall of Fame Premiere Red Carpet 2012.](https://film.one/media/person/78439/gallery-131026da6715.jpg) Cuba Gooding Jr. at the Firelight Hallmark Hall of Fame Premiere Red Carpet 2012. — MingleMediaTVNetwork, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Cuba_Gooding_Jr._2012.jpg/1280px-Cuba_Gooding_Jr._2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1997: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *Jerry Maguire*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/cuba-gooding-jr