Childhood

Gooding’s family relocated to Los Angeles in 1972 just after the huge success of his father’s group hit single. After two years Cuba Gooding Senior expired and thus Gooding junior was raised alone by his mother. He had to attend four different high schools during his education, but by is hard work and determination he was able to become a class president at three of them. He love to participate in plays since his schooldays and was inclined towards acting at a small age only.

During one of his act, he was spotted by an agent and after that Gooding use to get steady amongst various commercials. However his first job was his break dance performance at closing ceremonies of Summer Olympics held in 1986 at Los Angeles. He has also learned Japanese martial arts for duration of three years after completing his high school.

Early Acting Career and Oscar

Earlier in his stint with acting, Gooding landed some of the guest roles in television shows like Hill Street Blues, MacGyver, Coming to America and many more. His major breakthrough was John Singleton’s Boyz in the Hood in which he was the main lead. He continued to rein his success with supporting roles in some of the hit films like A few Good Men, Lightning Jack and many.

The most prominent role bagged by him was in 1996 when he got the role of a renowned football player which was on the edge of career- end in hit movie Jerry Maguire and has Tom Cruise as a co-star. The film was a massive hit and got nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture. For his splendid acting display Gooding earned an Oscar under Best Supporting Actor category.

Post Oscar Career

After Oscar, Gooding has continued to rise on with his excellent and best performances. Some of the movies in which he displayed superb acting skills are What Dreams May Come, Men of Honor, Pearl Harbor etc. In recent years he has started to make his appearance more frequent in television unlike earlier. In 2002 Cuba Gooding Junior was awarded a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal Life

In high school he fell in love with Sara Kapfer and lived with her for seven years before finally coming to decision of wedding his girlfriend. Gooding married to Sara Kapfer in March in 1994. The couple has three children Spencer, Mason and Piper.

Health

During his role of Simpson’s character in American Hate Story, Gooding made an intense research for getting himself ready for his role. However because of that he suffered nervous breakdown due to his strong involvement with the character he portrayed.