| Show get those early times when his father was a star Those times were so enticing to me that I decided I wanted to be an entertainer he said 1 was in high school when I began thinking about becoming an actor My mom said If you want to be an actor we have to move back to Hollywood They moved to a hotel but when things didnt work out they moved on to Tustin Calif Gooding was in the ninth grade Money was still scarce and this time he appeared in school plays His breakdancing crew continued to perform In 1984 they were chosen from more than makes it easy to justify doing those types of mov ies But thats not what I wanted Instead Gooding has built his career 200 groups to appear in the Closing Cere- playing a variety of characters who could be black or white: He was a Marine in A Few Good Men and a scientist in Outbreak Goodings higher profile has drawn accusations of disloyalty from some former agents He has changed agents six times over his short career He doesn't see it as an issue nor does his friend and Tom Cruise Jerry Maguire co-st- monies of the Los Angeles Olympics It was the defining moment of my childhood" Gooding said There were so many people sharing the moment that I felt like a part it was of history I loved the crowd's energy Also it was taking me one step closer to Hollywood mind-blowi- ar Cuba? Disloyal? That's ridiculous" Cruise said emphatically Cuba got the role not his agent He added From had etched in their shoulders: feathers wrapped in barbed wire It represents he said friendships that can never be broken Another person who has remained a part of his life is his high school girlfriend Sara Kapfer who is white By the time they married in 1994 she was a kindergarten teachers assistant They have two sons: Spencer 3 and Mason 1 I learned never to let too much time go without my sons seeing me" he said Ive found out 1 also need that time I'll work but I'll never indulge my needs to toe point it hurts my relationship with my family Cuba is very giving and weve achieved a balance "From the moment tie came in the room to audition tor JerryMagulre fire" says Cuba was on Cruise "We became triends quickly I want to work with him again" the moment he came in the room to audition for Jerry Maguire Cuba was on fire In A Few Good Men he was on toe set for only two days but I could tell he was a really good person We became friends quickly I want to work with him again Cuba thinks about what hes After hi success in the film Boyz N the Hood about LA gang conflict Gooding (at right in blue shirt) refused similar roles Instead he has played a variety of characters such as Rod Tidwell the exuberant football star who is the only client of sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) and Major Salt an Army researcher who teams up with Dustin Hoffman in Outbreak In his new film 4s Good As tt Gets Jack Nicholson Gooding plays an art dealer worked at a taco stand He also began performing around the city with his toe Majestic Vision Breakdancers When I was hanging out dancing I crew was exposed to a lot of drugs and violence he said I had to make a conscious choice to stay away from that A few months later we moved If I was stuck in that situation it would have been much harder to deal with" Soon Gooding was living in North Hollywood He played varsity football let his A average slip to a B average and y PARADE MAGAZINE DECEMBER 7 1997 PAGE B Tom had a part on TVs Hill Street Blues He was soon offered a starring role in Boyz N the Hood a film about growing to manhood in South Central Los Angeles Gooding thought the critical acclaim he received would make him a star Instead he was offered toe same part in similar films For eight months he turned them down Even if I didnt have the money 1 wouldn't have made Boyz N the Hood Go to Heaven or Boyz N the Hood Go to Camp" he said Nor would I have taken just any job The money youre offered doing and then foigets about everything Thats Cuba in the moment and ready to go Hes a tremendous life force I asked Gooding how he felt about toe loyalty issue As far as loyalty he shook his head bemused Ive got several people who work with me that 1 grew up with who are a part of my foundation that Ill never leave" Two of his old breakdancing partners work for him: Derek Broes is Goodings producing partner and Shawn Suttles is his assistant In fact Gooding was so passionate about making his point that he pulled his shirt up around his neck to show off toe tattoo that he and most of the TUstin crew Sara told me Cuba is unlike most people in that hes so trusting and forgiving He doesnt hold anyone responsible for where he was because look w here he is today He really believes its all Gods plan When I asked Gooding if it was difficult being in an interracial marriage he answered with a shrug I didnt focus on that before or now" he said My son is toe only black kid in his preschool What can I tell you? The only way I can raise my kid is w ith love No matter what happens with our kids they will know they can come home to parents that love them If they have to deal with the interracial thing they'll just deal with it Life is full of obstacles and solutions Even Goodings mother has Finally had her faith rewarded Her husband returned to her and they remarried two years ago I was a little cautious when my folks reconciled Gooding admitted I wanted to make sure everyone had the best intentions But I realized what was most important was that my mom and dad were happy" I love my dad but we fight a lot he added Cuba was named after his father whose own father had named him in mem- ory of his first wife who was from that island We didn't have a relationship when we were kids All of a sudden hes come back in our lives and Im a grown man Put the father stuff away and lets deal with each other as two men Thats what were doing now We're starting over If it wasnt for my relationship with God I don't think I could have made it through the rough times But like my mom always told me I believe God has a purpose for my life In fact there is a grand plan for all of us whether we acknowledge it through religion love or even playing sports Knowing that lets IE me stand on my faith |
