Let's make this birthday one to remember.

56 years old (Born on January 02, 1968)

American actor; He is famous from Boyz n the Hood, Jerry Maguire, American Gangster.

Sons: Spencer Gooding, born in 1994 and Mason Gooding, born in 1996. Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1997] Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 43. [1991] Suggested by Roger Moore to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond. Break danced in the 1984 closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Was discovered by eccentric Hollywood agent, Coralie Jr. for his break-dancing talent. He thanked Coralie in his acceptance speech when he received the academy award for his best supporting role in Jerry Maguire.

Turned down the leading role of Cinque in Amistad (1997).

He played a role in the MacGyver episode "The Coltons" which was the pilot to a series about the Colton Brothers. However, the pilot did not sell and so the series never was produced.

He and his wife Sara were High School sweethearts.

Shares a birthday with Brandon DeShazer, Taye Diggs, Kate Bosworth, and Dax Shepard.

Son of Cuba Gooding, lead singer of The Main Ingredient singing group ("Everybody Plays The Fool").

Older brother of Omar Gooding.

He and his wife welcomed their third child, a daughter, in Fall 2005. Her name is Piper and no other details have been released.

Early in career appeared as a contestant on "The Dating Game".

He was a non-celebrity contestant on "The New Dating Game." (approx 1986) He was contestant #1. The woman passed him up and chose contestant #2.

Was a backup dancer for Paula Abdul

Occasionally plays a member of the armed forces, or law enforcement. He played Petty Officer Doris Miller in Pearl Harbor, Senior Chief Carl Brashear in Men of Honor, Corporal Carl Hammaker in A Few Good Men, and Officer Alvarez in Judgement.

Attended John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills his Junior year. There he joined the drama club, stage crew and ran cross country. That year, 1986, he appeared in the California Shakespeare Festival where he won first place in his portrayal of Othello.