Obviously when Gooding talks, people listen. There s such a reservoir of talent there. When he takes on a character he becomes that character. He s quite brilliant at it. The people who know him best aren t surprised one bit by how easily he swings between dramatic roles and comic turns.
H e s really physically funny.
He s a natural. His mother Shirley was a backup vocalist for blues great Jackie Wilson. Young Cuba started following in their footsteps early on. And yet, at a too-young age, he also learned the down side of showbiz life. Shirley Gooding eventually got back on her feet, but even then, the family was forced to move several times, repeatedly transplanting Cuba, his brother, and sister to new neighborhoods and new schools.