'08
Cuba Gooding Jr.’s career seems to be on a really odd path. He goes from Jerry Maguire, As Good as it Gets, and Men of Honor to Rat Race, Boat Trip, and Norbit, then bounces back up to American Gangster and chills with Bob Dole at the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony. That’s right, you too can star in Snow Dogs and still hobnob with political glitterati. What a strange, strange world we live in.
Gooding Jr. was actually at the ceremony to watch Baltimore neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson get the medal from President Bush. Gooding will be playing Carson in an upcoming film.
Did you notice that Cuba Gooding Jr. was at the White House yesterday? He was studying world-renowned doctor Ben Carson, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.
The Oscar-winning actor (”Jerry Maguire,” “Men of Honor”) has signed to play the 56-year-old Carson in an upcoming biopic, and the two men met for the first time Wednesday at the home of commentator Armstrong Williams– and immediately clicked. “I can tell I like this guy,” Carson said. “He’s got a spirit. I’ve met a lot of people from Hollywood, but there are not a lot I like.”
As director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, the Baltimore physician is best known for separating conjoined twins. He’s received hundreds of awards and honors, and has been the subject of several books and a play. The movie project, based on Carson’s autobiography “Gifted Hands,” has been in the works for a decade but never got off the ground until Gooding signed on.
The 40-year-old star told us he was attracted to the part because he wants children — especially African American children — to be inspired not only by rappers and sports stars but professionals such as Carson. “You get a role like this, and you know it’s an important opportunity,” he said.
[From the Washington Post]
Cuba Gooding Jr. isn’t new to heroic acts himself – he saved the life of a man who was shot last year. I guess his career is on an upturn. Until Disney calls with some talking animal movie that they just HAVE to gave him for. Because apparently that’s the kind of offer Cuba Gooding Jr. just can’t refuse.
Here’s Cuba Gooding Jr. with Bob Dole at the Medal of Freedom ceremony in the White House’s East Room yesterday. Images thanks to WENN.
Written by JayBird
Posted in Cuba Gooding Jr.
4 Responses to “Cuba Gooding Jr. goes to the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony”
-
To be fair to Cuba, its not easy getting those plum roles in Hollywood when you’re a black man. Unless you’re Denzel, Will Smith, Morgan Freeman or Sam Jackson. Morgan is something like an icon at this point. Denzel & Will have that sexy/suave leading man status and Sam Jackson has badass status. Cuba not so much. So even though he is a talented actor imo, I’m not surprised that after the good roles dried up or failed to come his way, he started doing what he could to earn a paycheck.
-
I love him, it doesn’t matter what he does. IMO,he’s a terrific actor and I look forward to any thing in which he stars. I’ve read Carson’s book… oh he’s going to be terrific in this.
-
you cant knock him really, and its good that he can think on this level, cos good knows someone has to think on this level as american blacks are not known for thinking too deeply when it comes to issues that affect them and contribute not only to their detriment but have a knock on effect on the rest of us in the outside world. the rap and hip hop world has taken over and not in a good way..so good on you cuba for thinking outside the box and doing some “gooding ” with it.
CandyKay:
I choose me:
Mimi:
123:
Leave a Reply
Celebitchy aims to be a friendly, welcoming site where people can discuss entertainment stories and current events in a lighthearted, safe environment without fear of harassment, excessive negativity, or bullying. Different opinions, backgrounds, ages, and nationalities are welcome here - hatred and bigotry are not.By commenting you agree to the following: That you will strive keep the discussion as civil and friendly as possible and to respect others as if you are having a conversation in person. That you will not make comments that are exceptionally rude, attacking, or baiting to other commenters. That you will not go after people with personal attacks for not agreeing with you. You will try to address their points calmly and not resort to name-calling. That you will not respond to name-calling by lowering yourself to that person's level and calling them names back. Instead of firing back a heated response, you will report comments that you feel are harassing or mean. That you will not post pornographic, obscene, defamatory, abusive, racist or bigoted comments. That you will not post spam or commercial comments at all. This includes promoting your blog, although links relating to the information discussed can be posted. That you will not post large blocks of text from other sources. You may post brief excerpts with links, but please not more than one paragraph. That you will use only one name on the site and not register under more than one alias. This is a bannable offense, and is easily found out. That you are solely responsible for your own comments. If you violate the law or are guilty of defamation you may be held legally responsible. That you will indemnify Celebitchy.com from any responsibility for damages resulting from comments made on this site.
Comments may be deleted for any reason. Celebitchy moderators reserve the right to remove comments that violate the general rules along with any comments deemed distracting, inappropriate, off topic or rude. Celebitchy moderators reserve the right to remove logins, moderate and ban commenters for any reason.
Comments are sporadically moderated due to abuse complaints and spammer's keywords. Celebitchy.com and its moderators will not be held liable for comments in any way. Use the "Report this comment as spam or abuse" link to ask the moderators to delete a comment if it's offensive. If you comment disappears, it has been eaten by the spam filter. Please e-mail cbcomments at gmail.com to get it retrieved.
Get an icon next to your name by signing up for a free Gravatar
He’s also in one of my favorite movies, Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America.” It’s one of his first roles - he just sits in a barber shop chair getting his hair cut, while Murphy and Arsenio Hall riff around him.
Report this comment as spam or abuse