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.