Omar Gooding built a career that spans three decades of television, film, and music, carving out his own identity even while sharing a last name with one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors. Best known as Big O, Omar Gooding has moved fluidly between comedy, drama, and music, and his recent public feud with rapper Cam’ron has put him back in the spotlight.
Biography Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Omar Miles Gooding |
| Nickname/Stage Name | Big O |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1976 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Profession/Occupation | Actor, Rapper, Producer, Writer |
| Years Active | 1988–present |
| Education | University High School, North Hollywood High School |
| Genre/Field | Comedy, Drama, Hip-Hop |
| Children | Two |
| Parents | Cuba Gooding Sr, Shirley Sullivan |
| Siblings | Cuba Gooding Jr (older brother), April Gooding, Spencer Gooding |
| Notable Works | Baby Boy, Smart Guy, Hangin’ With Mr Cooper, Playmakers |
Early Life, Family and Education
Omar Gooding grew up in Los Angeles as part of a household already shaped by entertainment, since his father, Cuba Gooding Sr, was the frontman for the soul group The Main Ingredient, known for the hit “Everybody Plays the Fool.” Music and performance were part of daily life from the start.
His mother, Shirley Sullivan, is often described as a praying figure who held the family together through hardships growing up. That grounding shows up repeatedly in how Omar talks about his upbringing, crediting his parents for keeping the household stable despite the pressures of showbiz.
Omar is the younger brother of Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr, and the family includes siblings April Gooding and Spencer Gooding as well. Cuba Gooding Jr’s son, Mason Gooding, and other nieces and nephews have continued the family’s presence in entertainment.
He attended University High School and North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, balancing his education with an acting career that had already started before he reached his teenage years. Omar has two children of his own, continuing a family line now three generations deep in the industry.
Acting Career and Rise to Fame
Omar Gooding started as a child performer, landing early roles that showcased his easygoing, comedic presence long before he became a teen-oriented lead. His breakout period came in the 1990s, when he became a recognizable face across sitcoms and family-friendly programming.
He is best remembered for playing Earvin Rodman on Hangin’ With Mr Cooper alongside Mark Curry, and for his role as Marcus in Smart Guy on The WB, where his chemistry with young co-stars Tahj Mowry and Jason Weaver helped the show earn strong reviews. He also co-hosted Wild & Crazy Kids, a role that introduced him to a wider Nickelodeon audience.
On the film side, Omar Gooding is closely tied to Baby Boy, the John Singleton drama that paired him again with his brother Cuba Gooding Jr, following their earlier on-screen pairing in Ghost Dad. He also had a notable role in Sweetpea, expanding his range beyond comedic teen roles into more dramatic territory.
His television career continued into adulthood with a recurring role in the sports drama Playmakers, guest appearances on Touched by an Angel, and later work on Deadwood, CSI: Miami, and Grey’s Anatomy. He also held a main role as Tuck Brody in Miami Medical, a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced series, and later starred in Family Time on Bounce TV, playing Cal Johnson opposite Angell Conwell.
Omar Gooding Movies and TV Shows
Omar Gooding’s filmography stretches across sitcoms, dramas, TV movies, and independent films, reflecting a career built on steady, reliable work rather than a handful of blockbuster credits. Below is a snapshot of his most notable projects.
| Title | Type | Role/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost Dad | Film | Early role alongside Cuba Gooding Jr |
| Hangin’ With Mr Cooper | TV Series | Earvin Rodman |
| Smart Guy | TV Series | Marcus, main cast |
| Baby Boy | Film | Sweetpea |
| Playmakers | TV Series | Recurring role |
| Touched by an Angel | TV Series | Guest role |
| Deadwood | TV Series | Third season |
| Miami Medical | TV Series | Tuck Brody, main role |
| Family Time | TV Series | Cal Johnson |
| Barbershop: The Series | TV Series | Recurring barber role |
Beyond these, Omar Gooding has appeared in a long list of independent films and streaming projects released between 2018 and 2026, including titles like True to the Game 3, Big Time in Hollywood, FL, Extant, and Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. He has also worked behind the camera as a writer, producer, and executive producer on several of these later projects, showing a shift toward creative control rather than acting alone.
He has also done voice work and hosting gigs, including credits on Static Shock and Batman Beyond, plus appearances on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and Last Call with Carson Daly to promote his projects.
Omar Gooding and the Cam’ron Feud
In late 2025, Omar Gooding found himself in an unexpected public dispute with rapper Cam’ron, one that played out across podcasts and social media rather than staying behind the scenes. The feud reportedly built up over several months before boiling over publicly.
Cam’ron addressed the situation on his podcast, It Is What It Is, referencing Omar Gooding directly and questioning why Black actors, using Ving Rhames and 50 Cent as comparisons, don’t fund their own projects the way some peers have. The comments escalated into a diss track aimed at Omar, who responded on social media.
The feud took an unusual turn when it was revealed that a movie shoot Omar had appeared to be filming in Miami, reportedly costing around $3,500, was staged. The project was never a real film and was never released, and it later came out that Cam’ron had been present during the shoot, secretly aware of the prank the whole time.
Omar Gooding, who also raps under the name Big O, has responded with his own diss records in return, keeping the exchange going into 2025 and 2026. Reports suggest Cam’ron floated the idea of flying him out to Toronto to settle things, though it remains framed largely as an entertainment rivalry rather than a serious personal conflict.
Omar Gooding Net Worth
Omar Gooding’s net worth reflects a career built on consistency rather than headline-grabbing paychecks, spanning television, film, and music since his debut in 1988. His income comes primarily from decades of acting work, supplemented by production credits and music releases under the Big O name.
Steady TV roles, including long-running parts in Hangin’ With Mr Cooper, Smart Guy, and Miami Medical, along with recurring film work, have provided the financial backbone of his career. His more recent shift into producing and writing independent film projects also adds a secondary income stream beyond acting fees.
While Omar Gooding hasn’t reached the same level of mainstream wealth as his brother Cuba Gooding Jr, his net worth is generally estimated in the low millions, a figure built through longevity in the industry rather than a single major breakout role. His continued film output between 2018 and 2026 suggests his earnings remain active rather than tied to past work alone.
Is Omar Gooding Related to Cuba Gooding Jr?
Yes, Omar Gooding is the younger brother of Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr, and the two share both a father and a career path that began in childhood. Their father, Cuba Gooding Sr, was a well-known soul singer, which placed both brothers around entertainment from an early age.
The brothers have appeared on screen together more than once, most notably in Ghost Dad early in their careers and later in Baby Boy, where Omar played Sweetpea opposite Cuba’s lead role. Their on-screen pairing reflects a real-life closeness that has continued as both have built separate, long-running careers.
While Cuba Gooding Jr became the more globally recognized name after his Academy Award win, Omar Gooding has carved out his own consistent path through television and, more recently, music and production work. The family’s entertainment ties extend further through Cuba Jr’s son, Mason Gooding, keeping the Gooding name active in a third generation of performers.
Omar Gooding’s Wife and Personal Life
Omar Gooding has kept much of his romantic life relatively private compared to his television and music career, though he has been linked publicly to a few notable relationships over the years. He is known to have dated his Baby Boy co-star Angell Conwell for around four years.
He is the father of two children, and like much of his family life, details about his current relationship status are not widely publicized. This is consistent with how Omar has generally approached his personal life, keeping the focus on his acting, music, and production work rather than his relationships.
Trivia and Lesser-Known Facts About Omar Gooding
- Omar Gooding raps under the stage name Big O, a career he pursued alongside acting, drawing mentorship from artists like C-Bo, Tupac, and Young Buck during his time exploring gangsta rap.
- He was reportedly arrested for gun possession at one point in his life, receiving 18 months probation, an incident he has referenced in interviews as part of staying “about that life” tied to his Baby Boy character.
- His birth sign is Libra, and he was born on October 19, 1976, in a household where music was already part of daily life through his father’s career.
- Omar Gooding’s best friends in the industry reportedly include Tahj Mowry and Jason Weaver, his Smart Guy co-stars, along with Mark Curry, who mentored him during his time on Hangin’ With Mr Cooper.
- He has also been connected publicly to Claudia Jordan of Real Housewives of Atlanta fame, adding another layer to his public relationship history.
FAQs
Is Omar Gooding Cuba Gooding Jr’s brother?
Yes, Omar Gooding is the younger brother of Cuba Gooding Jr. Both were raised in Los Angeles by their father, singer Cuba Gooding Sr, and have appeared together on screen in films like Ghost Dad and Baby Boy.
What is Omar Gooding’s net worth in 2025?
Omar Gooding’s net worth is generally estimated in the low millions, built through decades of TV and film work along with more recent producing and music projects under the name Big O.
What TV shows is Omar Gooding known for?
Omar Gooding is best known for Hangin’ With Mr Cooper, Smart Guy, Playmakers, and Miami Medical, along with more recent work on Family Time and Barbershop: The Series.
What happened between Omar Gooding and Cam’ron?
Omar Gooding and Cam’ron were involved in a public feud in 2025 that included diss tracks and a staged fake movie shoot revealed to have been a prank Cam’ron was secretly aware of.
Does Omar Gooding have children?
Yes, Omar Gooding is the father of two children, though he has kept most details about his family life outside of his public career relatively private.
Was Omar Gooding in Baby Boy with his brother?
Yes, Omar Gooding played Sweetpea in Baby Boy alongside his brother Cuba Gooding Jr, one of several projects the two have appeared in together over the years.
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