Omar Gooding is an American actor, comedian and rapper best known as Earvin Rodman on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper,” Mo Tibbs on “Smart Guy” and Sweetpea in John Singleton’s “Baby Boy.” He is the younger brother of Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr., but he has built close to four decades of screen work on his own name. He turns 50 on October 19, 2026, and is marking it on the road with a stand-up show called “This Is 50.”
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1976 |
|---|---|
| Age | 50 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, rapper, and producer |
| Wife | Mia Vogel |
| Children | Two sons (born 2017 and 2019) with Mia Vogel; older son Bradley from a previous relationship |
| Alter Ego | "Big O" (hip-hop stage name) |
| Alma Mater | North Hollywood High School (graduated 1994) |
| Sibling | Cuba Gooding Jr. (brother) |
| Real Estate | Purchased Los Angeles home for $948,000 in 2017, now estimated at ~$1.5 million |
OdumodublvckOmar Gooding Biography
Omar Miles Gooding was born on October 19, 1976, in Los Angeles, and he told VladTV in 2021 that he was born in the Pacoima neighbourhood. His parents are Shirley Gooding (née Sullivan) and Cuba Gooding Sr., the lead singer of the soul group The Main Ingredient, whose hit “Everybody Plays the Fool” played in their home his whole life. Both of his parents grew up in Harlem, New York.
Home life was not always easy. Speaking to VladTV, Omar said his father “went chasing” money when his music income dried up, and the family went through a period of homelessness before settling in Toluca Lake. He grew up as one of the Gooding siblings, alongside older brother Cuba Jr., and he said he had a half-brother he did not meet until he was older.
His first big job changed things for the whole family. He told VladTV that once he booked Nickelodeon’s “Wild & Crazy Kids,” his mother “was able to quit her two jobs.” He graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1994. His father, Cuba Gooding Sr., died in April 2017 at the age of 72.
Omar Gooding Career
Omar’s acting career started at age 12 with a 1988 guest spot on “Webster,” which he called his “first taste of auditioning.” He followed it with a role as Stuart in the 1990 Bill Cosby film “Ghost Dad.” He credits clear speech for those early bookings, saying his parents “never did baby talk” with him.
From 1990 to 1992, he was one of the hosts of “Wild & Crazy Kids” on Nickelodeon. He also picked up guest parts on “Just the Ten of Us,” “Empty Nest” and “Blossom” in the early 1990s.
His breakout came in 1992, when he was cast as Earvin Rodman on ABC’s “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.” He played the role until the show ended in 1997, working alongside Mark Curry and Holly Robinson Peete.
Next came “Smart Guy” on The WB, where he played Morris “Mo” Tibbs from 1997 to 1999 next to Tahj Mowry. In another VladTV interview, he said producer Danny Kallis first asked him to read for a bully, and that part grew into the best friend role. He also said the show paid “all of the actors the exact same amount,” a pay dispute he believes played a part in the series ending after three seasons.
In 2001, Omar landed his best-known film role as Sweetpea in “Baby Boy,” opposite Tyrese Gibson and Taraji P. Henson. He told VladTV that John Singleton called his mother and said he had made her oldest boy a movie star and wanted to do the same for her youngest. Singleton then told Omar, “hit the gym, I’ll see you in about three months.” On the Boss Talk 101 podcast in October 2026, he said many men have come up to him over the years to say Sweetpea’s story was their own life.
Dramatic work followed. He played running back Demetrius “D.H.” Harris on ESPN’s football drama “Playmakers” in 2003, then took over Ice Cube’s film role as Calvin Palmer Jr. in Showtime’s “Barbershop” series in 2005. In 2006, he joined the third season of HBO’s “Deadwood” as Odell Marchbanks.
From 2012, he starred as family man Tony Stallworth on Bounce TV’s sitcom “Family Time,” which ran for eight seasons. In 2023, he played Cal Johnson on Disney Channel’s roller-skating series “Saturdays.” He has also stayed busy in independent film, with titles such as “Percentage” (2014), where he played the lead, and a long list of indie releases from 2024 and 2025. In 2024, he played Stone in the touring stage play “New Jack City: Live on Stage.”
2026 brought a scare. In late March, Omar was asleep in the back seat of a car that crashed, and he suffered a hangman’s fracture of the second vertebra in his neck, as WBLS reported on March 29, 2026. He did not need surgery and was given about three months to heal. By October he was back on stage, performing his “This Is 50” comedy show in New Orleans on October 16 and promoting a November 14 date at Silly Rabbit Comedy Club in Baton Rouge.
Big O: Omar Gooding’s Music
Omar raps under the name Big O, and music has been part of his life since childhood. He told VladTV he wrote his first rap in fourth grade and read it to sixth graders on the playground, but it stayed a hobby while acting kept him busy. He later appeared on C-Bo’s track “No Warning” and released the album “The Excuse” in 2019.
In 2025, music put him back in the headlines. After Cam’ron pranked him with a fake movie role that summer, Omar answered with the diss tracks “Fix Ya Mouth” and “Fix Ya Mouth Pt. 2.” On October 17, 2025, he released the album “Overstand Me” on Outasphere Music, produced by DJ M80 with features from Glasses Malone, Kosha Dillz and Iesha Green. He celebrated with a launch and birthday party at Vyre Live in Los Angeles.
Personal Life
Omar is married to Mia Vogel, and the couple have two sons. Omar Dari Gooding Jr. was born on January 27, 2017, and Miles Christian Gooding was born on November 21, 2019. His Instagram bio calls him a “PROUD PAPA.”
He is the uncle of actor Mason Gooding, Cuba Jr.’s son. Away from work, he is a loud New Orleans Saints fan, and his Instagram, with around 424,000 followers, is full of “Who Dat” posts on game days.
Omar Gooding Net Worth
Omar Gooding’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million. Most of it comes from close to 40 years of acting fees, led by long sitcom runs on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper,” “Smart Guy” and “Family Time.”
Film roles such as “Baby Boy,” a steady flow of independent movies, stage tours and stand-up dates add to that. His music as Big O, including the 2025 album “Overstand Me,” brings in a smaller share through streaming and shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Omar Gooding?
Omar Gooding was born on October 19, 1976. He turns 50 on October 19, 2026.
Is Omar Gooding related to Cuba Gooding Jr.?
Yes. Omar is Cuba Gooding Jr.’s younger brother. Their father was Cuba Gooding Sr., lead singer of The Main Ingredient.
Who is Omar Gooding’s wife?
His wife is Mia Vogel. They have two sons, born in 2017 and 2019.
What happened to Omar Gooding?
He broke a vertebra in his neck in a car crash in March 2026 while riding as a back-seat passenger. He healed without surgery and returned to stand-up comedy by October 2026.
Who did Omar Gooding play in Baby Boy?
He played Sweetpea, the best friend of Tyrese Gibson’s character Jody, in John Singleton’s 2001 film “Baby Boy.”
Is Omar Gooding a rapper?
Yes. He raps as Big O and released the album “Overstand Me” on October 17, 2025.
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