Cuba Gooding, Jr.

I think the biggest compliment an actor can have is if people forget who they're watching and get lost in the character. ”

I worked so much when my first son was born that I missed a lot. ”

I am admiring of my fellow peers, black filmmakers and black actors and actresses. ”

I'm not a prude. On the set, they called me 'Butt Naked.' ”

The Academy Awards was an amazing night. I know I kind of lost my mind a little bit. I apologize for that. That night went so fast; I can't remember what I said or what happened. ”

Our job as artists is to reflect the ills of society sometimes and to find a truth in that, and I think you can't start the healing process until you recognize the truth and all of its ugly warts and all. ”

My wife and I have been together since 1986. I graduated in '86 and she graduated in '88. We began dating when she was 17. Actually she turned 18 when we started kissing and stuff. ”

It wears on your soul when you take on the mental state of a dark character. ”

I think all my characters haunt me. Especially the real-life ones, like Master Chief Carl Brashear, the Tuskagee Airmen. Every time I see a military person, it gives me such a sense of pride but also a sense of responsibility to project excellence when representing them. ”

It took me a month to get out of the mindset of O.J. But even now, still, I think it might have done something to my vocal chords. I went to see the doctor, and he was like, 'I don't see anything. You're fine.' But mentally, I might have broke a little bit. ”