15 Things You Didn't Know About Omar Gooding

Get to know 'Smart Guy' Omar Gooding.

His Leading Lady - In 2015, the actor is set to co-star in a film with The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Claudia Jordan, entitled The Hills.(Photo: Leon Bennett/WireImage)

1 / 17

His Leading Lady - In 2015, the actor is set to co-star in a film with The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Claudia Jordan, entitled The Hills.(Photo: Leon Bennett/WireImage)

120114-shows-lift-every-voice-Omar-Gooding.jpg

2 / 17

Omar Gooding: October 19 - The actor and younger brother of Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. turns 36. (Photo: John M. Heller/Getty Images)

3 / 17

<p><b>Sweetpea Spends Christmas in Compton</b><br> </p>

080213-shows-beta-let-me-explain-premiere-Omar-Gooding.jpg

4 / 17

<p><b>The Main Ingredient</b><br> </p>

Heaven Sent - He dated his Baby Boy co-star Angell Conwell for about 4 years.(Photo: Allen Berezovsky/WireImage)

5 / 17

<p><b>Heaven Sent</b><br> </p>

Photo By Photo: Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

ADVERTISEMENT
Point A - Got his big break on the hit show Wild &amp; Crazy Kids as a host. (Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

6 / 17

<p><b>Point A</b><br> </p>

Photo By Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

ER Drama - He's appeared in an episode of Grey's Anatomy (&quot;Superfreak&quot;). (Photo: CBS/Matthias Clamer/Landov)

7 / 17

<p><b>ER Drama</b><br> </p>

Photo By Photo: CBS/Matthias Clamer/Landov

About That Life - At one point Omar Gooding and his character in Baby Boy had something in common (that is being about that life). Gooding was arrested for gun possession and sentenced to 18 months probation.(Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)

8 / 17

<p><b>About That Life</b><br> </p>

Photo By Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage

A Life of Balance - He shares something special in common with Will Smith - they're both Libras. (Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images)

9 / 17

<p><b>A Life of Balance</b><br> </p>

Photo By Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

Just Bounce With It - He's the producer of a new Bounce TV series entitled Family Time.(Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

10 / 17

<p><b>Just Bounce With It</b><br> </p>

Photo By Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic

ADVERTISEMENT
West Coast Mafia - Omar Gooding pursued a gangsta rap career back in 2010 under the guidance of an ally to both Tupac and Young Buck, C-Bo.&nbsp;(Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)

11 / 17

<p><b>West Coast Mafia</b><br> </p>

Dear Mama - In an episode of BET's Lift Every Voice, the actor once said he's fortunate to have a &quot;praying mother.&quot; Meaning most of the adversity he and his brother faced while growing up was prayed away by their mother.(Photo: Phil McCarten/Landov)

12 / 17

<p><b>Dear Mama</b><br> </p>

Family Ties - Omar has a connection with another famous family, The Mowry's. He played the best friend of TJ (played by Taj Mowry) and Marcus (played by Jason Weaver) in the TV series The Smart Guy.(Photo: Michael Germana/SSI Photo/Landov)

13 / 17

<p><b>Family Ties</b><br> </p>

Timing Is Everything - In an interview with&nbsp; ESPN's Sport Nation, Omar Gooding admitted that comedian/actor Mark Curry is his mentor. This explains his great comedic timing. (Photo: John M. Heller/Getty Images)

14 / 17

<p><b>Timing Is Everything</b><br> </p>

Two Peas In A Pod - You've seen Omar Gooding play the character of Sweetpea in the film Baby Boy, but his brother (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) got his start in a film similar to Baby Boy - Boyz in the Hood.&nbsp;(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

15 / 17

<p><b>Two Peas In A Pod</b><br> </p>

ADVERTISEMENT
He Goes By The Name Of... - Gooding's MC stage name is Big O. (Photo: Moses Robinson/WireImage)

16 / 17

<p><b>He Goes By The Name Of... </b> </p>

120114-shows-lift-every-voice-Omar-Gooding.jpg

17 / 17

<p><b>His Leading Lady</b><br> </p>