Born again Christian, Academy Award winner, and one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People, Cuba Gooding Jr. is now almost a single man according to TMZ and People Magazine. TMZ reports that on April 22, Gooding’s wife of 20 years Sarah Kapfer reportedly filed for separation at the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The schoolteacher and mother of 3 cited irreconcilable differences as the cause for the separation and is asking for joint physical and legal custody of the couple’s two minor children. Gooding and his wife have 3 children, Spencer, 19 is a college student, Mason, 17, and Piper, 8.
It is unfortunate news as it was not that long ago that Cuba Gooding Jr. appeared on The View to promote his latest film. Naturally talk with Cuba went from work to relationships and he was only too happy to gush about how lucky he was to have a woman like Sara, serving up some eloquent relationship advice by just keeping it real.
The L.A. Times reported that he made statements such as, "Oh I want to kill her sometimes and she puts up with me!" but also very sweetly describing how his wife has changed over their 20 year marriage. ""She has been changing into this other woman that I have to introduce myself to every few years and thank God I've fallen in love with each one. I'm lucky that way."
What differences could have been so irreconcilable then by the 20 year mark, which by Hollywood standards is a lifetime achievement in and of itself? Could recent sightings with the Arquette family have anything to do with it?
Cuba's IMDb reports that he is currently filming The Black Negroes with director Clement Virgo. Follow our timeline on Gooding’s career and marriage.
Separated after 20 years
Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sara Kapfer at the August 2013 New York Premiere of Lee Daniels' "The Butler". While the couple would be spotted again together after this event, this was one of the last official sightings for the Academy Award winner and his wife.
North Hollywood High
North Hollywood High School, home of the first chapter in the love story of Cuba Gooding Jr. and high school sweetheart Sara Kapfer. Gooding graduated from North Hollywood High in 1994, the same year the couple wed. 3 years earlier the young star had appeared in "Boyz in the Hood" (1991) and "A Few Good Men" (1992).
Outbreak
Sara and Cuba Gooding Jr. welcome little Spencer into the world. Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in his next big screen project as Major Salt alongside Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman in "Outbreak" (1994).
Show Me the Money, Jerry!
Cuba Gooding Jr. lands his breakout role that would coin a household phrase that is still used in the 21st century. "Show me the money!" was the hit line from the 1995 Blockbuster hit "Jerry McGuire" that landed Cuba the Oscar shown here.
Cuba Gets His Star
It's the faite de accompli in Hollywood that is often soon followed with few accomplishments beyond Lifetime Achievement Award ranking higher than the Hollywood Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Cuba Gooding Jr. received his in 2002. Cuba and Sara welcome Piper into the world in the Fall of 2005.
Spotted with the Arquettes
Although irreconcilable differences have been cited as the source of the split, many spottings with the Arquette family have been speculated as a possible source of tension between Cuba and his wife of 20 years.
Screen Actors Guild Awards..but no Sara?
Cuba Gooding Jr. sitting with Patricia Arquette in the audience of the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the 2014 Screen Actor's Guild Awards.
Separated after 20 years.
2014, Sara Kapfer files for divorce from Cuba Gooding Jr. citing irreconcilable differences and seeking joint physical and legal custody of their two minor children.
What do you think about the split? What's your favorite Gooding movie? Drop the Toronto Relationships Examiner a comment and it might appear in a future update as we follow Cuba Gooding's relationships.
