Cuba Gooding Sr Remarried His Wife 17 Years after Their Separation

Cuba Gooding Sr.'s wife, Shirley Sullivan, had to raise their kids while he was touring for his career. Although they divorced, the couple reunited and remarried 17 years later.

The music industry lost a talented soul singer in 2017 after Cuba Gooding Sr. was found lifeless inside his silver Jaguar in Los Angeles. The car was parked on one of Woodland Hills section's streets at the time of his death.

Cuba Sr. is most remembered for the hit song "Everybody Plays the Fool," which he sang as the lead singer of Main Ingredient, a rhythm-and-blues band. The song hit number 3 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1972 and number 2 on the R&B chart the same year.

The band went on to release "Just Don't Want to be Lonely" and "Happiness is Just Around the Bend," both hit songs in the '70s. However, at some points in his career, Cuba Sr. felt the need to leave the band. While away, he pursued a solo career and released two solo albums for Motown Records.

He reunited with Main Ingredient in 1979 but left again to release more solo albums with other labels in 1994 and 2004.

Although he found success in music, Cuba Sr.'s achievements came at the expense of his marriage to Shirley Sullivan. Their love story was paused for 17 years before the couple reunited.

Cuba Gooding Sr.'s On-And-off Relationship with His Wife

Cuba Sr. was only 22 when he married Sullivan. After four children and a career on the rise, the couple divorced in 1974. According to People, Cuba Sr. said:

"My wife and I divorced because it was a case of children raising children. People in show business should wait until 35 to have kids."

The couple shared four beautiful children, April Gooding, Cuba Gooding Jr., Omar Gooding, and Tommy Gooding, who all spent most of their growing years with Sullivan. The Gooding siblings watched as their father rose to fame, touring the country and making music. However, his success came at the cost of his kids.

Cuba Sr.'s busy schedule did not permit him to be a present father. On most days, the singer had to leave his children in Sullivan's care alone.

After 17 years of being divorced, Cuba Sr. and Sullivan found their way back into each other's arms. They tied the knot for the second time in 1994 with their children's support. Their son, Cuba Jr., even sponsored their honeymoon to Barbados.

He Is Survived by Four Children He Had with His Wife

Of Cuba Sr.'s four kids, two followed in the entertainment industry as actors. Cuba Jr. has starred in several known films, including "Pearl Harbor," "The Tuskegee Airmen," "Radio," "Selma," and "The Butler." His work in Hollywood was recognized with an Oscar Award in 1997 for his performance in "Jerry Maguire."

Meanwhile, Cuba Sr.'s son, Omar, became a multi-talented artist, following in his father's footsteps as a singer. He also became a voice artist and actor known for "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper," "Grey's Anatomy," "Wild & Crazy Kids," "Baby Boy," "Smart Guy," and "Barbershop."

Omar Gooding is also a proud father of two boys, whom he shares with his wife, Mia Vogel. The couple welcomed their first child, Omar Dari Gooding Jr., on January 27, 2017, and their second son, Miles Christian Gooding, in November 2020.

It appears Omar has since become a family man, proudly posting photos of his kids on social media. The first few days of his son's arrival were documented on social media, sharing with fans the memorable moments they had.

In 2020, the comedian took to his Instagram to share pictures with his then-one-month-old son Miles and another with his eldest boy, Omar Jr. He also shared a glimpse of their Christmas Eve with Miles as the center of attention.

Unfortunately, Omar's kids are growing up without knowing their paternal grandfather, Cuba Sr. Nevertheless, they are lucky enough to have their hands-on dad guide them through life.

Cuba Gooding Sr. Was 11 When His Dad Died and Grew up without a Father

Cuba Sr. was born to Dudley MacDonald Gooding and Addie Alston in 1944. However, Alston was not Dudley's first wife. Before they fell in love, Dudley was married to a Cuban woman, who was killed due to a political-related affiliation.

Before her passing, Dudley vowed to name his first son after her country, Cuba, where he spent a lot of time and eventually loved. It wasn't until 1973 that Dudley relocated to New York and met Alston.

While the couple raised their son, Cuba Sr., Dudley passed away. Cuba Sr. was only 11 when he started navigating life without a father. Fortunately, he found success in his music career and had some acting stints.

Cuba Sr. placed his family under the spotlight with the release of "Everybody Plays the Fool: The Cuba Gooding Story," a film about him, his father, and his children. Unfortunately, there isn't much information on the movie's release.