Mason Gooding is an American actor who has built a growing career across television and film. He first gained wider attention through projects such as Booksmart and Love, Victor
His profile grew further after he joined the Scream franchise as Chad Meeks-Martin.
He returned for Scream VI and later reprised the role in Scream 7 in 2026.
Gooding has also become a popular search name because of his famous family.
He is the son of Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. His father is known for major films including Jerry Maguire and Boyz n the Hood.
Mason was born in 1996, the same year that Jerry Maguire became a major milestone in Cuba Gooding Jr.’s career.
At the same time, recent interviews have given audiences more insight into his childhood and his experience of growing up with a famous actor as a father.
So who is Mason Gooding? What is his age? What movies and TV shows has he appeared in? And how is he related to Cuba Gooding Jr.? Here is everything to know about the actor.
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Table of Contents
Who Is Mason Gooding?
Mason Gooding is an American actor born on November 14, 1996, in Los Angeles, California.1
His full birth name is Mason Cuba Gooding. As of 2026, he will turn 30 in November 2026.
He is the son of actor Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sara Kapfer. He is the middle child in the family with an older brother named Spencer and a younger sister named Piper.
His connection to Hollywood is also personal because his father is actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Mason grew up around the entertainment industry but did not immediately make acting his only goal.
He attended Windward High School in California and played varsity football. After high school he attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he studied dramatic writing and psychology.
He eventually left college to pursue acting professionally. His early career included television appearances and smaller roles.
He appeared in Ballers before getting more attention for his work in films and television. His role in Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart in 2019 helped introduce him to a wider audience.
The same period also included his appearance in Let It Snow. He then joined the cast of Hulu’s Love, Victor, playing Andrew.
The series ran from 2020 to 2022 and became one of the projects most closely associated with his early career. His career took another major step with Scream.
Gooding was cast as Chad Meeks-Martin in the 2022 film. Chad became one of the younger characters connected to the new generation of the franchise.
Gooding returned for Scream VI in 2023 and Scream 7 in 2026.
Mason Gooding via Instagram pic.twitter.com/45hXA3j5WR
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 20, 2022
Stats Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mason Cuba Gooding |
| Known as | Mason Gooding |
| Date of birth | November 14, 1996 |
| Age in 2026 | 29 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Profession | Actor |
| Father | Cuba Gooding Jr. |
| Mother | Sara Kapfer |
| Siblings | Spencer Gooding and Piper Gooding |
| Education | Windward High School; NYU Tisch School of the Arts |
| Major early film | Booksmart |
| Breakthrough TV role | Andrew in Love, Victor |
| Famous character | Chad Meeks-Martin in Scream |
| Scream films | Scream, Scream VI, Scream 7 |
| Height | About 6 feet 2 inches |
| Active years | 2010s–present |
Mason Gooding and Cuba Gooding Jr.
One of the biggest search hooks around Mason Gooding is his relationship with Cuba Gooding Jr.2
Yes, Mason Gooding is Cuba Gooding Jr.’s son. Cuba Gooding Jr. became one of the best-known American actors of the 1990s.
He starred in Boyz n the Hood and later delivered his Oscar-winning performance as Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for that role in 1997.
Mason was born in November 1996, only months before his father won the Oscar. Mason’s grandfather was Cuba Gooding Sr., a singer who was the lead vocalist of the R&B group The Main Ingredient.
His uncle is actor Omar Gooding. This means Mason comes from a family with a long history in music and entertainment.
The family connection has naturally followed Mason throughout his career. Interviews about his acting often mention his father.
Mason has also discussed what it was like growing up with a parent whose professional life involved fame, travel and long periods away from home. In a 2026 interview on the Wildmen podcast, Mason spoke openly about his childhood.
He described what he called “speed-parenting,” referring to the way his father would try to make up for time away from the family when he returned from work.
Mason said that as a child he sometimes struggled to understand the difference between the charismatic public figure he saw in interviews and the person he experienced at home.
The comments added a more personal dimension to the Mason Gooding and Cuba Gooding Jr. story. They also showed how Mason’s perspective has changed as he has grown older and developed his own acting career.
Mason Gooding’s Career Beyond the Family Name
Being the son of a famous actor can create opportunities but it can also create expectations. Mason Gooding has acknowledged the presence of his father’s reputation while discussing his own career.
His recent interviews suggest that he is interested in developing an identity separate from the expectations attached to the Gooding name.
His work demonstrates a willingness to take different types of roles. Booksmart gave him a place in a popular teen comedy.
Love, Victor expanded his television audience. Scream introduced him to mainstream horror audiences.
Later films such as Fall, Heart Eyes and I Want Your Sex have allowed him to explore different genres. That variety is an important part of understanding where Mason Gooding is in 2026.
He is no longer simply known as Cuba Gooding Jr.’s son. He is increasingly recognized as the actor who plays Chad in the Scream franchise and as a performer with a growing list of film and television credits.
Mason Gooding’s Acting Career
Mason Gooding’s professional career began with smaller projects before he started landing more recognizable roles.
One of his early television credits was Ballers. The HBO series starred Dwayne Johnson and gave Gooding an early opportunity to work within a major television production.
Hulu’s biography of Gooding also lists appearances in Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Star Trek: Picard and The Good Doctor.
His 2019 film Booksmart became an important step forward. Directed by Olivia Wilde, the coming-of-age comedy starred Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever.
Gooding played Nick and appeared alongside a young ensemble cast that went on to become familiar faces in Hollywood.
Later in 2019 he appeared in the Netflix holiday film Let It Snow. These roles helped establish him as a young actor capable of moving between comedy, romance and coming-of-age stories.
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Love, Victor and Andrew
In 2020 Gooding joined Love, Victor, the television series set in the world of the 2018 film Love, Simon.
He played Andrew, a confident and sometimes competitive student. The role allowed Gooding to become part of a young ensemble and introduced him to a large streaming audience.
The series starred Michael Cimino as Victor and ran from 2020 through 2022. Gooding appeared in 28 episodes according to his IMDb credits.
For many viewers, Love, Victor remains an important part of the Mason Gooding biography because it came before his biggest association with the Scream franchise.
Mason Gooding as Chad in Scream
Mason Gooding’s most recognizable role is Chad Meeks-Martin in the modern Scream films.3
He first appeared as Chad in Scream in 2022. The movie brought the famous horror franchise back with a younger group of characters while also featuring legacy stars such as Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
Chad is the twin brother of Mindy Meeks-Martin, played by Jasmin Savoy Brown. The characters are connected to the original Scream mythology through their uncle Randy Meeks.
Gooding returned as Chad in Scream VI in 2023. Paramount’s official page for the film identifies Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin and lists him among the returning cast.
The character became one of the surviving members of the younger generation in the franchise. That made Gooding an important part of the continuing Scream storyline.
Mason Gooding in Scream 7
In 2026 Mason Gooding returned as Chad Meeks-Martin in Scream 7.
The film was released on February 27, 2026, and brought back several major franchise names. Paramount confirmed Gooding among the cast alongside Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown and other returning and new actors.
Scream 7 marked another significant chapter for Gooding because Chad had now appeared in three consecutive films in the new era of the franchise.
The film also gave audiences an unusual behind-the-scenes story involving Gooding’s health while filming.
In an interview reported by PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly, he said he had E. coli while shooting an important scene and was dealing with severe vomiting during production.
Despite the difficult filming experience, Gooding continued with the production.
Paramount later reported that Scream 7 crossed $200 million at the worldwide box office and became the highest-grossing film in the franchise at that point.
Other Mason Gooding Movies
Although Chad Meeks-Martin remains his most recognizable film character, Gooding has continued working outside the Scream franchise.
His film credits include Fall, where he played Dan Connor. He also appeared in Moonshot, I Want You Back, Y2K, Aftermath, Heart Eyes and Pools.
His 2026 credits include The Gates, I Want Your Sex and 72 Hours. This range is important when looking at Gooding’s career.
He has not remained limited to horror. His filmography includes comedy, romance, drama and thriller projects. In 2026 he also received attention for The Gates, where he is credited as Derek and I Want Your Sex.
His recent work shows that his career is continuing to expand beyond the role that first made him widely recognizable.
Mason Gooding’s Personal Life
Gooding has generally kept much of his private life away from the center of his professional profile.
Recent PEOPLE coverage reported that he has been dating actress Emilia Tosta. However, much of the public interest around his personal life continues to focus on his family and his relationship with his father.
His family background remains a natural part of his biography because acting runs across multiple generations.
His father Cuba Gooding Jr. is a major Hollywood actor while his grandfather Cuba Gooding Sr. was a successful singer.
Mason’s own career is now becoming substantial enough that his name increasingly stands on its own.
Why Is Mason Gooding Trending in 2026?
There are several reasons people may be searching for Mason Gooding in 2026.
The biggest is his return in Scream 7. The movie brought the franchise back to theaters and put Gooding’s character Chad back into the spotlight.
Another reason is his growing filmography. Gooding has appeared in several projects during the last few years and continues to move between genres.
His family connection is another major search hook. Mason is the son of Cuba Gooding Jr. and the grandson of Cuba Gooding Sr.
As his own career becomes more established, audiences are increasingly interested in how his path compares with his father’s Hollywood career.
Finally, Gooding’s recent interviews have made headlines because he has spoken more openly about his childhood and what it was like to grow up with a famous father.
His 2026 discussion about “speed-parenting” generated renewed interest in his family background.
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FAQ’s
Who is Mason Gooding?
Mason Gooding is an American actor best known for playing Chad Meeks-Martin in Scream, Scream VI and Scream 7. He has also appeared in Booksmart, Love, Victor, Let It Snow, Fall and several other films and television projects.
How old is Mason Gooding in 2026?
Mason Gooding is 29 years old in 2026. He was born on November 14, 1996, in Los Angeles, California.
Is Mason Gooding related to Cuba Gooding Jr.?
Yes. Mason Gooding is the son of actor Cuba Gooding Jr. His grandfather was singer Cuba Gooding Sr. Mason also has an actor uncle, Omar Gooding.
Who does Mason Gooding play in Scream?
Mason Gooding plays Chad Meeks-Martin. He first appeared as Chad in the 2022 Scream film and returned for Scream VI and Scream 7.
Is Mason Gooding in Scream 7?
Yes. Mason Gooding reprises his role as Chad Meeks-Martin in Scream 7, which was released in February 2026.
What is Mason Gooding known for besides Scream?
He is also known for Booksmart and the Hulu series Love, Victor. His other credits include Let It Snow, Fall, Moonshot, I Want You Back, Heart Eyes and Y2K.
Did Mason Gooding attend college?
Yes. Gooding attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He studied dramatic writing and psychology before leaving college to pursue acting professionally.
What did Mason Gooding say about growing up with Cuba Gooding Jr.?
In 2026, Mason discussed his childhood on the Wildmen podcast. He described his father’s attempts to make up for time away from home as “speed-parenting” and explained how difficult it could be to reconcile his father’s public personality with his private personality at home.
What movies is Mason Gooding in?
Mason Gooding’s film credits include Booksmart, Let It Snow, Scream, I Want You Back, Moonshot, Fall, Scream VI, Y2K, Heart Eyes, Pools, The Gates, I Want Your Sex, 72 Hours and Scream 7.
Conclusion
Mason Gooding has developed an increasingly recognizable career in Hollywood. While his connection to Cuba Gooding Jr. remains an important part of his story, his own work has given audiences plenty of reasons to know his name.
His early appearances in Ballers and Booksmart were followed by a larger role in Love, Victor. Then came Chad Meeks-Martin in the new generation of Scream films.
His return in Scream VI and Scream 7 has made Chad one of the recurring characters associated with the franchise’s modern era. The Cuba Gooding Jr. connection adds another layer to his story.
Mason was born into a well-known entertainment family and grew up with a father whose career reached major heights during his childhood. His recent comments about that experience have also shown a more personal side of the actor.
In 2026, Mason Gooding is therefore known for more than being the son of a Hollywood star. He is a working actor with credits across comedy, television, romance, thriller and horror.
With Scream 7 adding another major chapter to his career and new projects expanding his filmography, Mason Gooding remains a name worth watching in the next phase of his Hollywood journey.
