Gooding is best known for appearing in television shows, such as "Touched by an Angel", "Wild & Crazy Kids", "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper", "Smart Guy", and "Playmakers", and also the films "Ghost Dad" and "Baby Boy" for which he received critical praise for his role as "Sweetpea". He was one of the original hosts of the Nickelodeon television show "Wild & Crazy Kids" from 1990 to 1992. Gooding played D.H., a running back, on "Playmakers" in 2003. He played the character Odell in the 3rd season of "Deadwood". In 2005, he took the role of Calvin Palmer Jr. in the television series "Barbershop" (in the role originated by Ice Cube in the film version), based upon the 2002 film of the same name. Coincidentally, he also appeared on the UPN sitcom "One on One" as a barber in Flex Washington's barbershop. Gooding also appeared in the "Grey's Anatomy" episode "Superfreak".