Cuba Gooding Jr. rescues dinner host who set himself on fire: 'Doused the flames completely'

Cuba Gooding Jr. was behind a heroic act over the weekend.

The Oscar-winning actor, 52, saved a man who accidentally set himself on fire at a "socially distanced Shabbat dinner", Page Six reports.

Gooding Jr. was attending the event with his girlfriend Claudine De Niro at the Hampton's home of a tech CEO when the host "inadvertently set himself on fire".

"Cuba jumped into action hero mode and doused him with water in front of frightened guests, who applauded once it was clear the guy was OK," a source told the outlet.

A representative for Gooding Jr. confirmed the incident, saying "The back of the gentleman's shirt ignited into flames from a candle that he unknowingly leaned back into while the rabbi was giving the Shabbat prayer. The man started panicking and flailing his arms, and guests backed away from the victim — except for Cuba, who ran to the gentleman and doused the flames completely."

Gooding Jr. won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Jerry Maguire. He is also known for his performances in Boyz n the Hood, A Few Good Men, Outbreak, As Good as It Gets, American Gangster, The Butler and Selma.

View gallery

Celebrity throwback photos: Guess who!