Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is being called a hero after taking quick action that may have saved a shooting victim’s life.

The 39-year-old Oscar winner was waiting in his car outside a Hollywood restaurant “when he heard four gunshots,” says a source.

“Cuba was picking up dinner for his family on the night of Memorial Day,” says the spy. “He saw a young kid holding his head and walked toward him. The kid was bleeding from his neck and collapsed.”

Gooding cradled the victim, described as a man around 20 years old, and called into the restaurant for towels. “They came out with paper towels and he said, ‘No, we need real towels!’” says the source.

The actor stemmed the bleeding and hailed a passing police car. He waited on the scene until an ambulance arrived.

The incident took place outside Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘n’ Waffles at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and N. Gower St.

Two LAPD detectives involved in the case did not return calls yesterday, although it is believed the victim’s condition improved in the hospital. Gooding’s rep, Nancy Kane, confirmed the story.

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