Ernie Hudson
![]() |
Ernie Hudson | |
---|---|
![]() Hudson at the 2014 Florida SuperCon | |
Born | Earnest Lee Hudson[1] December 17, 1945 Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Actor, playwright, producer |
Years active | 1976–present |
Spouses |
|
Earnest Lee "Ernie" Hudson (born December 17, 1945) is an American character actor. Having appeared in dozens of film and television roles throughout his career, he is perhaps best known for his roles as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters film series, Sergeant Darryl Albrecht in The Crow (1994), and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz.
Early life
Hudson was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He never knew his father. His mother, Maggie Donald,[2] died of tuberculosis when he was two months old. He was subsequently raised by his maternal grandmother, Arrana Donald.[3]
Hudson joined the United States Marine Corps straight from High School, dismissed after only three months due to asthma, before he moved to Detroit, Michigan. He became the resident playwright at Concept East, the oldest black theatre company in the U.S. He enrolled at Wayne State University to further develop his writing and acting skills. He established the Actors' Ensemble Theatre where he and other talented young black writers directed and appeared in their own works. Later, he enrolled and subsequently graduated from Yale School of Drama.[3]
In an interview with Belief.net, Hudson stated that he is a practicing Christian, but does not believe that "one church is the right one."[4]
Career
One of Hudson's early films was in Penitentiary II in 1982 starring Leon Isaac Kennedy. He landed various guest roles on TV shows such as The Dukes of Hazzard and The A-Team. He was on the TV series Fantasy Island in a first-season episode as a voodoo man named Jamu. Hudson gained fame playing Winston Zeddemore, who enlists with the Ghostbusters in the 1984 feature film Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel. He also auditioned to reprise the role for the animated series, The Real Ghostbusters, but it was given to Arsenio Hall.[5] He had a major supporting role as the mentally challenged Solomon in The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.
Hudson was cast as Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's series Oz. In Oz, his son Ernie Hudson Jr. co-starred with him as Muslim inmate Hamid Khan. Hudson also appears as the character Munro in Congo and in the 1994 film The Crow as Police Sergeant Albrecht. He switched gears when he played a preacher opening the eyes of a small town prejudice in the 1950s in Stranger in the Kingdom. He is also known for his role as Harry McDonald, the FBI superior of Sandra Bullock's character in the feature film Miss Congeniality. He appears in the Stargate SG-1 TV episode "Ethon" as Pernaux. Hudson also appeared as Reggie in the film The Basketball Diaries. In 2006 he appeared in the TV Movie The Ron Clark Story as Principal Turner. In 2008, he began a recurring role as Dr. Fields in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Hudson also had a recurring role on the final season of Law & Order as Lt. Anita Van Buren's boyfriend and then fiancé.
In 2011, he played Stuart Owens in Torchwood: Miracle Day.[6]
Beginning in 2015, Hudson was cast in a recurring role as Jacob, an organic farmer who is the romantic interest for Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) in the series Grace and Frankie. He is slated to return in the role for season 3.[7]
Hudson appeared in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, playing Bill Jenkins, the uncle of Leslie Jones' lead character Pattie Tolan.
This year, he will succeed the late Lou Rawls as the voice of Harvey the Mailman in part 1 of the upcoming 2 part television movie: Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie, airing on Nickelodeon on Thursday, November 23.
Filmography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Ernie_Hudson_handprints_at_Disney_Hollywood_Studios.jpg/250px-Ernie_Hudson_handprints_at_Disney_Hollywood_Studios.jpg)
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Leadbelly | Archie | |
The Human Tornado | Bo | Credited as Louis Hudson | |
1979 | The Main Event | Killer | |
1980 | Joni | Earl | |
The Octagon | Quinine | ||
The Jazz Singer | Heckler | ||
1981 | Underground Aces | African General | |
1982 | Penitentiary II | Half Dead | |
1983 | Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone | Washington | |
Going Berserk | Jerome Willy Muhammed | ||
Two of a Kind | Det. Skaggs | ||
1984 | Ghostbusters | Winston Zeddemore | |
National Lampoon's Joy of Sex | Mr. Porter | ||
1987 | Weeds | Bagdad | |
1988 | The Wrong Guys | Dawson | |
1989 | Trapper County War | Jefferson Carter | |
Leviathan | Justin Jones | ||
Collision Course | Shortcut | ||
Ghostbusters II | Winston Zeddemore | ||
1992 | The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Solomon | |
1994 | Sugar Hill | Lolly Jonas | |
No Escape | Hawkins | ||
The Crow | Sergeant Albrecht | ||
The Cowboy Way | Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw | ||
Airheads | Sergeant O'Malley | ||
Speechless | Ventura | ||
1995 | The Basketball Diaries | Reggie | |
Congo | Captain Munro Kelly | ||
1996 | "Tornado!" | Dr. Joe Branson | |
The Substitute | Principal Claude Rolle | ||
For Which He Stands | DEA Agent Baxter | ||
Just Your Luck | Willie | ||
1997 | Fakin' Da Funk | Joe Lee | |
Mr. Magoo | Agent Gus Anders, CIA | ||
Levitation | Downbeat | ||
1998 | Butter | Curtis "8 Ball" Harris | |
Stranger in the Kingdom | Rev. Walter Andrews | ||
Best of the Best: Without Warning | Detective Gresko | ||
October 22 | Arthur | ||
1999 | Lillie | Larry Miller | |
Shark Attack | Lawrence Rhodes | ||
The Last Siege | Senator Douglas Wilson | ||
Interceptors | Major McKenzie | ||
Stealth Fighter | President Westwood | ||
2000 | Red Letters | Detective Glen Teal | |
The Watcher | Ibby | ||
Paper Bullets | Detective Ron Mills | ||
Miss Congeniality | FBI Asst. Director Harry McDonald | ||
Everything's Jake | Jake | ||
2003 | Anne B. Real | Principal Davis | |
10-8: Officers on Duty | Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes | ||
2004 | Clifford's Really Big Movie | P.T. | Voice role |
2005 | Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School | Blake Rische | |
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous | FBI Asst. Director Harry McDonald | ||
Everwood | Bill Hoover | ||
Halfway Decent | Tom | ||
2006 | Hood of Horror | Roscoe | |
2007 | Certifiably Jonathan | Museum Guard | |
Nobel Son | Sgt. Bill Canega | ||
All Hat | Jackson Jones | ||
2008 | The Man in the Silo | Marcus Wells | |
Pie'n Burger | Cedric | ||
Balancing the Books | Detective Carter | ||
2009 | Dragonball Evolution | Sifu Norris | |
Lonely Street | Capt. Morgan | ||
Machete Joe | Sheriff Taylor | ||
Pastor Brown | Deacon Harold Todd | ||
2010 | Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball | Anthony Vejar | |
Stasis | Stranger | Short film[8] | |
Game of Death | Catholic Priest | ||
2011 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Pedro | Voice role |
2012 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta! | Pedro | Voice role |
Turning Point | Joe Johnson | ||
Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy | Ivan Stumpwater | Film | |
2014 | You're Not You | John | |
2015 | Gallows Road | Bob Collins | |
2016 | Batman: Bad Blood | Lucius Fox | Voice role |
God's Not Dead 2 | Judge Stennis | ||
Ghostbusters | Uncle Bill Jenkins | Cameo | |
Spaceman | Joe | ||
2018 | Black Panther | Rey T’Chaka |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | Mad Bull | Black Bart | TV movie |
1978 | King | Jack Corbin | Miniseries |
Last of the Good Guys | El Coliph | Movie | |
Fantasy Island | Jamu | Episode: "Family Reunion/VooDoo" | |
1979 | The Incredible Hulk | Lee | Episode: "Like a Brother" |
1980 | Skag | Unknown role | "Pilot" |
The $5.20 an Hour Dream | Homer Burden | Movie | |
Too Close for Comfort | Sam Morton | Episode: "The Bag Lady" | |
White Mama | Counsellor | Movie | |
1981 | A Matter of Life and Death | Mr. Harrison | Movie |
Crazy Times | Harold 'Jazzman' Malloy | Movie | |
Bosom Buddies | Rochelle | Episode: "One for You, One for Me" | |
Taxi | Terry Carver | Episode: "Of Mice and Tony" | |
1982 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Avery | Episode: "Dear Diary" |
1983 | The A-Team | Cal Freeman | Episode: "The Taxicab Wars" |
1984 | St. Elsewhere | Jerry Close | 6 episodes |
1985 | California Girls | Ernie | Movie |
Love on the Run | Lamar | Movie | |
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians | Cyborg (Victor Stone) | Voice role; 8 episodes | |
1986 | The Last Precinct | Sergeant Night Train Lane | 8 episodes |
1987 | Full House | Reggie "The Sandman" Martin | Episode: "Knock Yourself Out" |
1988 | The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission | Joseph Hamilton | Movie |
1989 | The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! | Himself | Episode: "Slime Busters" |
1996 | Tornado! | Dr. Joe Branson | Movie |
The Cherokee Kid | Nat Love a.k.a. Deadwood Dick | Movie | |
1992 | Angel Street | Thurman Nickens | Movie |
The Ben Stiller Show | The Tennis Captain | Episode: "With Bobcat Goldthwait" | |
1993 | Wild Palms | Tommy Lazlo | Miniseries |
Tales from the Crypt | Zambini | Episode: "Food for Thought" | |
1997 | Clover | Gaten Hill | Movie |
Operation Delta Force | Tipton | Movie | |
1997–2003 | Oz | Warden Leo Glynn | 56 episodes |
1999 | Michael Jordan: An American Hero | James R. Jordan, Sr. | Movie |
Miracle on the 17th Green | Earl Fielder | Movie | |
2005 | Lackawanna Blues | Dick Barrymore | Movie |
Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story | Perry Beasley | Movie | |
2001 | Walking Shadow | Hawk | Movie |
A Town Without Christmas | Ted | Movie | |
2006 | The Ron Clark Story | Principal Turner | Movie |
Stargate SG-1 | Commander Goran Pernaux | Episode: "Ethon" | |
2006–2007 | Desperate Housewives | Detective Ridley | 7 episodes |
2007 | Final Approach | Agent Lorenzo Dawson | Movie |
2007, 2008 | Bones | David Barron | 2 episodes |
2008 | Las Vegas | Bob Casey | 2 episodes |
Private Practice | Captain Frank | Episode: "Nothing to Talk About" | |
Psych | Gus' Father | 2 episodes | |
2008–2013 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Dr. Ken Fields | 18 episodes |
2009 | Meteor | Gen. Brasser | Miniseries |
Heroes | Captain Lubbock | 2 episodes | |
2010 | Childrens Hospital | Hubert McGraw | Episode: "Joke Overload" |
Criminal Minds | Lt. Al Garner | Episode: "Devil's Night" | |
2010–2013 | Transformers: Prime | Special Agent William "Bill" Fowler (voice) | Recurring role; 37 episodes |
2011 | Torchwood: Miracle Day | Stewart Owens | Episode: "The Middle Men" |
How I Met Your Mother | Himself | Episode: "The Rebound Girl" | |
2011, 2014 | Rizzoli & Isles | Admiral Frost | 2 episodes |
2012 | Modern Family | Miles | Episode: "Bringing Up Baby" |
Hart of Dixie | Ernie Hayes | Episode: "Snowflakes & Soulmates" | |
2012, 2014 | Franklin & Bash | Hon. Lawrence Perry | 4 episodes |
2013 | Battledogs | Max Stevens | Movie |
Last Resort | Speaker of the House Conrad Buell | 2 episodes | |
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film | Percy | Movie Pending – Black Reel Awards for Best Supporting Actor: Television Movie/Cable[citation needed] | |
Dear Secret Santa | Pastor Avery | Movie | |
Mob City | Bunny | 2 episodes | |
2014 | Scorpion | Brooks | Episode: Pilot |
Hot in Cleveland | Ernie Hudson | Episode: "Cold in Cleveland: The Christmas Episode" | |
Comic Book Men | Himself | Episode: "Stashbusters" | |
2015 | Grace and Frankie | Jacob | 7 episodes |
Once Upon a Time | King Poseidon | Episode: "Poor Unfortunate Soul" | |
2016 | Celebrity Family Feud | Himself | |
Modern Family | Miles | Episode: "A Stereotypical Day" | |
Infinity Train | Atticus (voice) | Animated pilot | |
2017 | A.P.B. | Sgt. Ed Conrad | |
Hey Arnold! | Harvey the Mailman (voice) | The Jungle Movie, Part One | |
Twin Peaks (2017 TV series) | TBA |
Video games
Year | Title | Voice role |
---|---|---|
2009 | Ghostbusters: The Video Game | Winston Zeddemore |
2015 | Lego Dimensions | Winston Zeddemore |
References
- ^ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VV9T-5H7
- ^ Ernie Hudson Biography, FilmReference.com.
- ^ a b Ernie Hudson Biography, Yahoo! Movies.
- ^ Video on YouTube
- ^ Dan Aykroyd Says His ‘Ghostbusters 3′ Will Happen…Eventually
- ^ Brew, Simon. "Torchwood: Miracle Day casting news". Den of Geek.
- ^ "Full Cast and Crew." Grace and Frankie (2015 - ). Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3609352/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm
- ^ STASIS, vimeo.com
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1945 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Male actors from Detroit
- African-American Christians
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- African-American male actors
- Living people
- People from Benton Harbor, Michigan
- United States Marines
- Wayne State University alumni
- Yale School of Drama alumni