Ernie Hudson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ernie Hudson
Hudson at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2024
Born	Earnest Lee Hudson (1945-12-17) December 17, 1945 (age 79) Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
Education	Wayne State University (BFA) University of Minnesota Yale University
Occupation	Actor playwright producer
Years active	1973–present
Spouse(s)	Jeannie Moore ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1976)​ Linda Kingsberg ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	4, including Ernie Hudson Jr.

Ernie Hudson, born Earnest Lee Hudson on December 17, 1945, is a well-known American actor. He is most famous for playing Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters movies. He has also appeared in many other popular films like The Crow and Miss Congeniality.

On television, Ernie Hudson played Warden Leo Glynn in the HBO series Oz. He has also been in shows such as Desperate Housewives, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Grace and Frankie. From 2022 to 2024, he starred as Herbert "Magic" Williams in the NBC drama Quantum Leap.

Ernie Hudson's Early Life

Ernie Hudson was born on December 17, 1945, in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He had a difficult start to life. His mother, Maggie Donald, passed away when he was only two months old. He never knew his father. His grandmother, Arrana Donald, raised him with great care.

After high school, Hudson joined the U.S. Marine Corps. However, he was discharged after just three months because of asthma. He then moved to Detroit. There, he became a playwright at Concept East, which was the oldest black theater company in the United States.

How Ernie Hudson Started Acting

To improve his writing and acting, Ernie Hudson went to Wayne State University. He graduated in 1973. He also started his own theater group called the Actors' Ensemble Theatre. Here, he and other talented young black writers could direct and perform their own plays.

He later studied at the University of Minnesota and Yale School of Drama. He left these programs early to take on acting roles in stage plays and films like Leadbelly. Ernie Hudson has shared that he is a practicing Christian. He believes that faith is personal and not tied to one specific church.

Ernie Hudson's Acting Career

Hudson at the 2014 Florida Super Con

One of Ernie Hudson's first movie roles was in Penitentiary II (1982). He also had guest roles on TV shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and The A-Team. He became widely known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the 1984 movie Ghostbusters. He returned to this role in the 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II.

Key Roles in Movies and TV Shows

Ernie Hudson played a major supporting role as Solomon, a kind handyman, in The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992). He also played Warden Leo Glynn in the HBO series Oz. His son, Ernie Hudson Jr., also appeared in Oz as an inmate.

Hudson was in the movie Congo (1995) as Munro. He also played Police Sergeant Albrecht in The Crow (1994). He showed his range by playing a preacher in A Stranger in the Kingdom, a film about prejudice in the 1950s. He was Harry McDonald, an FBI boss, in Miss Congeniality (2000).

In 2006, he appeared in the TV movie The Ron Clark Story as Principal Turner. From 2008 to 2013, he had a recurring role as Dr. Fields on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. He also played Frank Gibson, the fiancé of Lt. Anita Van Buren, in the final season of Law & Order.

Recent Work and Ghostbusters Return

Handprints of Hudson in front of The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

In 2015, Ernie Hudson began a recurring role as Jacob in the series Grace and Frankie. His character was a romantic interest for Frankie Bergstein, played by Lily Tomlin.

He also appeared in the 2016 reboot as Bill Jenkins. In 2019, he started starring in L.A.'s Finest as Joseph Vaughn. He described this show as "very different" because his character had to balance being a police officer with personal family issues.

In August 2019, Ernie Hudson confirmed he would be in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. He joined original cast members like Sigourney Weaver and Bill Murray. He felt very emotional putting on his Ghostbusters jumpsuit again, as he thought another movie might never happen. He also returned for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024.

In 2022, Hudson appeared in the drama film Prisoner's Daughter. On March 8, 2022, it was announced that he would be a co-lead in the Quantum Leap reboot on NBC. In January 2023, he lent his voice to a character named Grini Millegi in Star Wars: The Bad Batch.

Ernie Hudson's Family Life

Ernie Hudson married his first wife, Jeannie Moore, in 1963. They had two sons, Ernie Hudson Jr. and Rahaman Hudson. After they divorced in 1976, their sons moved to California to live with Ernie. In 1985, Ernie married Linda Kingsberg, a former flight attendant. They have two sons together, Andrew and Ross.

On June 8, 2024, a part of South Fair Avenue in Benton Harbor, near where Ernie Hudson grew up, was given the special name "Ernie Hudson Way" to honor him.

Filmography

Ernie Hudson has had a long and successful career in both movies and television. Here are some of his notable roles:

Movies

Television Shows

Video Games

Ernie Hudson has also lent his voice to video games, often reprising his role as Winston Zeddemore.

Awards and Nominations

Ernie Hudson has been recognized for his acting talent.

See also

In Spanish: Ernie Hudson para niños