With a career that has extended well over four decades, Ernie Hudson is one of the most recognized faces in all of film and television. Working class, Hudson has been here, there, and everywhere throughout the years. First recognized for early roles such as in 1982’s Penitentiary II, it would be his role as Winston Zeddemore in the 1984 hit film Ghostbusters that would inevitably earn him major notoriety. Going onto various other projects – including Ghostbusters II (1989), The Crow (1994), the HBO series OZ, as well more recent projects including BET’s Family Business and NBC’s Quantum Leep – some would say he is one of the hardest working in all of Hollywood.
Just turning seventy-eight years old, Hudson continues to move forward, more recently taking on a part in Prisoner’s Daughter alongside Kate Beckinsale and Brian Cox. A different type of role for the veteran, he recently took some time to talk about Prisoner’s Daughter, his career, Ghostbusters, plus more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in acting professionally for quite some time now. You have been part of a lot of different projects over the years, in a lot of different genres. Briefly tell us, how would you describe your incredible career to this point?
Ernie Hudson – Well, I think I’ve had a survivor’s career (Laughs). I’ve had friends who came to Hollywood and they had a certain perception of how they saw their careers. They stuck to that, and they’ve been very successful.
I came out just really looking for a job. I was a single dad. Whatever came up, it didn’t matter what genre. If it was dramatic, and I knew to get the job I had to make somebody cry in the room, or if it was a comedy, and I had to make somebody laugh in the room. I’ve always been about the idea of working, as opposed to the idea of I’m going to be a star and I only do certain things. Like I said, I have friends who’ve been successful with that, but I never felt I had that advantage to be able to do that.
Cryptic Rock – You have certainly been quite diverse with your approach. Like you said, you have kept things open. You have worked in Comedy, Drama, and Thrillers. Do you like to work in different genres like that?
Ernie Hudson – Yes. I think for me the excitement is discovering something new and playing something ideally that I haven’t played. Hollywood typically will find the thing that you do well, and they want you to do that all the time. A little bit of that happens.
I like dramatic stories, because we’re really storytellers. In this story, which is actually kind of a funny story, that’s a different thing. Then something really tragic happens, and we have to tell this story, but I think we have to be true to the story. That’s what makes it all interesting for me as opposed to – I got a job, they want me to do this thing that I typically do, and that’s it for the next however long my career lasts. That would be a little bit boring or certainly nothing that I want.
Cryptic Rock – Exactly. It is good to keep it open, you just never know what will come up. Amidst all of this, and this lengthy extension of work that you have done over the years, one of the most memorable roles with fans has to be with Ghostbusters. Everyone remembers Ghostbusters. Is it still amazing to you that all these decades later that the character of Winston is still remembered and loved?
Ernie Hudson – Yeah, I think so. I felt when we did the first one a little bit outside of it. So, there was always a question of how fans would see Winston. The fact that fans really embraced the character, identified with the character, and now forty years later Winston is still very much a part of it… that’s very touching.
I’ve done a lot of other films, but what I love about Ghostbusters is that it crosses generations. I see families introducing it to their children, grandchildren, and being able to enjoy it with them. I feel very thankful to be part of that franchise.
It is a little bit of a surprise though. We do these things, and you’re lucky if they’ll last a few months until the next thing comes along. The fact that forty years later, they’re still quoting lines from the first movie, it’s a lot of fun.
Cryptic Rock – It truly is special. Some things just do not have staying power, but Ghostbusters has transcended the decades and generations as you said. You have this newer film, Prisoner’s Daughter. So, how did this project come about for you?
Ernie Hudson – The agent sent me a script and said that they were interested. I really wasn’t particularly interested in going right to work on something; I’ve been working kind of nonstop for the last few years. I read the script though and I loved it. Brian Cox directed a couple of episodes of OZ back in the ’90s. I’ve been a fan of his and he’s an amazing actor. I’m so happy now he’s getting that kind of critical attention with Succession.
Brian is just a wonderful, talented man. To get a chance to work with him as an actor, as opposed to him being a director, that in itself probably would have been enough to get me to want to do the movie. But Kate Beckinsale, I’ve been a fan of hers for so long. She’s stunning.
I love this story. For me, my life has really been about the search for fatherhood. I didn’t have a dad; I sort of wondered what those families are like and what that relationship is like. When I had my sons, I was a single dad to the first two and trying to make sense out of it.
Prisoner’s Daughter is a story about a father who really did not live the best life. He’s facing his mortality, and how do you ask forgiveness from your kid? All those things were kind of at play. I also love the friendship; the relationship between my character and Brian Cox’s character. There were a lot of things in the story. Like I said, we’re storytellers, and I just wanted to be sort of a part of the telling of the story.
Cryptic Rock – It is a very powerful story. It is about reconciliation, forgiveness, and family. Those are some really big topics for a lot of people. Maybe not to the extent of this story, but everyone has these feelings of wanting to reconcile, especially your family.
Ernie Hudson – I think so. Also, friendships. I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen since college back in the ’60s. I realized that he knew a part of me that I probably had forgotten, and he probably still sees in me to some extent. They know your history.
In this film, these are two guys who have a history together, and a history that they probably rather not acknowledge, but it’s there and it’s real. The friendship is solid though. People who go through our lives are with us on a certain level. That friendship element was really intriguing to me as well.
Cryptic Rock – Most certainly. In this film you portray Hank; a former boxer and ex-con. What was it like playing this role?
Ernie Hudson – It was a bit of a different role. As I get older now, I like anytime I get a chance to do something physical; because with so many jobs now they’ll kind of reach out to help me up from a chair and I’m like, “I’m not there yet” (Laughs). I got a chance to portray a former boxer, boxing coach, run a gym, and also to mentor this young man; which I think is really important. Whether you’re a dad or a foster parent or whatever, I think that’s a really important role to do if you can. That was fun. I loved the idea of being able to be physical and to reflect that… as opposed to a grandpa. Those roles are fun too, but it’s nice to put on a tight shirt.
Cryptic Rock – (Laughs) The film really has a strong message to it overall. It is effective on many levels. You mentioned working with Brian and Kate… this is a really strong cast. You have worked with Brian in the past. What was it like working with them on this particular project?
Ernie Hudson – It was great to reunite. Obviously, I’m there to support, because it’s really about his character, that journey, and his daughter. I love the way Kate’s able to transcend that beauty, because to me, she’s stunning; even in real life. To really show that side of Vegas that we seldom get a chance to see. There’s a whole world that’s not on the strip. There are people living in the background who are struggling to make ends meet. She just makes it work and it makes it believable.
I admire actors. I started off wanting to be an actor. I love to watch actors in their process. I loved to watch to see how Brian and Kate pulled things together. I’ve worked with some really good people over the years, and it’s always fascinating to me to see how they get to that place.
I think those of us who’ve been around for a long time, it’s a little bit different than for some of the newer actors. I think the business is seen a little bit differently now. It’s great to work with seasoned people and these are two of the best.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like it was a good experience. You mentioned how you have been busy and you wanted to take a break. Obviously, you love it for you to keep doing it. That said, how do you remain so prolific?
Ernie Hudson – I think it’s great to enjoy what you’re doing. When I was a single dad, I had the kids. I had to get them through diapers and college. You kind of feel like you have to… it’s not really a choice. Now the kids are all grown up, and nobody’s in diapers anymore. So, at this point, you got to do something that you really enjoy, and I normally do.
I do a show called Quantum Leap. We worked right up to the point where we had to stop because of the strike. Then I went right off to England, did the upcoming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire movie, and came right back. Literally, within days, I was doing this show called Carl Weber’s Family Business on BET. A couple of days later I felt, “I’m tired. I’m really tired.” When I get tired, I become a little bit short with people. I know I’m being a jerk sometimes, but it’s like, I really don’t want to talk to anybody. That doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes you know you need to take a break.
My wife and I recently went for eighteen days on a cruise and I chilled out. Generally speaking, I just love doing what I do. I love the whole process and how we get to that place. There has to be a balance though, and sometimes it can be a little bit more. It’s not a single thing; like maybe a profession where you go and you do the thing you do. What I do kind of depends on everybody else doing their thing. It’s kind of the mood that Kate’s or Brian’s in today, or the director, or the director’s interpretation, or the producer. All those things are impactful. I flow with it pretty well until I’m tired, then it’s a little challenging. I’m at that point now where I need a break.
Cryptic Rock – Understood. It is a much-deserved break too, because you really have kept very busy. When you look at your filmography, it is truly impressive.
Ernie Hudson – Thank you. It’s funny because I look at my wall and it’s absent from any Academy Awards and I kind of go, “Well, I hope I’ve done a good job.” The fact that they keep calling me to work… maybe that’s the sign that you know the work is good. I don’t know.
You can’t do it for all the accolades. I do genuinely love it and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of this industry. I feel blessed to be able to tell these stories, and to be able to work with these people. I remember working with Betty Davis, and I did a film with Laurence Olivier in 1980’s The Jazz Singer, plus so many people I’ve worked with too. I’m just very thankful.
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