Actor Ernie Hudson, left, reprised his role in the original ‘Ghostbusters’ with Bill Murray in 2024’s ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ He has been seen most recently in BET+’s ‘The Family Business’ and CBS’ ‘Boston Blue.’
Photo courtesy of Sony Entertainment
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
ERNIE HUDSON is one of those beloved actors who seemingly has no problem working. The veteran who has shown his range in “The Crow,” “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle,” “Congo” and “Oz” has had steady recurring roles on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” Netflix’ “Grace and Frankie” with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Sam Waterston; and most recently on BET+’s “The Family Business” and CBS’ “Boston Blue.”
When he spoke to Tasty Clips back in 2015, he was asked about TV One’s “To Hell and Back,” an original movie updating the story of Job, that he wasn’t really interested in at first. It took an amazing script from Rhonda Baraka and knowing that the religious grandmother who raised him would approve to get him to sign on to this take on the biblical tale of a devout man caught in the middle of a bet between God and the devil.
Hudson admitted he’s gone through times.
“I’ve been a single dad,” he said at the time. “My first marriage was challenging. I’ve gone through the cancer stuff. I just trust in my God. That’s what my faith is in. It’s not in anything material and certainly not in anyone … but I would never want to experience what [Job] went through.”
Despite his winning with casting directors, he believed the Black actors in demand storyline may have been overrated. “There’s a success that Shonda Rhimes is having that is unprecedented,” Hudson said. “So maybe there is a change. Unfortunately, when the studios begin to look around, a lot of the stars are from other places like London and other countries. So it doesn’t necessarily open doors for guys who are here. A lot of guys I’ve been working with for the last 15 to 20 years are still looking for a role.”
Hudson made headlines when TMZ reported his dissatisfaction with reports of that all-female reboot of his biggest movie, “Ghostbusters.” He claims he was misinterpreted.
“I said that I didn’t think it’s what the fans were expecting. I think [they] were looking for, as best we could, the original cast. It was taken as I basically said I didn’t want to see women. Now I heard they’re going to do an all-male version. I don’t know why you need two movies, but hey, I’m not in the business part of it.”
At that time, in over the 20 plus years they’ve been talking about another sequel, Hudson had never seen a script, or been in on any discussions, despite being announced as being on board.
“I think they just assume they know they can get Ernie Hudson and they’re right,” he said. “If the money’s right, they can get Ernie Hudson.”
He declared that whether he is involved or another African American takes the role, he hopes it isn’t marginalized as the guy who has to do the Black jokes.
“I want it to be played as a human being,” Hudson explained. “Some comedians are funny, but they do this whole Black thing — my life’s different, my life sucks because I’m Black. Whatever! I don’t get that. I am a Black man, an African- American or whatever term people want to use, but I don’t wake up every morning stressing over that. I live my life, and my life is as valid as any life.”
That check eventually cleared as Hudson filmed a scene for the all-female reboot (with his fellow OGs Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray) and reprised his role as the iconic Winston Zeddemore in both 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and 2024’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” now streaming on Netflix.
For more than 11 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. Now, we are collecting some of those past columns into what we call the Best of Tasty Clips. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
