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Ernie Hudson

Highest Rated: 100% Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters (2019)

Lowest Rated: 0% Spaceman (2016)

Birthday: Dec 17, 1945

Birthplace: Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA

Immortalized in popular culture as the African-American Ghostbuster in the 1984 mega-hit and its 1989 sequel, Ernie Hudson enjoys a longer and more diverse career than many of the movie stars he once supported. The Yale graduate's impressive physique won him a scattering of bruiser roles early on, including bits in Gordon Parks' "Leadbelly" (1976) and the Barbra Streisand vehicle "The Main Event" (1979), until his ability to underscore menace with intelligence earned him more substantial roles in Jamaa Fanaka's "Penitentiary II" (1982) and the 3-D actioner "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" (1983). Although "Ghostbusters" (1984) augured a significant uptake in the quality of his assignments, the actor continued to struggle well into the next decade. Better parts in "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (1992), "The Crow" (1994), "Congo" (1995) and "The Basketball Diaries" (1995) with Leonardo DiCaprio boosted Hudson to the next level and to greater success on the small screen. Frequently seen as a guest actor on dozens of primetime series, the actor enjoyed a six-year run on the critically-lauded HBO prison series "Oz" (1997-2003), as well as subsequent semi-regular roles on "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010) and "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-2012). Remaining in demand past the age of retirement, Hudson made his Broadway debut in 2009 in the Tony Award-winning revival of "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," proving himself to be one of the most unsung but invaluable actors of the American stage and screen.

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Highest rated movies

100% 91% Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters
Watchlist
100% 65% Batman: Bad Blood
Watchlist
95% 88% Ghostbusters Watchlist 87% 90% The Crow Watchlist
80% 69% The Human Tornado
Watchlist
75% 91% Lackawanna Blues
Watchlist
74% 49% Ghostbusters Watchlist 71% 70% Nappily Ever After Watchlist
71% 54% Weeds
Watchlist
66% 61% The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
42% 82% Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Dr. Winston Zeddemore (Character) $112.7M 2024
60% 41% The Retirement Plan Joseph (Character) $1.4M 2023
59% 95% Champions Coach Phil Perretti (Character) $16.3M 2023
42% 79% Prisoner's Daughter Hank (Character) - 2022
64% 94% Ghostbusters: Afterlife Dr. Winston Zeddemore (Character) $128.8M 2021
14% 49% Redemption Day Ed Paxton (Character) - 2021
100% 91% Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters Self - 2019
No Score Yet 90% Adventure Force 5 Dr. Abel (Character) - 2019
71% 70% Nappily Ever After Richard Jones (Character) - 2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet High & Outside: A Baseball Noir Sanzone (Character) - 2017
No Score Yet 88% Heaven Sent Donatello (Character) - 2016
0% 41% Spaceman Joe (Character) - 2016
74% 49% Ghostbusters Uncle Bill (Character) - 2016
10% 62% God's Not Dead 2 Judge Stennis (Character) $20.8M 2016
100% 65% Batman: Bad Blood Lucius Fox (Voice) - 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet To Hell and Back Joe (Character) - 2015
No Score Yet 31% Merry Ex-Mas Pastor Ed (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 44% The Grim Sleeper Detective Gerry Claymar (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 50% Gallows Road Bob Collins (Character) - 2014
52% 70% You're Not You John (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Last Song Guest (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touched Dr Beck (Character) - 2014
No Score Yet 65% Dear Secret Santa Pastor Avery (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet 62% Call Me Crazy: A Five Film Unknown (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet 18% Battledogs Max Stevens (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Adonis Chick Magnet CEO (Character) - 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Don't Fear Death Director,
Producer
- 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Turning Point Joe Johnson (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 82% The Man in the Silo Marcus Wells (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 26% Ambush at Dark Canyon Cyrus Parker (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 57% Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy Ivan Stumpwater (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet 33% Deer Crossing Captain Bailey (Character) - 2012
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sugarwheels Prof. Zaccharine Ragus PhD (Character) - 2011
No Score Yet 67% Doonby Leroy (Character) - 2011
No Score Yet 49% Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Pedro (Voice) - 2011
No Score Yet 12% Machete Joe Sheriff Taylor (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 20% Game of Death Clarence (Character) - 2010
44% 22% Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Anthony Vejar (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 55% Pastor Brown Deacon Harold Todd (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet 21% Balancing the Books Detective Carter (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet 16% Lonely Street Unknown (Character) - 2009
14% 19% Dragonball: Evolution Master Mutaito (Character) $9.4M 2009
27% 44% Nobel Son Lasasso (Character) $333.9K 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet Final Approach Agent Lorenzo Dawson (Character) - 2007
20% 23% All Hat Unknown (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 85% The Ron Clark Story Principal Turner (Character) - 2006
13% 36% Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror Roscoe Lee (Character) $2.3M 2006
No Score Yet 91% Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story Perry Beasley (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Halfway Decent Tom (Character) - 2005
75% 91% Lackawanna Blues Dick Barrymore (Character) - 2005
22% 62% Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Blake Rische (Character) $247.1K 2005
16% 43% Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Harry McDonald (Character) $48.5M 2005
No Score Yet 42% Anne B. Real Principal Davis (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet 52% A Town Without Christmas Ted (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Walking Shadow Hawk (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 21% Nowhere to Land Danny Gorlin (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 83% Everything's Jake Jake (Character) - 2000
41% 69% Miss Congeniality McDonald (Character) $106.8M 2000
11% 28% The Watcher FBI Director (Character) $28.9M 2000
No Score Yet 18% Red Letters Detective Glen Teal (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 29% Hijack Senator Douglas Wilson (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 22% Stealth Fighter President Westwood (Character) - 1999
0% 23% Shark Attack Lawrence Rhodes (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 56% Michael Jordan: An American Hero Unknown (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 28% Interceptor Force Major (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 29% Miracle on the 17th Green Unknown (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Paper Bullets Detective Ron Mills (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 36% Best of the Best: Without Warning Detective Gresko (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet October 22 Arthur (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Stranger in the Kingdom Rev. Walter Andrews (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 68% Butter Curtis `'8-Ball'` Harris (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 30% Operation Delta Force Major Tipton (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Clover Gaten Hill (Character) - 1997
9% 24% Mr. Magoo Agent Gus Anders, CIA (Character) $21.4M 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Levitation Downbeat (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 64% Fakin' Da Funk Joe Lee (Character) - 1997
42% 41% The Substitute Principal Claude Rolle (Character) $14.8M 1996
No Score Yet 60% The Cherokee Kid Nat Love (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 26% Tornado! Dr. Joe Branson (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet For Which He Stands DEA Agent Baxter (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Just Your Luck Willie (Character) - 1996
45% 76% The Basketball Diaries Reggie (Character) $2.1M 1995
23% 29% Congo Captain Munro Kelly (Character) $80.1M 1995
10% 34% Speechless Ventura (Character) $19.6M 1994
29% 50% Airheads Sergeant O'Malley (Character) $4.9M 1994
20% 59% The Cowboy Way Officer Sam "Mad Dog" Shaw (Character) $19.6M 1994
87% 90% The Crow Sergeant Albrecht (Character) $47.3M 1994
59% 41% No Escape Hawkins (Character) $14.2M 1994
20% 69% Sugar Hill Lolly Jonas (Character) $18.3M 1993
66% 61% The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Solomon (Character) $87.5M 1992
No Score Yet 0% Trapper County War Jefferson Carter (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 33% Collision Course Shortcut (Character) - 1989
23% 27% Leviathan Justin Jones (Character) $15.4M 1989
55% 61% Ghostbusters II Winston Zeddemore (Character) $110.4M 1989
No Score Yet 51% The Wrong Guys Dawson (Character) $601.3K 1988
No Score Yet 8% The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission Joe Hamilton (Character) - 1988
71% 54% Weeds Bagdad (Character) $1.5M 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Last Precinct Sergeant Lane (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Love on the Run Lamar (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet California Girls Ernie (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet 47% Joy of Sex Mr. Porter (Character) - 1984
95% 88% Ghostbusters Winston Zeddemore (Character) $298.5M 1984
18% 37% Two of a Kind Detective Skaggs (Character) - 1983
29% 36% Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone Washington (Character) - 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Women of San Quentin Charles Wilson (Character) - 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Penitentiary II Half Dead (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crazy Times Harold "Jazzman" Malloy (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet The $5.20 an Hour Dream Homer Burden (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet 100% White Mama Counsellor (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mad Bull Black Bart (Character) - 1977
80% 69% The Human Tornado Bo (Character) - 1976

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 82% Carl Weber's The Family Business LC Duncan (Character) 2018-2022 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Jennifer Hudson Show Guest 2023-2024
No Score Yet 44% The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Guest 2021 2024
No Score Yet 55% The Kelly Clarkson Show Guest 2021 2023-2024
57% 74% Quantum Leap Herbert "Magic" Williams (Character) 2022-2024
No Score Yet 61% Late Night With Seth Meyers Guest 2021
No Score Yet 71% MacGyver Milton Bozer (Guest Star) 2021
24% 59% L.A.'s Finest Joseph Vaughn (Character) 2019-2020
100% 93% Infinity Train Atticus (Voice) 2019-2020
86% 63% Arrow Four-Star General of the Defense Intelligence Agency (Guest Star) 2019
No Score Yet 76% Puppy Dog Pals Buddy (Guest Voice) 2019
No Score Yet 81% Blue Bloods Darryl Ward (Guest Star) 2018
90% 87% Grace and Frankie Jacob (Guest Star) 2015-2018
89% 76% Lethal Weapon Peterson (Guest Star) 2018
94% 83% Twin Peaks: The Return Colonel Davis (Guest Star) 2017
35% 76% APB Captain Ned Conrad (Character) 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet Celebrity Family Feud Guest 2016
No Score Yet 42% Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guest 2016
85% 90% Modern Family Miles (Guest Star) 2012 2016
No Score Yet 84% Robot Chicken Unknown (Guest Voice) 2016
No Score Yet 12% The View Guest 2015
78% 78% Once Upon a Time Unknown (Guest Star) 2015
No Score Yet 84% Hot in Cleveland Unknown (Guest Star) 2014
61% 84% Franklin & Bash Judge Lawrence Perry (Guest Star) 2012 2014
61% 78% Scorpion Brooks (Guest Star) 2014
No Score Yet 88% Rizzoli and Isles Admiral Frost (Guest Star) 2011 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Haunted Hathaways Unknown (Guest Star) 2014
47% 44% The Millers Walter (Guest Star) 2014
66% 80% Mob City Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
93% 72% Scandal FBI Commander Randolph Boles (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet No Score Yet Let's Stay Together Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
79% 85% Last Resort Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
7% 56% Guys With Kids Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet 43% The Secret Life of the American Teenager Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
81% 88% Hart of Dixie Ernie Hayes (Guest Star) 2012
84% 85% How I Met Your Mother Ernie Hudson (Guest Star) 2011
84% 72% Grey's Anatomy Unknown (Guest Star) 2011
98% 83% Torchwood Stuart Owens (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 83% Criminal Minds Unknown (Guest Star) 2010
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 2009-2010
52% 65% Heroes Unknown (Guest Star) 2009
No Score Yet 79% Private Practice Captain Frank (Guest Star) 2008
90% 83% Bones David Barron (Guest Star) 2007-2008
72% 89% Desperate Housewives Detective Ridley (Guest Star) 2006-2007
No Score Yet 95% Cold Case Unknown (Guest Star) 2007
No Score Yet 85% ER Colonel James Gallant (Guest Star) 2006
No Score Yet 89% Stargate SG-1 Pernaux (Guest Star) 2006
9% No Score Yet 10-8: Officers on Duty Sgt. John Henry Barnes (Character) 2003-2004
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star) 2003
93% 95% Oz Warden Leo Glynn (Character) 1997-2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touched by an Angel Unknown (Guest Star) 1999 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Daily Show Guest 1999
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wild Palms Unknown (Character) 1993
No Score Yet 80% Full House Reggie "The Sandman" Martin (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gimme a Break Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Unknown (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet It's a Living Dougie (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Last Precinct Sgt. Night Train Lane (Character) 1986
No Score Yet 71% The A-Team Cal Freeman (Guest Star) 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet The New Odd Couple Unknown (Guest Star) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Dukes of Hazzard Avery (Guest Star) 1982
No Score Yet 67% Taxi Terry Carver (Guest Star) 1981
80% 60% Bosom Buddies Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little House on the Prairie William Thomas (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diff'rent Strokes Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet One Day at a Time Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet 74% Incredible Hulk Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fantasy Island Unknown (Guest Star) 1978