Ernie Hudson
Actor · Since 1973
Known for
An American character actor with a warm, authoritative presence, Ernie Hudson is best known as Winston Zeddemore, the everyman fourth Ghostbuster, in 'Ghostbusters' (1984), a role he reprised in 'Ghostbusters II' (1989) and 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' (2021). Tall and steady, he has worked prolifically across film and television for decades, often playing figures of decency and quiet strength. From prison dramas to genre fare, he brings dependable gravitas to supporting parts. An American actor of remarkable longevity, he remains a familiar and much-liked screen presence.
Ernie Hudson
Actor · Since 1973
97 Movies · 77 Series
Known for
An American character actor with a warm, authoritative presence, Ernie Hudson is best known as Winston Zeddemore, the everyman fourth Ghostbuster, in 'Ghostbusters' (1984), a role he reprised in 'Ghostbusters II' (1989) and 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' (2021). Tall and steady, he has worked prolifically across film and television for decades, often playing figures of decency and quiet strength. From prison dramas to genre fare, he brings dependable gravitas to supporting parts. An American actor of remarkable longevity, he remains a familiar and much-liked screen presence.
Movies
Plays Combat Carl (voice)
Toy Story 5
2026
Plays Albrecht
The Crow
1994
Plays Winston Zeddemore
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
2021
Plays Winston Zeddemore
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
2024
Plays Winston Zeddemore
Ghostbusters
1984
Plays Uncle Bill
Ghostbusters
2016
Plays Winston Zeddemore
Ghostbusters II
1989
Plays McDonald
Miss Congeniality
2000
Plays Sifu Norris
Dragonball Evolution
2009
Plays Solomon
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
1992
Plays Claude Rolle
The Substitute
1996
Plays Reggie
The Basketball Diaries
1995
Plays Harry McDonald
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005
Plays Captain Monroe Kelly
Congo
1995
Plays Principal Turner
The Ron Clark Story
2006
Plays FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Ibby
The Watcher
2000
Plays Joseph
The Retirement Plan
2023
Plays John
You're Not You
2014
Plays Coach Phil Peretti
Champions
2023
Plays Sitter 10
FEEL
2025
Plays Shortcut
Collision Course
1989
Plays Ventura
Speechless
1994
Plays Pedro
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2
2011
Plays Joe
Spaceman
2016
Plays Hawkins
No Escape
1994
Plays Clarence
Game of Death
2010
Plays Justin Jones
Leviathan
1989
Plays Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
The Cowboy Way
1994
Plays Sergeant O'Malley
Airheads
1994
Plays Lucius Fox (voice)
Batman: Bad Blood
2016
Plays Ed Paxton
Redemption Day
2021
Plays Captain Bailey
Deer Crossing
2012
Plays Curtis '8-Ball' Harris
Butter
1998
Plays Joe Johnson
Turning Point
2013
Plays Anthony Vejar
Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball
2010
Plays Pedro (voice)
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta!
2012
Plays Sheriff Taylor
Machete Joe
2010
Plays Agent CIA Gus Anders
Mr. Magoo
1997
Plays Archie
Leadbelly
1976
Plays Bagdad
Weeds
1987
Plays Mr. Porter
Joy of Sex
1984
Plays Hank
Prisoner's Daughter
2023
Plays Joe Lee
Fakin' Da Funk
1997
Plays Washington
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
1983
Plays Det. Skaggs
Two of a Kind
1983
Plays Quinine
The Octagon
1980
Plays Blake Rische
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
2006
Plays Detective Gresko
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning
1998
Plays Lolly Jonas
Sugar Hill
1994
Plays P.T. (voice)
Clifford's Really Big Movie
2004
TV Shows
Plays Agent William Fowler (voice)
Transformers: Prime
2010
Producer
Plays L.C. Duncan
Carl Weber's The Family Business
2018
Plays Leo Glynn
Oz
1997
Plays Herbert 'Magic' Williams
Quantum Leap
2022
Plays Rev. Edwin Peters
Boston Blue
2025
Plays Joseph Vaughn
L.A.'s Finest
2019
Plays Dr. Ken Fields
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
2008
Plays Jacob
Grace and Frankie
2015
Plays Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes
10-8: Officers on Duty
2003
Plays Ned Conrad
APB
2017
Plays Jacob Mann
Graves
2016
Plays Sergeant Lane
The Last Precinct
1986
Plays Cyborg (voice)
Super Friends
1973
Plays Toby Baker
Broken Badges
1990
Plays Atticus (voice)
Infinity Train
2019
Plays Frank Gibson
Law & Order
1990
Plays Detective Ridley
Desperate Housewives
2004
Plays Jerry Close
St. Elsewhere
1982
Plays Tommy Lazlo
Wild Palms
1993
Plays Judge Lawrence Perry
Franklin & Bash
2011
Plays Miles
Modern Family
2009
Plays Gen. Brasser
Meteor
2009
Plays Thurman Nickens
Angel Street
1992
Plays Franklin Ward
City on a Hill
2019
Plays Admiral Frost
Rizzoli & Isles
2010
Plays Captain Lubbock
Heroes
2006
Plays David Barron
Bones
2005
Plays James Gallant
ER
1994
Plays Colonel Davis
Twin Peaks
1990
Plays Bob Casey
Las Vegas
2003
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Toy Story 5
Full Filmography 174
Toy Story 5
Combat Carl (voice)
2026
Boston Blue
Rev. Edwin Peters · 26 episodes
2025–
FEEL
Sitter 10
2025
Angry Birds Mystery Island
Marlon (voice)
2024Season 1
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Winston Zeddemore
2024
The Retirement Plan
Joseph
2023
Prisoner's Daughter
Hank
2023
Champions
Coach Phil Peretti
2023
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Grini Millegi (voice)
2023Season 2
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Ernie Hudson and where are they from?
Ernie Hudson is 80 years old, born on December 17, 1945 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Ernie Hudson?
Ernie Hudson is best known for roles in Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
How many movies has Ernie Hudson been in?
Over a 50-year career (since 1976), Ernie Hudson has appeared in 96 movies and 76 TV shows.
What was Ernie Hudson's first movie?
The career of Ernie Hudson began with Leadbelly (1976).
What is Ernie Hudson's most recent movie or series?
Ernie Hudson's most recent release is Toy Story 5, which premiered on June 17, 2026.
What TV shows has Ernie Hudson appeared in?
On television, Ernie Hudson has appeared in Grey's Anatomy, Arrow, How I Met Your Mother, Criminal Minds.
Ernie Hudson
1945-12-17 · Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA
Earnest Lee Hudson (born December 17, 1945) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise. Hudson has also acted in the films Leviathan (1989), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), The Crow (1994), Airheads (1994), The Basketball Diaries (1995), Congo (1995), Miss Congeniality (2000), and The Ron Clark Story (2006).
His most prominent role on television was Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz (1997–2003). Hudson has also appeared in the television shows St. Elsewhere (1984), The Last Precinct (1986), 10-8: Officers on Duty (2003–2004), Desperate Housewives (2006–2007), The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–2013), Law & Order (2009–2010), the voice of Agent Bill Fowler in Transformers: Prime (2010–2013), Franklin & Bash (2012–2014), Grace and Frankie (2015–2020), and L.A.'s Finest (2019–2020). From 2022 to 2024, Hudson appeared as Herbert "Magic" Williams on the NBC drama Quantum Leap.