Ernie Hudson

Ernie Hudson

Known for
Acting
Born
December 17, 1945 (age 80)
Birthplace
Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA

Biography

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.

Known For

Photos

Ernie Hudson photoErnie Hudson photoErnie Hudson photoErnie Hudson photoErnie Hudson photo

Filmography

—
Oswald: Down The Rabbit Hole poster

Oswald: Down The Rabbit Hole

Movie · as Oswald Jebediah Coleman

—
Mr. Beebee poster

Mr. Beebee

Movie · as Wayne Proctor

—
Deepest, Darkest

Deepest, Darkest

Movie

—
Famous poster

Famous

Movie

—
Sisters in Italy

Sisters in Italy

Movie

—
Hal

Hal

Movie

—
Beautiful People

Beautiful People

TV · as Jack · 1 ep

2026
Toy Story 5 poster

Toy Story 5

Movie · as Combat Carl (voice)

2025
FEEL poster

FEEL

Movie · as Sitter 10

2025
John Candy: I Like Me poster

John Candy: I Like Me

Movie · as Self - Actor (archive footage)

2025
Boston Blue poster

Boston Blue

TV · as Rev. Edwin Peters · 27 eps

2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire poster

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Movie · as Winston Zeddemore

2024
Angry Birds Mystery Island poster

Angry Birds Mystery Island

TV · as Marlon (voice) · 1 ep

2023
Prisoner's Daughter poster

Prisoner's Daughter

Movie · as Hank

2023
The Retirement Plan poster

The Retirement Plan

Movie · as Joseph

2023
Champions poster

Champions

Movie · as Coach Phil Peretti

2023
Darrin's Dance Grooves: The Untold Darrin Henson Story poster

Darrin's Dance Grooves: The Untold Darrin Henson Story

Movie · as Self (voiceover)

2022
In Search of Tomorrow poster

In Search of Tomorrow

Movie · as Self - Interviewee

2022
Quantum Leap poster

Quantum Leap

TV · as Herbert 'Magic' Williams · 31 eps

2022
Sherri poster

Sherri

TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps

2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show poster

The Jennifer Hudson Show

TV · as Self · 2 eps

2021
Beebo Saves Christmas poster

Beebo Saves Christmas

Movie · as Santa Claus (voice)

2021
Ghostbusters: Afterlife poster

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Movie · as Winston Zeddemore

2021
Redemption Day poster

Redemption Day

Movie · as Ed Paxton

2021
Star Wars: The Bad Batch poster

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

TV · as Grini Millegi (voice) · 1 ep

2020
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters poster

Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters

Movie · as Self

2020
Home Movie: The Princess Bride poster

Home Movie: The Princess Bride

TV · as Prince Humperdinck · 1 ep

2020
Reunited Apart poster

Reunited Apart

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2019
Adventure Force 5 poster

Adventure Force 5

Movie · as Dr. Lawrence Abel

2019
Infinity Train poster

Infinity Train

TV · as Atticus (voice) · 7 eps

2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show poster

The Kelly Clarkson Show

TV · as Self · 3 eps

2019
City on a Hill poster

City on a Hill

TV · as Franklin Ward · 2 eps

2019
The Movies That Made Us poster

The Movies That Made Us

TV · as Winston Zeddemore (archive footage) · 1 ep

2019
L.A.'s Finest poster

L.A.'s Finest

TV · as Joseph Vaughn · 26 eps

2019
The Masked Singer poster

The Masked Singer

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2018
Nappily Ever After poster

Nappily Ever After

Movie · as Richard Jones

2018
High & Outside: A Baseball Noir poster

High & Outside: A Baseball Noir

Movie · as Sanzone

2018
Carl Weber's The Family Business poster

Carl Weber's The Family Business

TV · as L.C. Duncan · 62 eps

2017
APB poster

APB

TV · as Ned Conrad · 12 eps

2017
Steve poster

Steve

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2016
The Man in the Silo poster

The Man in the Silo

Movie · as Marcus Wells

2016
God's Not Dead 2 poster

God's Not Dead 2

Movie · as Judge Stennis

2016
Batman: Bad Blood poster

Batman: Bad Blood

Movie · as Lucius Fox (voice)

2016
Spaceman poster

Spaceman

Movie · as Joe

2016
Ghostbusters poster

Ghostbusters

Movie · as Uncle Bill

2016
Ghostheads poster

Ghostheads

Movie · as Self

2016
Infinity Train poster

Infinity Train

Movie · as Atticus (voice)

2016
Heaven Sent poster

Heaven Sent

Movie · as Donatello

2016
MacGyver poster

MacGyver

TV · as Milton Bozer · 1 ep

2016
Graves poster

Graves

TV · as Jacob Mann · 9 eps

2016
Lethal Weapon poster

Lethal Weapon

TV · as Hank Peterson · 1 ep

2016
Angie Tribeca poster

Angie Tribeca

TV · as Pete Tribeca · 1 ep

2015
Gallows Road poster

Gallows Road

Movie · as Bob Collins

2015
Horror Icon: Inside Michael's Mask with Tony Moran poster

Horror Icon: Inside Michael's Mask with Tony Moran

Movie · as Self

2015
Ballers poster

Ballers

TV · as Mr. Hagerty · 1 ep

2015
Grace and Frankie poster

Grace and Frankie

TV · as Jacob · 17 eps

2014
You're Not You poster

You're Not You

Movie · as John

2014
Showing Up poster

Showing Up

Movie · as Self

2014
To Hell and Back poster

To Hell and Back

Movie · as Joe

2014
The Grim Sleeper poster

The Grim Sleeper

Movie · as Detective Gerry Claymar

2014
Touched poster

Touched

Movie · as Dr. Beck

2014
Merry Ex-Mas poster

Merry Ex-Mas

Movie · as Pastor Ed

2014
The Last Song poster

The Last Song

Movie · as Guest

2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers poster

Late Night with Seth Meyers

TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep

2014
Scorpion poster

Scorpion

TV · as Brooks · 1 ep

2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon poster

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2013
Doonby poster

Doonby

Movie · as Leroy Jackson

2013
Battledogs poster

Battledogs

Movie · as Max Stevens

2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film poster

Call Me Crazy: A Five Film

Movie · as Percy

2013
Dear Secret Santa poster

Dear Secret Santa

Movie · as Pastor Avery

2013
Turning Point poster

Turning Point

Movie · as Joe Johnson

2013
Ironside poster

Ironside

TV · as Bludso · 1 ep

2013
The Last Leg poster

The Last Leg

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2013
The Millers poster

The Millers

TV · as Walter · 1 ep

2012
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! poster

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta!

Movie · as Pedro (voice)

2012
Deer Crossing poster

Deer Crossing

Movie · as Captain Bailey

2012
Ambush at Dark Canyon poster

Ambush at Dark Canyon

Movie · as Cyrus Parker

2012
The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy poster

The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy

Movie · as Ivan Stumpwater

2012
Comic Book Men poster

Comic Book Men

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2012
Scandal poster

Scandal

TV · as Commander Randolph Boles · 1 ep

2012
Arrow poster

Arrow

TV · as Roy Stewart · 1 ep

2012
Guys with Kids poster

Guys with Kids

TV · as The Judge · 1 ep

2012
Key & Peele poster

Key & Peele

TV · as Dad · 1 ep

2011
Deep Blue Breath poster

Deep Blue Breath

Movie · as Lord Vater (voice)

2011
Underground Entertainment: The Movie poster

Underground Entertainment: The Movie

Movie · as Ernie

2011
Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 poster

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2

Movie · as Pedro

2011
Once Upon a Time poster

Once Upon a Time

TV · as King Poseidon · 1 ep

2011
Franklin & Bash poster

Franklin & Bash

TV · as Judge Lawrence Perry · 4 eps

2011
Hart of Dixie poster

Hart of Dixie

TV · as Ernie Hayes · 1 ep

2010
Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball poster

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball

Movie · as Anthony Vejar

2010
Stasis poster

Stasis

Movie · as Stranger

2010
Machete Joe poster

Machete Joe

Movie · as Sheriff Taylor

2010
Game of Death poster

Game of Death

Movie · as Clarence

2010
Transformers: Prime poster

Transformers: Prime

TV · as Agent William Fowler (voice) · 65 eps

2010
Rizzoli & Isles poster

Rizzoli & Isles

TV · as Admiral Frost · 2 eps

2010
Blue Bloods poster

Blue Bloods

TV · as Darryl Ward · 1 ep

2010
Hot in Cleveland poster

Hot in Cleveland

TV · as Ernie Hudson · 1 ep

2009
Dragonball Evolution poster

Dragonball Evolution

Movie · as Sifu Norris

2009
Pastor Brown poster

Pastor Brown

Movie · as Deacon Harold Todd

2009
Fatal Secrets poster

Fatal Secrets

Movie · as Detective Carter

2009
Lonely Street poster

Lonely Street

Movie · as Captain Morgan

2009
Meteor poster

Meteor

TV · as Gen. Brasser · 2 eps

2009
White Collar poster

White Collar

TV · as Mr. Jeffries · 1 ep

2009
Modern Family poster

Modern Family

TV · as Miles · 4 eps

2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories poster

Celebrity Ghost Stories

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2008
Final Approach poster

Final Approach

Movie · as Agent Lorenzo Dawson

2008
The Secret Life of the American Teenager poster

The Secret Life of the American Teenager

TV · as Dr. Ken Fields · 18 eps

2008
Childrens Hospital poster

Childrens Hospital

TV · as Hubert McGraw · 1 ep

2007
All Hat poster

All Hat

Movie · as Jackson Jones

2007
Nobel Son poster

Nobel Son

Movie · as Bill Canega

2007
Private Practice poster

Private Practice

TV · as Captain Frank · 1 ep

2006
The Ron Clark Story poster

The Ron Clark Story

Movie · as Principal Turner

2006
Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror poster

Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror

Movie · as Roscoe

2006
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School poster

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

Movie · as Blake Rische

2006
Psych poster

Psych

TV · as William Guster · 1 ep

2006
Heroes poster

Heroes

TV · as Captain Lubbock · 2 eps

2006
Torchwood poster

Torchwood

TV · as Stuart Owens · 1 ep

2005
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous poster

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

Movie · as Harry McDonald

2005
Confessions of an Action Star poster

Confessions of an Action Star

Movie · as Self / Commander

2005
Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story poster

Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story

Movie · as Perry Beasley

2005
Lackawanna Blues poster

Lackawanna Blues

Movie · as Dick Barrymore

2005
Halfway Decent

Halfway Decent

Movie · as Tom

2005
How I Met Your Mother poster

How I Met Your Mother

TV · as Ernie Hudson · 1 ep

2005
Bones poster

Bones

TV · as David Barron · 2 eps

2005
Grey's Anatomy poster

Grey's Anatomy

TV · as Brad McDougall · 1 ep

2005
Robot Chicken poster

Robot Chicken

TV · as Detective Ernie / Judge Hudson Jr. / Justin's Dad (voice) · 1 ep

2005
Criminal Minds poster

Criminal Minds

TV · as Lt. Al Garner · 1 ep

2004
Clifford's Really Big Movie poster

Clifford's Really Big Movie

Movie · as P.T. (voice)

2004
Desperate Housewives poster

Desperate Housewives

TV · as Detective Ridley · 7 eps

2003
Anne B. Real poster

Anne B. Real

Movie · as Principal

2003
Cold Case poster

Cold Case

TV · as Moses Jones · 1 ep

2003
10-8: Officers on Duty poster

10-8: Officers on Duty

TV · as Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes · 15 eps

2003
Las Vegas poster

Las Vegas

TV · as Bob Casey · 2 eps

2002
Everwood poster

Everwood

TV · as Bill Hoover · 1 ep

2002
Without a Trace poster

Without a Trace

TV · as Manny Aybar · 1 ep

2001
A Town Without Christmas poster

A Town Without Christmas

Movie · as Ted

2001
Walking Shadow poster

Walking Shadow

Movie · as Hawk

2001
Crossing Jordan poster

Crossing Jordan

TV · as Colonel Wirth · 1 ep

2000
Miss Congeniality poster

Miss Congeniality

Movie · as McDonald

2000
The Watcher poster

The Watcher

Movie · as FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Ibby

2000
Everything's Jake poster

Everything's Jake

Movie · as Jake

2000
Paper Bullets poster

Paper Bullets

Movie · as Detective Ron Mills

2000
Red Letters poster

Red Letters

Movie · as Detective Glen Teal

2000
Nowhere to Land poster

Nowhere to Land

Movie · as Danny Gorlin

1999
Stealth Fighter poster

Stealth Fighter

Movie · as President Westwood

1999
Shark Attack poster

Shark Attack

Movie · as Lawrence Rhodes

1999
Michael Jordan: An American Hero poster

Michael Jordan: An American Hero

Movie

1999
Interceptors poster

Interceptors

Movie · as Major

1999
A Stranger in the Kingdom poster

A Stranger in the Kingdom

Movie · as Rev. Walter Andrews

1999
Hijack poster

Hijack

Movie · as Senator Douglas Wilson

1999
Miracle on the 17th Green poster

Miracle on the 17th Green

Movie

1998
October 22 poster

October 22

Movie · as Arthur

1998
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning poster

Best of the Best 4: Without Warning

Movie · as Detective Gresko

1998
Butter poster

Butter

Movie · as Curtis '8-Ball' Harris

1997
Fakin' Da Funk poster

Fakin' Da Funk

Movie · as Joe Lee

1997
Clover poster

Clover

Movie · as Gaten Hill

1997
Levitation poster

Levitation

Movie · as Downbeat

1997
Operation Delta Force poster

Operation Delta Force

Movie · as Major Tipton

1997
Mr. Magoo poster

Mr. Magoo

Movie · as Agent CIA Gus Anders

1997
The View poster

The View

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1997
Stargate SG-1 poster

Stargate SG-1

TV · as Pernaux · 1 ep

1997
Oz poster

Oz

TV · as Leo Glynn · 56 eps

1996
Tornado! poster

Tornado!

Movie · as Dr. Joe Branson

1996
For Which He Stands poster

For Which He Stands

Movie · as DEA Agent Baxter

1996
The Substitute poster

The Substitute

Movie · as Claude Rolle

1996
The Cherokee Kid poster

The Cherokee Kid

Movie · as Nat Love aka Deadwood Dick

1996
Just Your Luck poster

Just Your Luck

Movie · as Willie

1996
Superman: The Animated Series poster

Superman: The Animated Series

TV · as Professor Felix (voice) · 1 ep

1996
Arli$$ poster

Arli$$

TV · as Warden Leo Glynn · 1 ep

1995
Congo poster

Congo

Movie · as Captain Monroe Kelly

1995
The Basketball Diaries poster

The Basketball Diaries

Movie · as Reggie

1994
The Crow poster

The Crow

Movie · as Albrecht

1994
Airheads poster

Airheads

Movie · as Sergeant O'Malley

1994
Speechless poster

Speechless

Movie · as Ventura

1994
Sugar Hill poster

Sugar Hill

Movie · as Lolly Jonas

1994
The Cowboy Way poster

The Cowboy Way

Movie · as Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw

1994
No Escape poster

No Escape

Movie · as Hawkins

1994
ER poster

ER

TV · as James Gallant · 2 eps

1994
Touched by an Angel poster

Touched by an Angel

TV · as Norm McCloud · 1 ep

1993
Wild Palms poster

Wild Palms

TV · as Tommy Lazlo · 5 eps

1992
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle poster

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Movie · as Solomon

1992
The Ben Stiller Show poster

The Ben Stiller Show

TV · 1 ep

1992
Batman: The Animated Series poster

Batman: The Animated Series

TV · as Security Guard (voice) · 1 ep

1992
Angel Street poster

Angel Street

TV · as Thurman Nickens · 2 eps

1990
Law & Order poster

Law & Order

TV · as Frank Gibson · 7 eps

1990
Broken Badges poster

Broken Badges

TV · as Toby Baker · 8 eps

1990
Twin Peaks poster

Twin Peaks

TV · as Colonel Davis · 2 eps

1990
Cop Rock poster

Cop Rock

TV · as Cmdr. Warren Osborne · 1 ep

1989
Ghostbusters II poster

Ghostbusters II

Movie · as Winston Zeddemore

1989
Leviathan poster

Leviathan

Movie · as Justin Jones

1989
Collision Course poster

Collision Course

Movie · as Shortcut

1989
Trapper County War poster

Trapper County War

Movie · as Jefferson Carter

1989
Tales from the Crypt poster

Tales from the Crypt

TV · as Zambini · 1 ep

1989
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! poster

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

TV · as Ernie Hudson · 1 ep

1988
The Wrong Guys poster

The Wrong Guys

Movie · as Dawson

1988
The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission poster

The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission

Movie · as Joe Hamilton

1987
Weeds poster

Weeds

Movie · as Bagdad

1987
Full House poster

Full House

TV · as Reggie "The Sandman" Martin · 1 ep

1986
The Last Precinct poster

The Last Precinct

Movie · as Night Train

1986
The Last Precinct poster

The Last Precinct

TV · as Sergeant Lane · 8 eps

1985
Love on the Run poster

Love on the Run

Movie · as Lamar

1985
California Girls poster

California Girls

Movie · as Ernie

1985
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians poster

The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians

TV · as Cyborg (voice) · 10 eps

1985
The Insiders poster

The Insiders

TV · as Brewster · 1 ep

1984
Ghostbusters poster

Ghostbusters

Movie · as Winston Zeddemore

1984
Joy of Sex poster

Joy of Sex

Movie · as Mr. Porter

1984
On the Scene with the Ghostbusters poster

On the Scene with the Ghostbusters

Movie

1983
Going Berserk poster

Going Berserk

Movie · as Muhammed Jerome Willy

1983
Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone poster

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone

Movie · as Washington

1983
Two of a Kind poster

Two of a Kind

Movie · as Det. Skaggs

1983
Women of San Quentin poster

Women of San Quentin

Movie · as Charles Wilson

1983
The A-Team poster

The A-Team

TV · as Cal Freeman · 1 ep

1983
Webster poster

Webster

TV · 1 ep

1982
Penitentiary II poster

Penitentiary II

Movie · as Half Dead

1982
St. Elsewhere poster

St. Elsewhere

TV · as Jerry Close · 6 eps

1982
The New Odd Couple poster

The New Odd Couple

TV · as Moses Brown · 1 ep

1981
Underground Aces poster

Underground Aces

Movie · as African General

1981
Crazy Times poster

Crazy Times

Movie · as Harold 'Jazzman' Malloy

1981
A Matter of Life and Death poster

A Matter of Life and Death

Movie · as Mr. Harrison

1981
Flamingo Road poster

Flamingo Road

TV · 2 eps

1980
The Octagon poster

The Octagon

Movie · as Quinine

1980
White Mama poster

White Mama

Movie · as Counsellor

1980
The $5.20 an Hour Dream poster

The $5.20 an Hour Dream

Movie · as Homer Burden

1980
Skag poster

Skag

Movie

1980
The Jazz Singer poster

The Jazz Singer

Movie · as Heckler

1980
Bosom Buddies poster

Bosom Buddies

TV · 1 ep

1979
Joni poster

Joni

Movie · as Earl

1979
The Main Event poster

The Main Event

Movie · as Killer

1979
Highcliffe Manor

Highcliffe Manor

TV · as Smythe · 6 eps

1979
Detective School poster

Detective School

TV · 1 ep

1979
Roots: The Next Generations poster

Roots: The Next Generations

TV · as Muslim at Door · 1 ep

1978
Last of the Good Guys

Last of the Good Guys

Movie · as El Coliph

1978
Diff'rent Strokes poster

Diff'rent Strokes

TV · 1 ep

1978
The White Shadow poster

The White Shadow

TV · as Johnson · 1 ep

1978
Taxi poster

Taxi

TV · as Terry Carver · 1 ep

1978
Fantasy Island poster

Fantasy Island

TV · as Jamu · 1 ep

1977
Mad Bull poster

Mad Bull

Movie · as Black Bart

1977
Man from Atlantis IV: The Disappearances poster

Man from Atlantis IV: The Disappearances

Movie · as Minion

1977
The Incredible Hulk poster

The Incredible Hulk

TV · as Lee · 1 ep

1976
The Human Tornado poster

The Human Tornado

Movie · as Bo

1976
Leadbelly poster

Leadbelly

Movie · as Archie

1974
Little House on the Prairie poster

Little House on the Prairie

TV · as William Thomas · 1 ep

1973
Super Friends poster

Super Friends

TV · as Cyborg (voice) · 8 eps