Ernie Hudson
Acting Born Dec 17, 1945 Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA 244 credits
Biography
Ernie Hudson is an American actor born on December 17, 1945, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He is known for his acting career, which spans over 243 credits. Hudson has appeared in various films and television shows, including the Ghostbusters franchise, where he played a notable role. He has also acted in films such as Leviathan, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and Congo. On television, Hudson's most prominent role was as Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's Oz, and he has also appeared in shows like St. Elsewhere, Desperate Housewives, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Advertisement
Career overview
Ernie Hudson is an American actor born on December 17, 1945. He has appeared in numerous films throughout his career. In 1989, he acted in the film Leviathan. He also appeared in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in 1992, The Crow in 1994, Airheads in 1994, The Basketball Diaries in 1995, Congo in 1995, and Miss Congeniality in 2000.
Hudson's television career includes a notable role as Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's series Oz from 1997 to 2003. He has also appeared in various other television shows, including St. Elsewhere in 1984, The Last Precinct in 1986, 10-8: Officers on Duty from 2003 to 2004, Desperate Housewives from 2006 to 2007, The Secret Life of the American Teenager from 2008 to 2013, and Law & Order from 2009 to 2010.
With a career spanning multiple decades, Ernie Hudson has accumulated a significant number of acting credits. He has appeared in over 240 projects, showcasing his versatility as a performer. His extensive film and television experience has solidified his position as a respected figure in the entertainment industry.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Ernie Hudson.
Frequent co-stars
Bill Murray
4 shared titles
Dan Aykroyd
4 shared titles
Annie Potts
4 shared titles
Sigourney Weaver
3 shared titles
Harold Ramis
3 shared titles
J.K. Simmons
2 shared titles
Scott William Winters
2 shared titles
Malcolm McDowell
2 shared titles
Kumail Nanjiani
2 shared titles
Mckenna Grace
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Toy Story 5
Boston BlueJohn Candy: I Like MeFEEL
Angry Birds Mystery IslandGhostbusters: Frozen Empire
The Retirement PlanChampionsPrisoner's DaughterDarrin's Dance Grooves: The Untold Darrin Henson StoryGhost in the House · Writer
The Jennifer Hudson ShowSherriQuantum LeapIn Search of Tomorrow
Star Wars: The Bad BatchGhostbusters: AfterlifeRedemption DayBeebo Saves Christmas
Home Movie: The Princess BrideReunited ApartCleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters
The Kelly Clarkson ShowThe Masked SingerInfinity TrainL.A.'s FinestCity on a Hill
Carl Weber's The Family BusinessCarl Weber's The Family Business · Executive ProducerNappily Ever AfterHigh & Outside: A Baseball Noir
SteveAPB
Lethal WeaponMacGyverAngie TribecaGhostbustersGraves
Grace and FrankieBallersGallows RoadHorror Icon: Inside Michael's Mask with Tony Moran
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersScorpionYou're Not YouShowing Up
The Last LegThe MillersIronsideTurning PointCall Me Crazy: A Five Film
ArrowScandalKey & PeeleComic Book MenGuys with Kids
Once Upon a TimeHart of DixieFranklin & BashBeverly Hills Chihuahua 2Game of Death
Blue BloodsRizzoli & IslesHot in ClevelandTransformers: PrimeSmokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball
Modern FamilyWhite CollarCelebrity Ghost StoriesDragonball EvolutionMeteor
The Secret Life of the American TeenagerChildrens HospitalFinal Approach
Private PracticeNobel SonAll Hat
PsychHeroesTorchwoodThe Ron Clark StorySnoop Dogg's Hood of Horror
Grey's AnatomyCriminal MindsBonesHow I Met Your MotherRobot Chicken
Desperate HousewivesClifford's Really Big Movie
Cold CaseLas Vegas10-8: Officers on DutyAnne B. Real
EverwoodWithout a Trace
Crossing JordanA Town Without ChristmasWalking Shadow
Miss CongenialityThe WatcherNowhere to LandEverything's JakeRed Letters
Michael Jordan: An American HeroInterceptorsShark AttackStealth FighterHijack
ButterBest of the Best 4: Without WarningOctober 22
Stargate SG-1The ViewOzFakin' Da FunkMr. Magoo
Full Filmography
244 titles- Toy Story 5 (2026) as Combat Carl (voice)
- Boston Blue (2025) as Rev. Edwin Peters
- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- FEEL (2025) as Sitter 10
- Angry Birds Mystery Island (2024) as Marlon (voice)
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) as Winston Zeddemore
- The Retirement Plan (2023) as Joseph
- Champions (2023) as Coach Phil Peretti
- Prisoner's Daughter (2023) as Hank
- Darrin's Dance Grooves: The Untold Darrin Henson Story (2023) as Self (voiceover)
- Ghost in the House (2023) Writer
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self
- Sherri (2022) as Self - Guest
- Quantum Leap (2022) as Herbert 'Magic' Williams
- In Search of Tomorrow (2022) as Self - Interviewee
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021) as Grini Millegi (voice)
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) as Winston Zeddemore
- Redemption Day (2021) as Ed Paxton
- Beebo Saves Christmas (2021) as Santa Claus (voice)
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Prince Humperdinck
- Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
- Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- The Masked Singer (2019) as Self - Special Guest
- Infinity Train (2019) as Atticus (voice)
- L.A.'s Finest (2019) as Joseph Vaughn
- City on a Hill (2019) as Franklin Ward
- The Movies That Made Us (2019) as Winston Zeddemore (archive footage)
- Adventure Force 5 (2019) as Dr. Lawrence Abel
- Carl Weber's The Family Business (2018) as L.C. Duncan
- Carl Weber's The Family Business (2018) Executive Producer
- Nappily Ever After (2018) as Richard Jones
- High & Outside: A Baseball Noir (2018) as Sanzone
- Steve (2017) as Self
- APB (2017) as Ned Conrad
- Lethal Weapon (2016) as Hank Peterson
- MacGyver (2016) as Milton Bozer
- Angie Tribeca (2016) as Pete Tribeca
- Ghostbusters (2016) as Uncle Bill
- Graves (2016) as Jacob Mann
- Batman: Bad Blood (2016) as Lucius Fox (voice)
- God's Not Dead 2 (2016) as Judge Stennis
- Ghostheads (2016) as Self
- Spaceman (2016) as Joe
- Heaven Sent (2016) as Donatello
- Infinity Train (2016) as Atticus (voice)
- The Man in the Silo (2016) as Marcus Wells
- Grace and Frankie (2015) as Jacob
- Ballers (2015) as Mr. Hagerty
- Gallows Road (2015) as Bob Collins
- Horror Icon: Inside Michael's Mask with Tony Moran (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Scorpion (2014) as Brooks
- You're Not You (2014) as John
- Showing Up (2014) as Self
- The Last Song (2014) as Guest
- Touched (2014) as Dr. Beck
- Merry Ex-Mas (2014) as Pastor Ed
- The Grim Sleeper (2014) as Detective Gerry Claymar
- To Hell and Back (2014) as Joe
- The Last Leg (2013) as Self
- The Millers (2013) as Walter
- Ironside (2013) as Bludso
- Turning Point (2013) as Joe Johnson
- Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (2013) as Percy
- Dear Secret Santa (2013) as Pastor Avery
- Doonby (2013) as Leroy Jackson
- Battledogs (2013) as Max Stevens
- Arrow (2012) as Roy Stewart
- Scandal (2012) as Commander Randolph Boles
- Key & Peele (2012) as Dad
- Comic Book Men (2012) as Self
- Guys with Kids (2012) as The Judge
- Deer Crossing (2012) as Captain Bailey
- Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! (2012) as Pedro (voice)
- Ambush at Dark Canyon (2012) as Cyrus Parker
- The Adventures of Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Conspiracy (2012) as Ivan Stumpwater
- Once Upon a Time (2011) as King Poseidon
- Hart of Dixie (2011) as Ernie Hayes
- Franklin & Bash (2011) as Judge Lawrence Perry
- Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011) as Pedro
- Game of Death (2011) as Clarence
- Deep Blue Breath (2011) as Lord Vater (voice)
- Underground Entertainment: The Movie (2011) as Ernie
- Blue Bloods (2010) as Darryl Ward
- Rizzoli & Isles (2010) as Admiral Frost
- Hot in Cleveland (2010) as Ernie Hudson
- Transformers: Prime (2010) as Agent William Fowler (voice)
- Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball (2010) as Anthony Vejar
- Machete Joe (2010) as Sheriff Taylor
- Stasis (2010) as Stranger
- Modern Family (2009) as Miles
- White Collar (2009) as Mr. Jeffries
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009) as Self
- Dragonball Evolution (2009) as Master Mutaito
- Meteor (2009) as Gen. Brasser
- Fatal Secrets (2009) as Detective Carter
- Pastor Brown (2009) as Deacon Harold Todd
- Lonely Street (2009) as Captain Morgan
- The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008) as Dr. Ken Fields
- Childrens Hospital (2008) as Hubert McGraw
- Final Approach (2008) as Agent Lorenzo Dawson
- Private Practice (2007) as Captain Frank
- Nobel Son (2007) as Bill Canega
- All Hat (2007) as Jackson Jones
- Psych (2006) as William Guster
- Heroes (2006) as Captain Lubbock
- Torchwood (2006) as Stuart Owens
- The Ron Clark Story (2006) as Principal Turner
- Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror (2006) as Roscoe
- Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2006) as Blake Rische
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Brad McDougall
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Lt. Al Garner
- Bones (2005) as David Barron
- How I Met Your Mother (2005) as Ernie Hudson
- Robot Chicken (2005) as Detective Ernie / Judge Hudson Jr. / Justin's Dad (voice)
- Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) as Harry McDonald
- Confessions of an Action Star (2005) as Self / Commander
- Lackawanna Blues (2005) as Dick Barrymore
- Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story (2005) as Perry Beasley
- Halfway Decent (2005) as Tom
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Detective Ridley
- Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004) as P.T. (voice)
- Cold Case (2003) as Moses Jones
- Las Vegas (2003) as Bob Casey
- 10-8: Officers on Duty (2003) as Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes
- Anne B. Real (2003) as Principal
- Everwood (2002) as Bill Hoover
- Without a Trace (2002) as Manny Aybar
- Crossing Jordan (2001) as Colonel Wirth
- A Town Without Christmas (2001) as Ted
- Walking Shadow (2001) as Hawk
- Miss Congeniality (2000) as Harry McDonald
- The Watcher (2000) as FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Ibby
- Nowhere to Land (2000) as Danny Gorlin
- Everything's Jake (2000) as Jake
- Red Letters (2000) as Detective Glen Teal
- Paper Bullets (2000) as Detective Ron Mills
- Michael Jordan: An American Hero (1999)
- Interceptors (1999) as Major
- Shark Attack (1999) as Lawrence Rhodes
- Stealth Fighter (1999) as President Westwood
- Hijack (1999) as Senator Douglas Wilson
- A Stranger in the Kingdom (1999) as Rev. Walter Andrews
- Butter (1998) as Curtis '8-Ball' Harris
- Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998) as Detective Gresko
- October 22 (1998) as Arthur
- Stargate SG-1 (1997) as Pernaux
- The View (1997) as Self
- Oz (1997) as Leo Glynn
- Fakin' Da Funk (1997) as Joe Lee
- Mr. Magoo (1997) as Agent CIA Gus Anders
- Operation Delta Force (1997) as Major Tipton
- Levitation (1997) as Downbeat
- Clover (1997) as Gaten Hill
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996) as Professor Felix (voice)
- Arli$$ (1996) as Warden Leo Glynn
- The Substitute (1996) as Claude Rolle
- Just Your Luck (1996) as Willie
- The Cherokee Kid (1996) as Nat Love aka Deadwood Dick
- For Which He Stands (1996) as DEA Agent Baxter
- Tornado! (1996) as Dr. Joe Branson
- The Basketball Diaries (1995) as Reggie
- Congo (1995) as Captain Monroe Kelly
- ER (1994) as James Gallant
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Norm McCloud
- The Crow (1994) as Albrecht
- No Escape (1994) as Hawkins
- The Cowboy Way (1994) as Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
- Speechless (1994) as Ventura
- Airheads (1994) as Sergeant O'Malley
- Sugar Hill (1994) as Lolly Jonas
- Wild Palms (1993) as Tommy Lazlo
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992) as Security Guard (voice)
- The Ben Stiller Show (1992)
- The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) as Solomon
- Angel Street (1992) as Thurman Nickens
- Law & Order (1990) as Frank Gibson
- Twin Peaks (1990) as Colonel Davis
- Cop Rock (1990) as Cmdr. Warren Osborne
- Broken Badges (1990) as Toby Baker
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Zambini
- The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989) as Ernie Hudson
- Ghostbusters II (1989) as Winston Zeddemore
- Collision Course (1989) as Shortcut
- Leviathan (1989) as Justin Jones
- Trapper County War (1989) as Jefferson Carter
- The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (1988) as Joe Hamilton
- The Wrong Guys (1988) as Dawson
- Full House (1987) as Reggie "The Sandman" Martin
- Weeds (1987) as Bagdad
- The Last Precinct (1986) as Sergeant Lane
- The Last Precinct (1986) as Night Train
- The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985) as Cyborg (voice)
- The Insiders (1985) as Brewster
- California Girls (1985) as Ernie
- Love on the Run (1985) as Lamar
- Ghostbusters (1984) as Winston Zeddemore
- Joy of Sex (1984) as Mr. Porter
- On the Scene with the Ghostbusters (1984)
- The A-Team (1983) as Cal Freeman
- Webster (1983)
- Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983) as Washington
- Two of a Kind (1983) as Det. Skaggs
- Women of San Quentin (1983) as Charles Wilson
- Going Berserk (1983) as Muhammed Jerome Willy
- St. Elsewhere (1982) as Jerry Close
- The New Odd Couple (1982) as Moses Brown
- Penitentiary II (1982) as Half Dead
- Flamingo Road (1981)
- Crazy Times (1981) as Harold 'Jazzman' Malloy
- Underground Aces (1981) as African General
- A Matter of Life and Death (1981) as Mr. Harrison
- Bosom Buddies (1980)
- Skag (1980)
- The Jazz Singer (1980) as Heckler
- The Octagon (1980) as Quinine
- The $5.20 an Hour Dream (1980) as Homer Burden
- White Mama (1980) as Counsellor
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Muslim at Door
- Detective School (1979)
- The Main Event (1979) as Killer
- Highcliffe Manor (1979) as Smythe
- Joni (1979) as Earl
- Taxi (1978) as Terry Carver
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Jamu
- The White Shadow (1978) as Johnson
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
- Last of the Good Guys (1978) as El Coliph
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) as Lee
- Man from Atlantis IV: The Disappearances (1977) as Minion
- Mad Bull (1977) as Black Bart
- Leadbelly (1976) as Archie
- The Human Tornado (1976) as Bo
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as William Thomas
- Super Friends (1973) as Cyborg (voice)
- Beautiful People as Jack
- Hal
- Famous
- Mr. Beebee as Wayne Proctor
- Sisters in Italy
- Deepest, Darkest
- Oswald: Down The Rabbit Hole as Oswald Jebediah Coleman
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ernie Hudson best known for?
Ernie Hudson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Toy Story 5 (2026), Boston Blue (2025), John Candy: I Like Me (2025), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024).
When and where was Ernie Hudson born?
Ernie Hudson was born on December 17, 1945 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA.
How many credits does Ernie Hudson have?
Ernie Hudson has accumulated over 244 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1973 to 2026.
What is Ernie Hudson's background in cinema and television?
Ernie Hudson is an American actor born on December 17, 1945, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He is known for his acting career, which spans over 243 credits. Hudson has appeared in various films and television shows, including the Ghostbusters franchise, where he played a notable role. He has also acted in films such ...