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Ernie Hudson
★ Acting

Ernie Hudson

Born 1945 · Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA · Active 1973–2026

Ernie Hudson, born in 1945, has made significant contributions to the realm of cult cinema, particularly with his roles in The Human Tornado (1976) and Penitentiary II (1982). His performance in Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983) showcases his ability to navigate the bizarre landscapes of exploitation films. With a career that spans decades, Hudson's work embodies the spirit of grindhouse cinema, making him a notable figure in the SassyFlix catalog.

▶ Watch on SassyFlix 5 films available
Penitentiary II

Penitentiary II

1982 ★ 3.3
as Half Dead

Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone earned his parole from jail by winning a prison boxing tournament. All Too Sweet wants to do is start a peaceful life, but a condition of his release is that he work for a boxing promoter. Too Sweet has no interest in boxing and wants to live with his sister and her husband who support his desire to start over. However, when an old enemy from prison, Half Dead, escapes and kills his girlfriend, Too Sweet changes his plans and returns to the ring.

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Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

244 credits
2020s 21 credits
2026
Toy Story 5 as Combat Carl (voice)
Movie
2025
FEEL as Sitter 10
Movie
2025
John Candy: I Like Me as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Movie ★ 7.8
2025
Boston Blue as Rev. Edwin Peters
TV ★ 7.0
2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as Winston Zeddemore
Movie ★ 6.5
2024
TV ★ 5.2
2023
Movie ★ 6.2
2023
Movie ★ 5.9
2023
Champions as Coach Phil Peretti
Movie ★ 6.7
2022
In Search of Tomorrow as Self - Interviewee
Movie ★ 6.6
2022
Quantum Leap as Herbert 'Magic' Williams
TV ★ 7.0
2022
Sherri as Self - Guest
TV ★ 2.7
2022
TV ★ 5.6
2021
Beebo Saves Christmas as Santa Claus (voice)
Movie ★ 6.4
2021
Ghostbusters: Afterlife as Winston Zeddemore
Movie ★ 7.3
2021
Redemption Day as Ed Paxton
Movie ★ 5.9
2021
Star Wars: The Bad Batch as Grini Millegi (voice)
TV ★ 8.2
2020
Home Movie: The Princess Bride as Prince Humperdinck
TV ★ 7.5
2020
TV ★ 5.5
2010s 70 credits
2019
Adventure Force 5 as Dr. Lawrence Abel
Movie ★ 6.1
2019
Infinity Train as Atticus (voice)
TV ★ 8.4
2019
TV ★ 6.4
2019
City on a Hill as Franklin Ward
TV ★ 7.3
2019
The Movies That Made Us as Winston Zeddemore (archive footage)
TV ★ 7.3
2019
L.A.'s Finest as Joseph Vaughn
TV ★ 6.9
2019
The Masked Singer as Self - Special Guest
TV ★ 7.5
2018
Nappily Ever After as Richard Jones
Movie ★ 7.2
2018
Movie ★ 1.0
2018
TV ★ 8.5
2017
APB as Ned Conrad
TV ★ 6.5
2017
Steve as Self
TV ★ 6.0
2016
The Man in the Silo as Marcus Wells
Movie
2016
God's Not Dead 2 as Judge Stennis
Movie ★ 6.1
2016
Batman: Bad Blood as Lucius Fox (voice)
Movie ★ 7.0
2016
Spaceman as Joe
Movie ★ 5.8
2016
Ghostbusters as Uncle Bill
Movie ★ 5.3
2016
Ghostheads as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2016
Infinity Train as Atticus (voice)
Movie ★ 8.3
2016
Heaven Sent as Donatello
Movie ★ 6.5
2016
MacGyver as Milton Bozer
TV ★ 7.3
2016
Graves as Jacob Mann
TV ★ 5.0
2016
Lethal Weapon as Hank Peterson
TV ★ 7.3
2016
Angie Tribeca as Pete Tribeca
TV ★ 6.4
2015
Gallows Road as Bob Collins
Movie ★ 7.2
2015
Ballers as Mr. Hagerty
TV ★ 6.8
2015
TV ★ 7.7
2014
Movie ★ 7.4
2014
Showing Up as Self
Movie ★ 9.2
2014
Movie
2014
The Grim Sleeper as Detective Gerry Claymar
Movie ★ 4.9
2014
Touched as Dr. Beck
Movie ★ 6.2
2014
Merry Ex-Mas as Pastor Ed
Movie ★ 3.8
2014
Movie
2014
TV ★ 5.2
2014
Scorpion as Brooks
TV ★ 8.2
2013
Doonby as Leroy Jackson
Movie ★ 4.3
2013
Battledogs as Max Stevens
Movie ★ 4.5
2013
Movie ★ 7.0
2013
Dear Secret Santa as Pastor Avery
Movie ★ 6.0
2013
Turning Point as Joe Johnson
Movie ★ 10.0
2013
Ironside as Bludso
TV ★ 5.1
2013
TV ★ 5.7
2013
The Millers as Walter
TV ★ 5.8
2012
Movie ★ 6.3
2012
Deer Crossing as Captain Bailey
Movie ★ 2.4
2012
Ambush at Dark Canyon as Cyrus Parker
Movie ★ 4.4
2012
TV ★ 6.8
2012
Scandal as Commander Randolph Boles
TV ★ 7.2
2012
Arrow as Roy Stewart
TV ★ 6.8
2012
Guys with Kids as The Judge
TV ★ 5.6
2012
TV ★ 7.7
2011
Deep Blue Breath as Lord Vater (voice)
Movie
2011
Game of Death as Clarence
Movie ★ 5.0
2011
Movie ★ 7.2
2011
Movie ★ 5.9
2011
Once Upon a Time as King Poseidon
TV ★ 7.4
2011
Franklin & Bash as Judge Lawrence Perry
TV ★ 7.3
2011
Hart of Dixie as Ernie Hayes
TV ★ 7.3
2010
Movie ★ 5.4
2010
Stasis as Stranger
Movie ★ 2.8
2010
Nowhere to Land as Danny Gorlin
Movie ★ 5.8
2010
Machete Joe as Sheriff Taylor
Movie ★ 1.3
2010
Transformers: Prime as Agent William Fowler (voice)
TV ★ 8.1
2010
Rizzoli & Isles as Admiral Frost
TV ★ 7.9
2010
Blue Bloods as Darryl Ward
TV ★ 7.8
2010
Hot in Cleveland as Ernie Hudson
TV ★ 7.2
2000s 46 credits
2009
Dragonball Evolution as Master Mutaito
Movie ★ 2.9
2009
Pastor Brown as Deacon Harold Todd
Movie ★ 5.6
2009
Fatal Secrets as Detective Carter
Movie ★ 3.8
2009
Lonely Street as Captain Morgan
Movie ★ 4.6
2009
Meteor as Gen. Brasser
TV ★ 6.2
2009
White Collar as Mr. Jeffries
TV ★ 8.2
2009
TV ★ 7.9
2009
TV ★ 7.3
2008
Final Approach as Agent Lorenzo Dawson
Movie ★ 5.1
2008
TV ★ 6.9
2008
Childrens Hospital as Hubert McGraw
TV ★ 7.0
2007
All Hat as Jackson Jones
Movie ★ 3.1
2007
Nobel Son as Bill Canega
Movie ★ 6.1
2007
Private Practice as Captain Frank
TV ★ 7.5
2006
The Ron Clark Story as Principal Turner
Movie ★ 7.6
2006
Movie ★ 4.8
2006
Movie ★ 5.9
2006
Psych as William Guster
TV ★ 7.9
2006
Heroes as Captain Lubbock
TV ★ 7.4
2006
Torchwood as Stuart Owens
TV ★ 7.3
2005
Movie ★ 5.7
2005
Movie ★ 4.3
2005
Movie ★ 8.0
2005
Lackawanna Blues as Dick Barrymore
Movie ★ 5.9
2005
Movie ★ 5.7
2005
How I Met Your Mother as Ernie Hudson
TV ★ 8.1
2005
Bones as David Barron
TV ★ 8.2
2005
Grey's Anatomy as Brad McDougall
TV ★ 8.2
2005
Robot Chicken as Detective Ernie / Judge Hudson Jr. / Justin's Dad (voice)
TV ★ 7.6
2005
Criminal Minds as Lt. Al Garner
TV ★ 8.3
2004
Movie ★ 6.2
2004
Desperate Housewives as Detective Ridley
TV ★ 7.9
2003
Anne B. Real as Principal
Movie ★ 3.9
2003
Cold Case as Moses Jones
TV ★ 7.8
2003
10-8: Officers on Duty as Senior Deputy John Henry Barnes
TV ★ 7.9
2003
Las Vegas as Bob Casey
TV ★ 7.0
2002
Everwood as Bill Hoover
TV ★ 7.6
2002
Without a Trace as Manny Aybar
TV ★ 7.3
2001
Movie ★ 5.9
2001
Movie ★ 4.7
2001
Crossing Jordan as Colonel Wirth
TV ★ 7.2
2000
Miss Congeniality as Harry McDonald
Movie ★ 6.5
2000
The Watcher as FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Ibby
Movie ★ 5.1
2000
Movie ★ 7.0
2000
Paper Bullets as Detective Ron Mills
Movie ★ 4.5
2000
Red Letters as Detective Glen Teal
Movie ★ 4.7
1990s 43 credits
1999
Stealth Fighter as President Westwood
Movie ★ 4.3
1999
Shark Attack as Lawrence Rhodes
Movie ★ 5.1
1999
Movie ★ 4.9
1999
A Stranger in the Kingdom as Rev. Walter Andrews
Movie ★ 3.5
1999
Hijack as Senator Douglas Wilson
Movie ★ 4.7
1998
October 22 as Arthur
Movie ★ 6.6
1998
Movie ★ 5.9
1998
Butter as Curtis '8-Ball' Harris
Movie ★ 4.5
1997
Fakin' Da Funk as Joe Lee
Movie ★ 6.0
1997
Clover as Gaten Hill
Movie ★ 5.6
1997
Levitation as Downbeat
Movie ★ 7.0
1997
Operation Delta Force as Major Tipton
Movie ★ 3.8
1997
Mr. Magoo as Agent CIA Gus Anders
Movie ★ 4.5
1997
The View as Self
TV ★ 4.4
1997
Stargate SG-1 as Pernaux
TV ★ 8.3
1997
Oz as Leo Glynn
TV ★ 8.1
1996
Tornado! as Dr. Joe Branson
Movie ★ 5.7
1996
For Which He Stands as DEA Agent Baxter
Movie ★ 6.5
1996
The Substitute as Claude Rolle
Movie ★ 7.0
1996
The Cherokee Kid as Nat Love aka Deadwood Dick
Movie ★ 5.4
1996
Movie ★ 4.8
1996
Superman: The Animated Series as Professor Felix (voice)
TV ★ 7.7
1996
Arli$$ as Warden Leo Glynn
TV ★ 6.8
1995
Congo as Captain Monroe Kelly
Movie ★ 5.6
1995
Movie ★ 7.4
1994
The Crow as Albrecht
Movie ★ 7.5
1994
Airheads as Sergeant O'Malley
Movie ★ 6.2
1994
Speechless as Ventura
Movie ★ 5.9
1994
Sugar Hill as Lolly Jonas
Movie ★ 5.6
1994
The Cowboy Way as Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
Movie ★ 5.7
1994
No Escape as Hawkins
Movie ★ 6.2
1994
ER as James Gallant
TV ★ 7.8
1994
Touched by an Angel as Norm McCloud
TV ★ 7.2
1993
Wild Palms as Tommy Lazlo
TV ★ 6.2
1992
Movie ★ 6.9
1992
TV ★ 5.0
1992
Batman: The Animated Series as Security Guard (voice)
TV ★ 8.6
1992
Angel Street as Thurman Nickens
TV ★ 7.0
1990
Law & Order as Frank Gibson
TV ★ 7.3
1990
Broken Badges as Toby Baker
TV ★ 7.0
1990
Twin Peaks as Colonel Davis
TV ★ 8.3
1990
Cop Rock as Cmdr. Warren Osborne
TV ★ 4.3
1980s 38 credits
1989
Ghostbusters II as Winston Zeddemore
Movie ★ 6.6
1989
Leviathan as Justin Jones
Movie ★ 6.0
1989
Collision Course as Shortcut
Movie ★ 4.2
1989
Trapper County War as Jefferson Carter
Movie ★ 4.7
1989
TV ★ 8.0
1989
TV ★ 7.0
1988
Movie ★ 5.7
1988
Movie ★ 5.2
1987
Weeds as Bagdad
Movie ★ 5.4
1987
Full House as Reggie "The Sandman" Martin
TV ★ 7.5
1986
The Last Precinct as Night Train
Movie
1986
The Last Precinct as Sergeant Lane
TV ★ 6.3
1985
Movie ★ 5.0
1985
Movie ★ 4.3
1985
TV ★ 8.2
1985
The Insiders as Brewster
TV ★ 6.0
1984
Ghostbusters as Winston Zeddemore
Movie ★ 7.5
1984
Joy of Sex as Mr. Porter
Movie ★ 4.1
1983
Going Berserk as Muhammed Jerome Willy
Movie ★ 5.1
1983
Two of a Kind as Det. Skaggs
Movie ★ 5.9
1983
Women of San Quentin as Charles Wilson
Movie ★ 5.0
1983
The A-Team as Cal Freeman
TV ★ 7.5
1983
TV ★ 5.9
1982
Movie ★ 4.4
1982
St. Elsewhere as Jerry Close
TV ★ 5.7
1982
The New Odd Couple as Moses Brown
TV ★ 5.8
1981
Underground Aces as African General
Movie ★ 4.7
1981
Crazy Times as Harold 'Jazzman' Malloy
Movie
1981
Movie ★ 8.0
1981
TV ★ 6.3
1980
The Octagon as Quinine
Movie ★ 5.1
1980
White Mama as Counsellor
Movie ★ 8.0
1980
Movie ★ 9.0
1980
Movie
1980
Movie ★ 5.9
1980
TV ★ 6.4
1970s 17 credits
1979
Joni as Earl
Movie ★ 6.3
1979
Movie ★ 5.3
1979
TV ★ 7.5
1979
TV ★ 6.0
1979
TV ★ 7.4
1978
Movie ★ 9.0
1978
TV ★ 7.1
1978
TV ★ 7.1
1978
Taxi as Terry Carver
TV ★ 7.3
1978
TV ★ 6.5
1977
Mad Bull as Black Bart
Movie ★ 8.0
1977
Movie ★ 8.0
1977
TV ★ 7.2
1976
Movie ★ 6.1
1976
Leadbelly as Archie
Movie ★ 6.4
1974
TV ★ 7.9
1973
Super Friends as Cyborg (voice)
TV ★ 7.7
s 7 credits
Oswald: Down The Rabbit Hole as Oswald Jebediah Coleman
Movie
Mr. Beebee as Wayne Proctor
Movie
Movie
Movie
TV
Crew Credits
2020s 1 credit
2023
Movie
2010s 1 credit
2018
TV ★ 8.5