0:00

Ernie: The years started to go by. Ernie: Five years, people were still yelling who you're going to call.

0:04

Ernie: And ten years and fifteen years and twenty years, and I'm seeing people dressed up in their jumpsuits and turning their cars into ectomobiles.

0:12

Ernie: That was really surprising. Announcer: Welcome to Story and Craft.

0:16

Announcer: Now here's your host, Marc Preston.

0:18

Marc: All right, here we go. Marc: Another episode of Story and Craft.

0:22

Marc: Welcome back. Marc: Glad to have you. Marc: If this is your first time, of course, welcome, appreciate you stopping by.

0:29

Marc: Today we are chatting with veteran actor Ernie Hudson.

0:33

Marc: Over the last 50 plus years he has been in just a ton of stuff, most notably, probably to kids of the 80s like me Ghostbusters.

0:42

Marc: Of course, he is in the NBC reboot of the show Quantum Leap.

0:47

Marc: It just came out, so make sure to check that out.

0:50

Marc: Great conversation with Ernie. Marc: I think you'll enjoy it.

0:53

Marc: Quite a bit. Marc: Real quick, don't forget if you would make sure to follow and like Story and Craft on your podcast app.

1:02

Marc: Leave a little review if you would. Marc: Apple podcasts or whatever app you choose.

1:07

Marc: Of course, everything Story and Craft is at StoryAndCraftPod.com.

1:14

Marc: So stop by, check it out And right now let's get after it.

1:18

Marc: Today is Ernie Hudson Day, right here on Story and Craft.

1:24

Marc: So where are you joining me from today? Ernie: I'm in Lake Arrowhead, California.

1:29

Ernie: Where is that exactly? Ernie: It's just above San Bernardino, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, up in the mountains.

1:38

Marc: Oh, okay, okay, A little bit more scenic of an area than the greater Los Angeles, i suppose.

1:44

Ernie: Yeah, I'm in LA when I'm working, but when I'm not, I'm up here.

1:49

Marc: Has that been where you've been located for quite some time, or is this just kind of a new move for you?

1:55

Ernie: Well, it's sort of a new move. Ernie: We were here during the 80s up until about 2002, and then we moved off the mountain, moved to Minnesota for a while, but just came back up here about a year ago.

2:10

Marc: Going from Southern California weather to Minnesota has got to be a culture shock, at least a little bit.

2:18

Ernie: Well, that's you know. Ernie: You marry someone and you know.

2:23

Ernie: My wife said wherever you go, i'll go.

2:25

Ernie: It's been the other way around. Ernie: Wherever she goes, that's where I am.

2:29

Ernie: Her parents were in their 90s and needed her, and so that's what we were for about six years.

2:36

Marc: They've transitioned on since but you say you know kind of the way it traditionally works where you go, i go kind of a thing, and I live in New Orleans.

2:43

Marc: I'm from Texas originally but I live in New Orleans now, no longer married.

2:48

Marc: But the rule is, if you marry somebody from New Orleans you end up living in New Orleans, at least for a period of time, and that's kind of the joke.

2:55

Marc: It's rare. Marc: It's almost like this little tribe of expats.

2:59

Marc: You're like wait, you're from somewhere else, also You must have married somebody.

3:02

Marc: They're like yeah, yeah. Marc: Yeah, you got your MFA at Yale, correct?

3:07

Ernie: Yeah, i went to Yale. Ernie: I was there for a year. Ernie: I didn't get the MFA, but I was a year in drama school, got married very early.

3:14

Ernie: I'm from Michigan and was having marital difficulties.

3:18

Ernie: Left school, got possession of the kids, came out to California.

3:23

Ernie: I've been mostly based in Los Angeles because I've worked all over the years, so what?

3:30

Marc: was that like? Marc: I'm very curious. Marc: I was in a very similar situation.

3:34

Marc: What is it like working Because the actor's life back in the day you can't self-tape.

3:40

Marc: You've got to go to auditions and you're Yeah. Marc: Yeah, you had a couple of boys, i think, at that age right, yeah, four sons but two older boys.

3:49

Ernie: It was just the three of us And you know kids bring out the best in you.

3:55

Ernie: I think I went to California, i suppose in New York, because I have a brother who was in LA and I knew he would always have my back in case I needed someone to check on the kids.

4:08

Ernie: But the boys were really. Ernie: They probably helped raise me as much as I raised them.

4:13

Ernie: So it was the three of us And we, as they say, we got by.

4:18

Marc: Isn't that funny, the way that works. Marc: I saw a quote once that said with kids don't realize.

4:24

Marc: You don't realize, as your parents are growing up with you at the same time.

4:27

Marc: Yeah, yeah. Ernie: My oldest son was born when I was 19.

4:32

Ernie: I never had a dad or a mom, so it was kind of discovering that whole parental thing, sort of winging it, and I always say it was the best thing ever happened to me, but it also was very difficult at the time.

4:46

Marc: I had a somewhat similar. Marc: Let's say I didn't have quite the modeling that you would.

4:50

Marc: You know, june award Cleaver, my parents were not.

4:53

Marc: So it's kind of when you kind of have to get that you registered a certain age.

4:57

Marc: I got to kind of figure some things out on my own And I think there's kind of a liberty to that because you get to craft your own thing on your own terms and make your own mistakes and hopefully learn from them.

5:07

Marc: But just kind of going to origin story going, you said you're from Michigan, are you from?

5:12

Ernie: around Detroit, no, the opposite side of the state.

5:15

Ernie: I'm from Benton Harbor, which is right on the coast of Lake Michigan, directly across from Chicago, went to college in Detroit and kind of discovered theater in Detroit.

5:28

Ernie: So Detroit was really, really important. Ernie: But that was after high school, getting married, and we decided to head to Detroit.

5:36

Marc: What was the theater thing part of your high school Was that.

5:39

Marc: Were you in athletics or was theater kind of this thing?

5:41

Marc: like I'll try this out, why not? Ernie: You know, i grew up in this very.

5:46

Ernie: my grandmother who raised me was really religious, very much involved with the church, and I grew up in the church.

5:54

Ernie: People say you know, you're from the hood, i go.

5:56

Ernie: no, no, it was school and church. Ernie: I lived mostly at church but and I didn't play sports because the church didn't believe in sports.

6:05

Ernie: It was sort of against their rules. Ernie: I took some acting or some theater classes a couple times in high school but I really didn't discover theater until I got to Detroit and by accident stumbled into a theater and was just just mesmerized by this production and just thought that it had to be the greatest thing in the world to be to be in theater.

6:30

Marc: You know what was your trajectory like? Marc: Were you looking at people on film and TV and going that's where I want to go, that's the end game?

6:36

Marc: Or was it just readjust a theater guy? Marc: It just happened into the on camera?

6:41

Ernie: Yeah Well, you know, growing up you watch CB.

6:43

Ernie: You think it would be something really very cool, but I didn't know any actors So it was never a part of my psyche.

6:48

Ernie: Once I discovered a theater, it was after having a family trying every job possible, being very bad at everything, that by the time I walked on stage I just felt at home and I felt like this is something I got, i can do, and that was in, whatever it took to be good at it and to be able to make a living.

7:12

Ernie: That's where I was. Ernie: I just wanted to be a working actor.

7:16

Ernie: Didn't think too much about the whole star thing or, but I just wanted to to be able to work.

7:24

Marc: My kids and I. Marc: By the way and this is a little tiny bit of a spoiler for anybody that hasn't seen the most recent Ghostbusters after life You do show up in it.

7:32

Marc: I was like what a great thing it was to see you show up in that.

7:34

Marc: I was like that was just cool.

7:37

Marc: But going back to the original Ghostbusters leading up to that, you were kind of like what I consider to be one of my favorite people, which is just a working actor, and either I had to actually write this down Fantasy Island, black Sheep Squadron, incredible Hulk, one day, at a time too close to come for different strokes, a Little House in the Prairie Buzzing Buddies.

7:56

Marc: You know, episode, episode That's like Murderer's Row of, like what was going on back in the day.

8:00

Marc: Were you that guy who was just getting one episodes on all these different shows hustling?

8:07

Marc: Yeah, if the timeline registers correctly.

8:10

Marc: But when you got to Ghostbusters, that was a real big turning point for you.

8:14

Marc: Is that correct? Ernie: Well it should have been. Ernie: I mean, i've always worked And, being a single dad, i'd go in.

8:22

Ernie: I had to get the job. Ernie: I worked. Ernie: I went from show to show.

8:25

Ernie: Ghostbusters came out. Ernie: It was a huge hit. Ernie: It did not change Suddenly.

8:30

Ernie: I felt like I was blocked out for about three years.

8:32

Ernie: I couldn't get another film, but I did. Ernie: I kept working TV.

8:36

Marc: Why do you think that was? Marc: Do you think it was because people were too closely identifying you with and the character?

8:43

Marc: people said the name two different ways Zedmore and Zedamore Yeah.

8:46

Ernie: I would write I say Zedamore, but I'm sure actors never know why they're working and never really know why they're not working.

8:56

Ernie: It might have been that they thought I was.

9:00

Ernie: I have no idea. Ernie: I've heard that we thought you were a comedian or something.

9:05

Ernie: All I know is worked right up And I've been working in film for about eight years, you know but that just shut everything down And it took three years.

9:15

Ernie: I did a Nick Nolte was doing a movie called Weeds and I went in determined to get the job and finally, and then I started working.

9:22

Ernie: I got eight movies back to back and Ghostbusters II came out and the same thing happened for a couple of years.

9:28

Ernie: Just shut out again. Marc: What do you think it was that was working for you mindset wise, you know, because you were doing what I think is just I love actors that always show up doing different stuff.

9:39

Marc: You always see them. Marc: Some of them you may not know their name, but they're always showing up.

9:43

Marc: That transition when you started getting a lot more attraction, was it a change in mindset?

9:47

Marc: Was it just a change and just you had more on your resume.

9:49

Marc: What do you think it was? Ernie: You know, i've never really seen the change.

9:54

Ernie: For me it's always been pretty much the focus of.

9:58

Ernie: I had an instructor once who told me that I wouldn't get a job.

10:02

Ernie: You see, you never get a job because you're so good looking or because you're so friendly and people like you so much, or you know you have to show up and improve, that you deserve the part.

10:13

Ernie: So I've always gone in and I've never had a part or felt like I had a part that was created just for me.

10:21

Ernie: I have friends who've had things that was written for them.

10:24

Ernie: I had to. Ernie: If it had to be funny, i had to be funny.

10:26

Ernie: If it was dramatic, i had to make somebody cry.

10:29

Ernie: I had to do what the part. Ernie: I had to tell the story.

10:33

Ernie: And I think I've never felt like I've made it to a certain place.

10:39

Ernie: I always knew I had to show up and convince whoever it was that I was in fact the best person for the job.

10:45

Marc: You know that's such a great work ethic. Marc: Just, you know it's so funny when you show up and the production's already in motion.

10:52

Marc: You know everybody has relationships built And now you have to somehow integrate yourself into that ecosystem.

10:58

Marc: Now I know that with Ghostbusters that Dan Acquard, i think he'd originally written for his Bill Murray and not Bill Murray.

11:06

Marc: I'm sorry he was originally written for Jim Beluche.

11:10

Marc: Yeah, jim Beluche. Ernie: And Jim Murphy.

11:14

Ernie: I think, and I think Jim Murphy was.

11:17

Marc: I have to know and I'll probably bounce in and out of this occasionally but Harold Ramis kind of had this different vibe than everybody else.

11:25

Marc: You know Bill Murray he's being Bill Murray, you know and you had your vibe.

11:28

Marc: But Harold Ramis kind of had he was just a different vibe than wherever he showed up.

11:34

Marc: I just always kind of watched him and I didn't realize.

11:37

Marc: He also wrote and he was also a creative guy And Harold Ramis, what was it like?

11:42

Marc: just kind of creating alongside what he was doing.

11:45

Ernie: Well, harold was always the go-to guy. Ernie: Harold was the one that, no matter what happened, you know, you could always go to Harold.

11:53

Ernie: he'd sort of explain things, especially for me, because those guys have been together for a number of years with Saturday Night Live.

12:00

Ernie: they had worked together on Second City And I was kind of and they came from Memproff, i'm an actor but Harold was always the guy who would just sort of, you know, break things down and say, ernie, it's, don't worry about it, there was a lot of this, you know, crazy stuff to adjust to.

12:21

Ernie: I'll put it that way ["Saturday Night Live"].

12:29

Marc: You're on a set with guys who not only have had his established, but they have like the whole Saturday Night Live thing.

12:35

Marc: So this is like real deeply entrenched relationships And did you ever feel like an odd man out or anything?

12:39

Ernie: Yeah, well, i felt that they were like family, which meant that sometimes they'd be at odds with each other sometimes I mean all that emotional stuff And I'm just sort of fitting, you know, finding it was almost like visiting a family for dinner and they're all used to eating and you're sitting there trying to be polite and trying to figure out how do you fit in.

13:02

Ernie: Harold was always very inclusive, so and it wasn't just to me, i think sometimes, when Billy would get you know, things would be a little at odds.

13:13

Ernie: Harold was a guy who kept the ship afloat, you know, and Ivan was a director.

13:19

Ernie: Ivan was amazing, but Harold was always the peacemaker.

13:24

Ernie: He always kind of knew how to bring people together and I always appreciated.

13:29

Ernie: Yeah, i used to watch Harold. Ernie: I always say I owe a lot of my career to him, not because of Ghostbusters, but I would watch how he interacted with the crew, with people, and I thought, okay, that's professionalism, that's about the show as opposed to about the personality.

13:48

Ernie: It was pretty amazing, just and a good human being, just a good person.

13:52

Marc: Well, it's great you had him there, because I can imagine, with the cast that's there, Ivan Reitman must have been, like you know, conducting a cat rodeo.

13:59

Marc: I mean, well, like he's got Bill Murray being, you know, and Dan Ackroyd and this originally was Dan Ackroyd's thing, Ghostbusters was his baby, but it got kind of rewritten to be turned into what it turned into, right Kind of going forward.

14:14

Marc: There was a film and I always I was speaking with a director a little while back who had directed Ray Liotta, and I spoke to somebody and acted with him and I was like the only time I interviewed him I worked at ABC Radio as young puppy, you know post, and it was no escape And I cannot remember not until I looked up your info I was like I couldn't remember the name of that movie I interviewed him for.

14:39

Marc: Did you have that much time acting with Ray Liotta? Marc: I know we just lost him, but I was just.

14:42

Marc: He seemed like just a real cool guy.

14:45

Marc: What was it like back in roughly 94 to act with him?

14:48

Ernie: Yeah, no, we no escape me.

14:51

Ernie: Ray Lance Hendrickson.

14:53

Ernie: It was great Ray was. Ernie: I first worked with Ray back in, i think it was 78, maybe.

15:01

Ernie: No really, yeah, crazy times.

15:03

Ernie: And it was Ray Liotta, david Caruso and Michael Perret were three kids from Rockaway Island and I played a jazz singer who they would sort of come to and talk.

15:15

Ernie: I was there, the guy when they had problems.

15:18

Ernie: I'd sort of advise him. Ernie: It was a great little movie and that's where we first met.

15:25

Ernie: So we were friends for a long time working together on No Escape.

15:30

Ernie: Ray was, he was about to work and he, um, you know you work with some actors who are very, what do I say?

15:39

Ernie: involved with. Ernie: Ray was focused, he was really focused on the work.

15:45

Ernie: He was a pro, you know, completely, and I always like it when actors you know they are secure enough to where you don't have to try to accommodate them.

15:55

Ernie: You know you can just focus on your job because they are doing theirs and they bring their best and it demands that you bring your best.

16:04

Ernie: So, but just, you know, we've always got along very, very well.

16:08

Marc: I was speaking with the director, ariel Vroman, and he had directed him in The Iceman and he had cast me actually there's another film coming out about 1992 after the Rodney King verdict and he said, you know, he kind of tests you a little bit but he just is the nicest guy and I just he's one of the guys I wanted to talk to again And going forward, i mean, what is it that you know, your focus, film or TV?

16:33

Marc: has there ever been a focus in your mind? Marc: or just wherever the work is?

16:37

Ernie: Well, i've always prided myself on it.

16:40

Ernie: It didn't matter where the work was, it'd be a theater, i just felt you, you have to be prepared for, you know, animation, voiceover, whatever you know, i'm ready to go to work.

16:54

Ernie: But as I've gotten older I've been doing this now for 55 years and you know it's.

17:01

Ernie: I'm more interested in working with people who are really interested in working with me.

17:07

Ernie: I don't audition anymore. Ernie: I don't. Ernie: You know, i'm not out looking for a job to pay the bills The bills are paid, thank God And just looking for those fun.

17:17

Ernie: I love characters that are a little bit different, that introduce something to you that you haven't done before.

17:24

Ernie: But I really appreciate people. Ernie: I'm doing a show now called Quantum Leap for NBC and I really I love that show and I love being a part of it.

17:32

Ernie: But what I really appreciate it is they came to me and said hey, we really love your work and we'd like you to be a part of it.

17:39

Ernie: That goes a long way with me. Ernie: If I got to beg you for a job, i really I just don't want to do that anymore, and that's one of the things I saw you're going to be in Quantum Leap.

17:46

Marc: I was like what a cool show to bring back.

17:49

Marc: Is it structurally going to be the same as before, or is it more of a reimagined version of it?

17:55

Ernie: Well, it's more of an updated well, it takes place 30 years.

18:00

Ernie: That was done in the 90s, so we're in the 20s, so it's modern day and it's based on the original, so paying homage and respect to that one, but it's in the same world, in the same universe.

18:14

Ernie: it's just here. Ernie: we are now X number of years later And the show is similar, but there are obviously some modern changes.

18:26

Ernie: I think the fans who love that show will love what we're doing with it now.

18:30

Marc: It's one of those ones that think why haven't they rebooted the show yet?

18:33

Marc: It has such a cool premise to it because it seems like now, if you're for somebody like me, as a kid of the 80s, i don't remember being a kid of the 80s and seeing them reboot stuff from the 50s, 60s, 70s, but man, all the stuff from the 80s and 90s are showing up and it's kind of cool because they have the special effects that they can do now that they couldn't do back then, but real quick, i was going to ask you.

18:56

Marc: You mentioned your sons. Marc: Any of your sons go into writing acting.

19:03

Marc: Did they follow dad's lead at all?

19:07

Ernie: Well, my oldest son. Ernie: He was acting for a while, in fact.

19:11

Ernie: He did a season of Oz. Ernie: I did the HBO series Oz.

19:16

Ernie: We did a number of movies together. Ernie: I think he was in Candy Man, so he was working a bit.

19:22

Ernie: He got into corporate work, so now that's kind of what he does.

19:27

Ernie: He has produced some films, but not doing the acting anymore.

19:31

Ernie: My second son is a musician, still doing his thing.

19:37

Ernie: My third son is a writer, still waiting to land something significant.

19:44

Ernie: And my youngest son is a watchmaker. Ernie: Really, yeah, we have this love of watches, so they're all pretty amazing.

19:53

Ernie: Nobody wanted to be just an actor, except my oldest son.

20:00

Ernie: Like I said, he was acting for a while.

20:04

Marc: Now you mentioned Oz. Marc: I have to admit there's so much great stuff out there I haven't watched yet.

20:09

Marc: I saw a couple of episodes of it, but it's one of those things there's so much compared to a couple decades ago that's available.

20:16

Marc: I'm like, yeah, well, that's going to be a weekend of binging for me at some point in time, you know.

20:21

Marc: but what was I know? Marc: Oz is really just.

20:24

Marc: everybody on that show really is just yet a lot of great acting.

20:28

Marc: The episodes I watched really well seem like to be a very intense show.

20:32

Marc: What was shooting that? Ernie: Yeah, it was. Ernie: I mean I was the warden.

20:37

Ernie: I remember you know I'd come to the set, greet everybody.

20:42

Ernie: Everybody's friendly, they're all open and fun.

20:45

Ernie: Then I'd go in and dress on my suit and always shine my shoes.

20:51

Ernie: By the time I come out in character nobody would speak to me.

20:55

Ernie: But it was a great group of actors I think the best cast I've probably ever worked with These guys and everybody was there to bring their best.

21:05

Ernie: It was just a wonderful time. Ernie: Tom Fontana, who his company, barry Levinson they do City on the Hill I just did a recurring thing for that show recently.

21:18

Ernie: It was great to be back and work with them, but it was just a great show.

21:22

Ernie: Great group of actors, a lot of guys.

21:24

Ernie: Jk Simmons Just a lot of guys came out of that and are doing Chris Maloney.

21:30

Ernie: It was just some good group of people. Marc: That is such an amazing cast.

21:34

Marc: You mentioned something a moment ago reminds me something that I believe it was.

21:38

Marc: Tom Hanks said that before he fully feels in the character, it's when he puts the shoes on.

21:44

Marc: That's just for him. Marc: That's what it is. Marc: What is it like for you before you really feel I'm a big fan of?

21:50

Marc: I do a lot of voice over, but I always kind of really even in my head, imagination wise think wardrobe, because you carry yourself differently.

21:57

Marc: What is it for you before you're fully dialed into a character?

22:00

Marc: Is it wardrobe, is it the set? Marc: What is it for you?

22:04

Ernie: Yeah, it's well, it changes.

22:07

Ernie: Sometimes it's wardrobe, Sometimes it's something that informs you, Sometimes it's the set, It's the surrounding, Sometimes it's acting is believing.

22:17

Ernie: So, however, I can get to that place where I really believe this story, this person, this situation.

22:23

Ernie: This is truly where I am. Ernie: Sometimes you can read a script and you just know.

22:29

Ernie: Sometimes it seems like it just takes forever to try to sink into something.

22:34

Ernie: So it it um. Ernie: Yeah, it changes, but wardrobe is certainly a real important part of it.

22:43

Marc: Well, as far as what you've done, all the projects you've worked on, what's the one you probably identified the closest with that?

22:50

Marc: maybe you know, even when you were done filming it'd be a show or a movie What kind of stuck with you, what role was really resonant.

23:01

Ernie: Well, you know I can say I just love working, so they all have special meaning.

23:06

Ernie: There are certain ones. Ernie: I was talking to someone recently about the hand that rocks the cradle.

23:13

Ernie: I love that character because he was I always said he was sort of the best part of who I am.

23:20

Ernie: But you know, obviously the Ghostbusters character I love the fact that families sort of you know respond to it.

23:26

Ernie: Congo was a lot of fun because it reminded me so much of the movies I watched as a kid and that character being the safari leader, grace and Frankie I felt was probably closer to me as a person.

23:42

Ernie: So they're all a little bit different. Ernie: You hope they are, you know.

23:48

Ernie: Now maybe I'm not sure how sometimes it's very subtle how much people see, but for me they're all a little bit different.

23:55

Marc: What do people mostly is it really generational?

23:58

Marc: whenever they meet you, it's like oh, ghostbusters or us, or what are people usually mostly identifying you with?

24:05

Ernie: Well, you know it's. Ernie: I've been fortunate that my work sort of appealed to different audiences, so different people will come, older people, women, will come up and say, remember the hand that rocks the cradle?

24:20

Ernie: because it had to do, i think, with children or whatever Obviously the Ghostbusters not just with people who kids, who saw it first time in the movie theater, but now they're kids and they're grandkids, of being introduced to the movie and those kids love it.

24:35

Ernie: So it's something that families sort of you know, enjoy together.

24:41

Ernie: You know Grace and Frankie, again middle-aged women, responded very much to that character.

24:48

Ernie: I do a show called Family Business on BET.

24:51

Ernie: There's an inner city audience that loves that show and that character and sort of so the crow.

25:00

Ernie: a lot of kids who are going through their teenage angst respond to that character.

25:07

Ernie: So yeah, it kind of depends on, but they come for a variety of reasons.

25:11

Ernie: but over and above probably Ghostbusters, more than but all the other ones, someone will come up and bring up something that I've almost forgotten I did, you know, yeah.

25:24

Marc: It must be a great career. Marc: We're like oh yeah, i did do that didn't I.

25:27

Ernie: Yeah, no, I had almost an argument with the guy and he said, yeah, i saw you in this movie and said, no, it wasn't me.

25:31

Ernie: And then he started describing the character and I'm like, oh my God, i did do that.

25:37

Ernie: So, yeah, it's been.

25:40

Ernie: Like I said, it's been over 50 years.

25:42

Marc: Yeah, well, you know it's funny without mentioning numbers. Marc: I notice you're actually a little older than Bill Murray, but you look exponentially younger than Bill Murray and I've got to know, as fitness and I mean just taking care of yourself just been part of the program over the years or because it's like I'm sitting there going to, this guy looks like I mean I got to get to the gym because you're, like you know, making me feel bad about, like how lazy I bet.

26:04

Ernie: Well, you know I never really got much into a lot of working out, you know, i just think you got to be aware.

26:10

Ernie: So I never let the weight get too far out of control because once it does it's so hard to get back, watching the vital signs, making sure your blood pressure and all those things stay.

26:21

Ernie: You know I'm going through two bouts of cancer and thankfully cancer free, yeah.

26:27

Ernie: But yeah, you know, and try not to stress over stuff.

26:30

Ernie: You know, and I've been in a relationship. Ernie: My wife and I have been together for 46 years And I really believe.

26:37

Ernie: I think I'm not a religious person my grandmother was but I do believe in universal divine guidance.

26:46

Ernie: I believe in God, whatever that.

26:48

Ernie: You know I'm not. Ernie: I don't believe anybody telling me what that is, but so I've been very, very blessed.

26:56

Ernie: And not just trust. Ernie: I've never trusted my grandmother would say, putting out your trust in man, but that the universe hears and will respond to you.

27:05

Ernie: So I've always trusted that things will come, and not necessarily from where and the people.

27:12

Ernie: I think they will, but I've always known that if I ask, it would be given.

27:18

Marc: I very closely identify with that idea.

27:20

Marc: I think that it's it's no matter what faith somebody's brought up in.

27:24

Marc: There's a moment and they decide, man, i'm going to buy in 100% or this.

27:27

Marc: They become curious and they start exploring and they start you know they don't.

27:31

Marc: They're not as much trying to put labels on things.

27:33

Marc: How do you define this? Marc: What do you call it Which?

27:36

Marc: living in America in 2022 is kind of an interesting time because you got a little tug of war going on there, but I think it's about energy You put out in the world.

27:45

Marc: How you feel. Marc: You know, just being my.

27:47

Marc: I was speaking with some of the other day. Marc: They said the first thing they do when they wake up in the morning is meditate.

27:52

Marc: I should do that, but, knowing me, I just fall right back to sleep.

27:55

Marc: Fall right back to sleep, i think. Marc: Well, actually, you know just one other question about Ghostbusters.

28:00

Marc: When you were doing that, did you have a sense that it was going to be what it turned into?

28:07

Marc: Did you have a sense, okay, this is going to be a big movie?

28:10

Marc: How did you? Marc: what did you feel like when you were, when you're making the film?

28:13

Marc: Did you know this was something special? Ernie: Yeah, i mean I knew that it would be.

28:18

Ernie: I mean back in those back in the 80s, a movie would come out.

28:21

Ernie: It would. Ernie: If it hopefully it was in the top 10, if it's number one, it'll last for a few weeks and then it something else will come along and replace it and that's how things went.

28:31

Ernie: But I knew it would be number one. Ernie: I didn't how long it lasts, it that's.

28:35

Ernie: But when it just stayed at the top, you know, week after week after week, that was surprising.

28:41

Ernie: And then, after the years started to go by, five years, people were still yelling who are you going to call in 10 years, in 15 years, in 20 years?

28:51

Ernie: and I'm seeing people dressed up in their jumpsuits and and turning their cars in ectomobiles.

28:56

Ernie: That was really surprising. Ernie: And then 30 years and their Ghostbusters chapters all over the world.

29:02

Ernie: That that part I could never imagine.

29:07

Ernie: That. Ernie: Yeah, the fact that it's sustained in the way that it has.

29:11

Ernie: I knew it would be a big movie, but I didn't realize that it would become what it has become.

29:23

Marc: I mean the Marceting. Marc: it took a page right out of Star Wars.

29:27

Marc: I mean there was literally food and toys and everything.

29:30

Marc: It was just like one of those things that how did you I'd say young actor, you and your thirties, i guess when you made that?

29:38

Ernie: Yeah, probably close to 40. Ernie: I mean, I was well into my thirties when we did it.

29:42

Ernie: Yeah. Marc: But it was it it had been kind of a heady thing for you to have everybody know who you were suddenly.

29:52

Ernie: Well, I used to tell a joke back then I came to Hollywood to be rich and famous.

29:56

Ernie: I never realized you could be poor and popular.

29:59

Ernie: So when Ghostbusters came out it was huge, But of course I didn't get paid the kind of money that a lot of people were paid.

30:08

Ernie: So it didn't change my life in terms of money, But people were coming to my front door And so that was.

30:17

Marc: That was a little surprising and unsettling, And yeah, you know you're mentioning that it just kind of follows the decades.

30:27

Marc: You know it's just showing up with different generations and stranger things really kind of leaned in in the early, you know, because that with my kids is real popular now.

30:34

Marc: But for me growing up in the 80s I don't know how these two guys are much younger than me the producer, the Duffer brothers, hit the nail on the head so well on the vibe of the 80s.

30:44

Marc: But what was it like when you saw that? Marc: I don't know if you'd, i'm assuming you'd seen it And then they really leaned in on the Ghostbusters thing as far as being a big cultural note of the 80s.

30:53

Marc: Was that kind of? Marc: is this still kind of cool for you to see that it still is resonating?

30:57

Ernie: Yeah, to see people shows. Ernie: I've done a number of shows where they wanted me to do something, to throw a line in.

31:03

Ernie: Or you know the show I do family business.

31:07

Ernie: There's a line where I'm the.

31:10

Ernie: I say I'm the original Ghostbusters. Ernie: I mean somehow it they the young man and I can't think of his name off top of my head, but on Stranger Things, the black kid who they dress up, and I think there's in this show.

31:24

Ernie: They expect him to be Winston Zedmore and he says why do I have to be Winston Zedmore?

31:29

Ernie: I want to be something else. Ernie: So when I met him and he came up and he just apologized, he said I'm sorry, it wasn't me, it was like they just wrote it that way.

31:39

Ernie: And I'm like, dude, it's okay, it's all right.

31:42

Ernie: You know it's not personal, but yeah, no, i think it's great that people still love the movie and Bill Murray.

31:52

Ernie: I mean he's a genius and that was Bill Murray at his best.

31:56

Marc: So yeah, i heard something that it was a little they weren't sure if he was even going to show up to film necessarily, because even now if you want to cast him, he's got his 1-800 number.

32:09

Marc: So they said he's always been very I don't know.

32:12

Marc: Flighty is not the word, but he's got his Bill Murray way of doing things.

32:15

Marc: But they said they have showed up at 8 am. Marc: He was there on set ready to go.

32:19

Marc: Yeah, Now improvisation wise, where you said that you came from an acting tradition, they're more improv.

32:29

Marc: What was it like when you see Bill Murray just riffing and you got to go.

32:32

Marc: I got to keep up with this, or what was that like for you?

32:37

Ernie: Yeah, i mean, of course, coming up in theater and in college you do a little bit of all of it.

32:43

Ernie: Like I said, i believe in pride myself on being prepared for whatever comes out.

32:47

Ernie: But yeah, if you've learned your lines, you expect the guy to say the exact line that you've studied.

32:54

Ernie: So you've got to be flexible and I think, surviving, especially in this business, you need to be able to go with the flow.

33:03

Ernie: And yeah, i mean it was fun.

33:06

Ernie: I did a movie called Air Heads and Chris Farley And the director had this scene where we were just to riff And sometimes you're in the moment and sometimes it just doesn't come, and being Chris was kind of going at it And then he kind of looked at me like Ernie, come on, sometimes you're there and sometimes you're not, but it's always fun to see these really creative people at their best.

33:32

Marc: Be ever just kind of switch accidentally into observer mode and watching them do their thing and really like, well, that's kind of funny Yeah.

33:39

Ernie: Yeah, yeah, i like to kind of, you know, i like to.

33:44

Ernie: I'm going to be there And if I need to take the lead, i will.

33:47

Ernie: I'd like to run together, but sometimes someone will take off and you kind of go okay, oh, this is.

33:54

Ernie: You know, it takes a moment to you know, this is where we're going, let's go with it, but it's always fun.

33:59

Ernie: It's always fun when people show up, whatever that is, but they're showing up with their best and then we can play.

34:07

Marc: Yeah, that's that's when I teach voiceover and I'm like that's that's when I said you got to play, you got to be okay, make a mistake, just kind of get into it and just go.

34:14

Marc: Yeah, yeah, just, you know, don't be so self-conscious. Marc: Well, one of the last questions got for you.

34:19

Marc: You know, i do notice you've done a lot of voiceover actually in the animation.

34:23

Marc: Is it something that is kind of equally fun for you as being on film.

34:29

Ernie: Yeah, you know I'd love to do more of it. Ernie: I was doing, i think, a couple of animated series of superheroes back in the 80s.

34:39

Ernie: Ghostbusters came up and, for whatever reason, they said it was because I was doing another movie, but I didn't do the animated Ghostbusters series, which was very annoying to me.

34:49

Ernie: But but I was doing a lot of work and then I moved to the mountains and and I didn't want to travel to audition.

34:57

Ernie: Now, of course, you can do a lot of stuff at home, you can audition from your own house, but back in those days you had to go in And so I stopped doing it for a number of years, i think, lost those contacts.

35:08

Ernie: But I get asked to do, you know, and I and I enjoy it.

35:13

Ernie: It's just that I don't again go out looking for sometimes I'll get auditions and honestly don't have time to deal with it.

35:23

Ernie: So you know it's not like.

35:25

Ernie: But if, yeah, once again, if someone likes my work and want to work with me, i'm I'm not hard to find.

35:32

Marc: Now, when you do the video, are you doing it from home, or are you since you, since you are a bit out of LA, or do you go to a local studio?

35:40

Ernie: Normally I'll go to a local studio. Ernie: I have a little setup at the house, but actually I'm getting one of those sound whisper rooms.

35:51

Ernie: but yeah, creating maybe something to do more of it, and just once again I'm just focused.

35:56

Ernie: I'm doing a couple of series right now. Ernie: I just finished shooting three movies back to back.

36:03

Ernie: It's not at the top of my priority but now, when you're not doing what you're doing.

36:08

Marc: like you said, you just wrapped up three films. Marc: Yeah, What are you doing?

36:12

Marc: to kind of passing the time is not a good way to put it.

36:15

Marc: What are you? Marc: how are you occupying your time? Marc: doing the things you really want to do?

36:17

Marc: What are you up to? Ernie: Well, you know we were trying, my wife and I, trying to settle into the perfect home We were actually looking to buy now.

36:28

Ernie: with the interest rates, the changes were sort of waiting a few months and seeing how this is all going to settle out.

36:34

Ernie: But but it's so much work to do around the house.

36:37

Ernie: you know the property is always something to be done And just trying to learn how to relax and take it easy.

36:48

Marc: Yeah, And in shopping for a house right now it was not a very relaxing thing.

36:52

Marc: I stopped as well, because I was looking at a house getting built and the guys like, okay, we're taking bids.

36:56

Marc: I said you're taking bids, what do you mean? Marc: It's like, yeah.

36:59

Marc: It's like, well, how much are you asking? Marc: Well, depends how much you're offering. Marc: It's like, oh, i'm going to hold off on buying a home real quick, But yeah, yeah, we'll tell you what I want to do.

37:06

Marc: I have my seven questions Kind of a fun thing I do with everybody.

37:09

Marc: First question I always ask everybody is what's your favorite comfort food?

37:12

Marc: That thing that you really look forward to. Marc: It may not be the healthiest thing, it may be healthy, but something you really look forward to, just sitting down and relaxing with.

37:20

Ernie: I love salmon. Ernie: I know that's probably a strange answer, but salmon I could.

37:25

Ernie: I feel, yeah, maybe I was a bear at one time.

37:28

Marc: Now, do you like cured salmon, like locks, that kind of salmon, or are you more like grilled salmon, kind of?

37:34

Ernie: More like grilled, but but yeah, i like salmon.

37:37

Ernie: You know it's various forms.

37:40

Ernie: Yeah, very good, yeah. Marc: Now, if you were to sit down?

37:44

Marc: next question three people going to have a cup of coffee, talk story for a few hours, three people that you would love to sit down with, Living or not, actually, who would you like to sit down and chat with?

37:54

Ernie: You know Tom Hanks I worked with years ago on a show called Buzzing Buddies.

37:57

Ernie: I'd love to just sit and have a conversation with Tom Denzel.

38:02

Marc: Well, you were on Buzzing Buddies. Marc: How did I, how did I miss that Yeah?

38:05

Ernie: yeah, it was. Ernie: we've been friends ever since, haven't worked together since, but it was a great, a fun show.

38:13

Ernie: In fact, donna Dixon, danny Aykroyd's wife we met there before I actually met Danny Aykroyd Denzel I've really grown to admire his career.

38:25

Ernie: I'd love to sort of. Ernie: you know I see him from time to time, but not on a regular basis.

38:31

Ernie: And who else would I?

38:36

Ernie: You know I like Jeff Bridges.

38:39

Ernie: Jeff is his brother, beau is one of my best friends, but I really admire Jeff's career and how he's managed to stay relevant all these many years.

38:51

Marc: Yeah, I think both of them are. Marc: It's so funny because Beau is really the one who started with acting first of an unsteak.

38:56

Ernie: Yeah, yeah, yeah And. Marc: I had an opportunity. Marc: This is going back 18, 17, 18 years ago.

39:00

Marc: He was gonna be filming without going into the weeds.

39:03

Marc: But he's gonna be filming something and they're casting somebody to play his son or he has a few sons.

39:08

Marc: It was my first experience of something getting so close.

39:12

Marc: And then he got a TV show. Marc: Of course he was the big name on the call list, so whole project fellow part, i was like, oh, i really wanted to act with Beau Bridges, that would have been wonderful.

39:23

Marc: But so those three guys, i think that would be fantastic.

39:28

Marc: Now I do wanna go hit rewind. Marc: When you were a kid, who was your first celebrity crush, first one you saw like oh my God, movie star, whoever had Loretta Young.

39:38

Ernie: Loretta Young I was in fact.

39:40

Ernie: I was so small I didn't know what a crush was, i just knew that I really I was mesmerized by her and that staircase she'd walked down, That's like you know.

39:50

Ernie: She was stunning. Ernie: I don't know what she'd look like if I saw a picture of her now, but I was really impressed with Loretta Young.

40:00

Marc: There's something about old Hollywood. Ernie: There's just something about black and white and just kinda, i don't know It was grand.

40:06

Ernie: You know she was Exactly Yeah, from another world.

40:09

Marc: Now next question if you're gonna be forced to live on an exotic island not forced, but beautiful exotic island that's not uncomfortable living, but you don't have internet, you have no streaming.

40:18

Marc: You can really bring one DVD of a movie and one album with you, and you can also throw in a book if you'd like.

40:24

Marc: Some people are more into books. Marc: But what would you bring with you to that island for a year?

40:29

Ernie: Oh, geez, for a year. Ernie: Wow, geez, that's kind of interesting.

40:42

Ernie: I don't know, i'd have to think about that one.

40:47

Ernie: I don't know why the Godfather comes to mind, but somehow, maybe because it was fun.

40:51

Ernie: And a book The Invisible Man's Always Been Fun to kind of re-go back.

41:00

Ernie: Or there's a. Ernie: well, okay, if it was a book, it would be a book called A Course in Miracles, which I've always found fascinating for the past 30 or 40 years.

41:13

Ernie: And what was the other book? Ernie: A Soundtrack.

41:17

Ernie: Yeah, or a Soundtrack or any kind of album, any kind of album I don't know, something from probably Marvin Gaye's let's get it on album.

41:32

Ernie: I'm not sure, i don't know. Ernie: You know I, yeah, i would you know, because I've gotten past making decisions that happen.

41:41

Ernie: It'll be to you know, to my wife going honey, what do you think I should?

41:48

Marc: You know it was liberating. Marc: I just took my three teenagers on a cruise a few weeks ago and it was so liberating for me, single dad, three kids going.

41:55

Marc: What are we doing? Marc: they did whatever y'all want to do. Announcer: I ain't making the decisions here.

41:59

Marc: Yeah, and I think they dug it, but it was so like relaxing for me, you know, i didn't have to actually be accountable for any decisions except for what I ate that night.

42:08

Ernie: I took my family on a cruise and it was miserable, because you don't want to be the only celebrity on a boat that people are trapped in.

42:17

Ernie: I could not leave the cabin.

42:19

Ernie: I mean, people swarmed. Ernie: We went to dinner Oh my God, it was just, it was.

42:26

Ernie: It was awful. Ernie: It was awful, I mean, seven days of Well, you gotta be honest.

42:32

Marc: have you ever done anything to because you do want to float about, go to I don't know Trader Joe's or something, i don't want to say costume but have you ever done anything so that you would not be so recognizable?

42:42

Ernie: No, i've thought about it, but no, i try to, because then I feel like I'm a prisoner.

42:47

Ernie: I mean, if I get to a point where I got to hide, to go out, I mean normally speaking it's not a problem, but I think because we're on a boat and that's it.

42:59

Ernie: It was a little difficult, but no, i try not to.

43:02

Ernie: I've had situations my wife and I 40th anniversary.

43:06

Ernie: A lady came up and sat down, would not leave, just felt like she said you owe me because I'm your fan and you have a.

43:18

Ernie: So people can take things a little bit crazy. Ernie: But generally speaking though, people are great and it's not a problem.

43:23

Marc: Now, if you were to define what is the definition, if I could call a perfect day from time you wake up to time you go to bed, what kind of component things would you like to be part of that?

43:32

Marc: having some salmon in there somewhere, i'm sure, but what would you?

43:36

Marc: how would you define your perfect day? Ernie: Yeah, perfect day would be just nothing to sort of stress over, knowing work was coming up soon, so I don't think about that.

43:51

Ernie: The weather's great and the kids are fine and a day just set peace.

43:59

Ernie: you know The?

44:02

Ernie: I mean a beautiful setting, the scenery's beautiful and you can just let go.

44:07

Ernie: perfect day is being able to let go and Oh, i like that You know that makes more sense to me.

44:14

Marc: I've heard a lot of people answer different ways. Marc: It's like that because that I get it, you know where.

44:18

Marc: You just not have to be looking at your calendar, what you gotta do all that day.

44:22

Marc: Just kind of like, just be. Marc: Yes, just be Now.

44:26

Marc: Last couple of questions here. Marc: If you weren't doing what you're doing now, or if you hadn't been an actor and hadn't been a creative, what would you be, what would you wanna be doing for a living, or what would be the second choice?

44:37

Ernie: Well, i thought I would want to be an architect.

44:42

Ernie: I've tried designing some houses that we had planned to build that never got built, but maybe something in design.

44:51

Ernie: You know, i started out thinking of myself as a writer.

44:54

Ernie: I ended up acting, became sort of the.

44:57

Ernie: You know what I fell back on. Ernie: Singing was something that I fantasized as a kid, but if it was something out of entertainment it would probably be maybe something in drawing, architecture or something like that.

45:13

Marc: Now last question if you had a DeLorean, you could jump in and you're gonna go back to when you were 16 years old and you have a piece of advice, guidance, something to get you on a different rail either make your life better at the moment or, you know, it puts you on a better trajectory.

45:29

Marc: What would that piece of advice be to 16-year-old you?

45:33

Ernie: Just really, i always prided myself on that.

45:36

Ernie: I trust I know things will work out, but I always felt like I had to really work hard.

45:43

Ernie: Maybe I'm sure that was a good thing, but I think just to let myself know that it's gonna be okay.

45:52

Ernie: You know what I mean, because there were times when things were right against the wall and you didn't know what was gonna happen.

45:59

Ernie: I always call that going through the fire. Ernie: You gotta go through it to get to the other side, but it's a little frightening.

46:06

Ernie: And if there was something I could say to myself that you know, just trust, you're gonna be just fine, you're gonna be fine.

46:14

Marc: It's so funny, it's the same thing. Marc: Sometimes you have to tell yourself that nowadays, occasionally.

46:21

Marc: You know that's one of the things I was talking with my kids.

46:24

Marc: I said it's sometimes you just don't have enough years on earth.

46:28

Marc: You have to realize this too shall pass. Marc: You know everything's transient and it's hard.

46:33

Marc: But you really need to know that when you're younger, because that's when everything seems bigger, more vibrant, more you know it's the end of the world.

46:40

Marc: You gotta know. Marc: But yeah, that's wonderful and that's something I still.

46:43

Marc: I still have to tell myself occasionally. Marc: But I so appreciate you're so generous of your time.

46:49

Marc: I appreciate it more than you know, but you have yourself a great one again, thank you and hopefully we'll catch up down the line, my friend.

46:56

Ernie: All right, take care, I look forward to it, man. Marc: All right, there you go, mr Ernie Hudson.

47:02

Marc: What a pleasure it was to sit down and chat with him.

47:05

Marc: A trip down memory lane, ghostbusters and everything else he's been working on, but I mean, i'm a kid of the 80s, so Ghostbusters, that was cool.

47:15

Marc: Don't forget, the NBC reboot of Quantum Leap is now on, so check it out.

47:21

Marc: Another trip down memory lane for us 80s kids.

47:24

Marc: Don't forget the website, storyandcraftpod.com.

47:29

Marc: Once again, storyandcraftpod.com.

47:33

Marc: Stop by, check out everything about the show. Marc: Shoot me a note if you would like.

47:37

Marc: Also, if you would make sure to follow and like the show on your favorite podcast app.

47:43

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47:47

Marc: All right, there you go. Marc: Thank you so much for stopping by again.

47:51

Marc: Another great episode next week. Marc: In the meantime, have a great rest of your week or weekend or heck, whatever you're up to.

47:57

Marc: Enjoy it, be safe and I'll see you next time right here on StoryandCraft.

48:03

Announcer: That's it for this episode of StoryandCraft.

48:05

Announcer: Join Marc next week for more conversation right here on StoryandCraft.

48:10

Announcer: Storyandcraft is a presentation of Marc Preston Productions LLC.

48:15

Announcer: Executive producer is Marc Preston.

48:18

Announcer: Associate producer is Zachary Holden.

48:21

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48:24

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48:31

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48:34

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48:39

Announcer: I'm Emma Dylan. Announcer: See you next time and remember, keep telling your story.