Earnest Lee Hudson, born on December 17, 1945, is an American actor who has built a remarkable career spanning over five decades, earning his greatest fame for portraying the beloved character Winston Zeddemore in the iconic Ghostbusters franchise. Hudson's journey to stardom began in Benton Harbor, Michigan, where he was raised by his maternal grandmother after being orphaned at a young age. He developed a passion for acting while serving in the United States Marine Corps and later pursued his craft at Wayne State University and the University of Minnesota. Hudson's early career included stage work and small television roles before he landed his breakout part in the 1984 blockbuster Ghostbusters, where he joined Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis as the fourth member of the supernatural pest control team. This role made him a household name and led to a string of high-profile film appearances throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.

Throughout the 1990s, Hudson demonstrated his versatility by taking on diverse roles in major motion pictures, including the sci-fi horror film Leviathan in 1989, the psychological thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in 1992, and the cult classic The Crow in 1994. He also appeared in comedies like Airheads and dramas such as The Basketball Diaries in 1995, the same year he starred in the adventure film Congo. Hudson showed his comedic timing in the hit Miss Congeniality in 2000 and delivered a powerful performance in the television film The Ron Clark Story in 2006. Perhaps his most acclaimed television work came with his portrayal of Warden Leo Glynn on the groundbreaking HBO prison drama Oz from 1997 to 2003, a role that showcased his dramatic depth and earned him widespread critical praise.

Hudson's television career has been equally prolific, with recurring and guest roles on numerous popular series. He appeared on St. Elsewhere in 1984, starred in the short-lived The Last Precinct in 1986, and led the drama 10-8: Officers on Duty from 2003 to 2004. He joined the cast of Desperate Housewives from 2006 to 2007 and was a regular on The Secret Life of the American Teenager from 2008 to 2013. Hudson also had a recurring role on Law & Order from 2009 to 2010 and lent his voice to the character Agent Bill Fowler in the animated series Transformers: Prime from 2010 to 2013. He continued his television work with appearances on Franklin & Bash from 2012 to 2014, the Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie from 2015 to 2020, and the action series L.A.'s Finest from 2019 to 2020. In a notable recent role, Hudson played Herbert "Magic" Williams on the NBC drama Quantum Leap from 2022 to 2024, returning to the network that originally aired the Ghostbusters animated series. Throughout his career, Hudson has remained a respected figure in Hollywood, known for his professionalism, warmth, and enduring contribution to both film and television.