Ernie Hudson Age, Net Worth, Wife, Kids and Family Info
Last updated: October 28, 2026
Ernie Hudson is one of those actors whose face you know even if the name takes a second to land. Born Earnest Lee Hudson, he is an American actor, playwright and producer with a career that has run for more than fifty years and more than 250 film and television credits. Most people remember him as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters films, but his story goes well beyond a proton pack. Below you will find his age, height, weight, parents, education, wife, children, net worth and the career moments that shaped him.
Table of Contents
- Ernie Hudson at a Glance
- Ernie Hudson Age and Birthday
- Early Life, Parents and Siblings
- Education
- Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
- Career Milestones
- Awards and Recognition
- Wife and Marital Status
- Kids and Family
- Net Worth
- Nationality and Religion
- Social Media Accounts
- FAQs
Ernie Hudson at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Earnest Lee Hudson |
| Also Known As | Ernie Hudson, Ernie Hudson Sr. |
| Date of Birth | December 17, 1945 |
| Age | 80 years old |
| Birthplace | Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Profession | Actor, playwright, producer |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | Not officially confirmed (some listings estimate about 87 kg) |
| Mother | Maggie Donald |
| Raised By | Maternal grandmother, Arrana Donald |
| Education | Wayne State University, University of Minnesota, Yale School of Drama |
| Spouse | Linda Kingsberg (married 1985, present) |
| Former Spouse | Jeannie Moore (married 1963, divorced) |
| Children | Four sons |
| Net Worth | Estimated at around $5 million |
| Best Known For | Ghostbusters, Oz, The Crow, Congo, Miss Congeniality |
Ernie Hudson Age and Birthday
Ernie Hudson was born on December 17, 1945, which makes him 80 years old today. He celebrates his birthday every year on December 17 and will turn 81 in a few weeks. According to Wikipedia and IMDb, his birthplace is Benton Harbor, a small city in Michigan. As a Sagittarius, he is often described in fan profiles as a restless, hardworking type, which fits a man who is still taking on new roles at 80.
Early Life, Parents and Siblings
Parents
Hudson’s early years were not easy. His mother, Maggie Donald, died of tuberculosis when he was only about two months old. He never knew his father. After her death, he was taken in and raised by his maternal grandmother, Arrana Donald. The family lived in poverty, and Hudson has often spoken about how his grandmother’s faith and discipline kept him grounded. You can read more about his background on Apple TV’s profile page and in his Wikipedia biography.
Siblings
There is very little reliable public information about Ernie Hudson’s siblings. Most major biographies describe him as growing up in his grandmother’s household rather than in a large family. A few fan sites mention a half brother named Lewis Hudson, but this has not been confirmed by a primary source, so it is best treated as unverified.
Military Service
Before acting took over, Hudson briefly served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received a medical discharge because of asthma and then turned toward writing and theater.
Education
Hudson’s education is a big part of why his career lasted so long. He studied at the following schools:
High School
He attended Benton Harbor High School in his hometown of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Wayne State University
At Wayne State University in Detroit he studied speech and English and graduated in 1973. During this time he worked as a resident playwright at Concept East in Detroit and helped found the Actors’ Ensemble Theatre.
University of Minnesota
He also spent time at the University of Minnesota for further study.
Yale School of Drama
He later earned a full scholarship to the Master of Fine Arts program at the Yale School of Drama, one of the most respected acting schools in the country. By the mid 1970s he was ready to start a professional career.
Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Ernie Hudson stands 6 feet tall, or 1.83 meters, according to his IMDb profile. A few unreliable websites claim he is 6 ft 2 in, but IMDb’s figure is the one most often used.
His weight has never been officially shared. Some celebrity profile sites, such as Hamariweb, list about 87 kg (around 192 lbs), but that is an estimate and not something Hudson has confirmed. He has spoken publicly about staying fit well into his seventies and shares fitness highlights on his official Instagram page.
Career Milestones
The Early Years
Hudson made his feature film debut in 1976 in Gordon Parks’ Leadbelly. For several years he worked steadily in smaller roles on stage, television and film, building a reputation as a dependable character actor.
Ghostbusters and the Big Breakthrough
In 1984 he landed the role that would define his public image, Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters. He returned for Ghostbusters II in 1989 and later reprised the role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021 and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024. Hudson has talked openly in interviews, including this Yahoo Entertainment piece, about how the role was originally bigger on the page and how it changed during production.
The 1990s Film Run
The 1990s were busy for him. He appeared in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), played Sergeant Albrecht in The Crow (1994), and took roles in Congo (1995) as Captain Monroe Kelly and in The Basketball Diaries (1995). He also played Harry McDonald in Miss Congeniality in 2000.
Oz and Television Success
From 1997 to 2003, he played Warden Leo Glynn on HBO’s acclaimed prison drama Oz. Many critics still point to this as his best dramatic work. Since then he has appeared in Grace and Frankie, The Family Business and other series.
Quantum Leap
From 2022 to 2024 he starred as Herbert “Magic” Williams in the sci fi series Quantum Leap, giving a new generation of viewers a reason to know his name.
Toy Story 5 in 2026
One of his latest highlights is voice work. Hudson stepped into the role of Combat Carl in Pixar’s Toy Story 5, which arrived in theaters on June 19, 2026. He took over the character after the death of Carl Weathers, who originally voiced Combat Carl. Newsweek reported that Hudson said he did not realize at first that he was stepping in for his friend.
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Awards and Recognition
Over the years Hudson has collected honors and nominations from film festivals and industry groups. In 2006 he received the Career Achievement Award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. In 2024 his hometown honored him by naming a street “Ernie Hudson Way” in Benton Harbor, Michigan, which he has described as deeply meaningful given how humble his start was. IMDb credits him with several wins and more than a dozen nominations across his career, and TV Guide and MN2S also list the highlights of his résumé. He is also represented as a public speaker through agencies like Executive Speakers and APB Speakers.
Wife and Marital Status
Linda Kingsberg
Ernie Hudson is married to Linda Kingsberg, a former flight attendant. They tied the knot on May 25, 1985, after dating for about nine years, and they have now been together for more than four decades. In an interview with People, Hudson shared what he has learned about marriage from their long partnership.
Jeannie Moore
His first marriage was to Jeannie Moore in 1963, when he was 18 and she was 16. They had two sons together. The marriage ended in divorce, and their sons later came to live with Hudson in California. Some sources list slightly different divorce dates, but Wikipedia places it in 1976.
Kids and Family
Ernie Hudson is a father of four sons, two from each marriage.
Sons with Jeannie Moore
- Ernie Hudson Jr. (born 1964) is an actor who has worked in film and television.
- Rahaman Hudson is the couple’s second son and keeps a lower public profile.
Sons with Linda Kingsberg
- Andrew Hudson
- Ross Hudson
Hudson has often said that fatherhood was the center of his life, and that raising his sons as a single parent for a time shaped his priorities as an actor.
Net Worth
Most trusted tracking websites place Ernie Hudson’s net worth at roughly $5 million, while a few estimates stretch as high as $15 million. Celebrity Net Worth and LoveMoney both cover his earnings. The money comes from a long run of film, television and voice work, including the Ghostbusters franchise, Oz, Quantum Leap and now Pixar. In a Yahoo Finance report, Hudson spoke candidly about the payment he received for the original Ghostbusters, which helps explain why his fortune looks modest next to some of his co stars. Keep in mind that these figures are estimates and not confirmed by Hudson himself.
Nationality and Religion
Hudson is American by nationality. He was raised in the Church of God in Christ and continues to describe himself as a practicing Christian. He has mentioned his faith in interviews, including a Beliefnet conversation that fans still share online.
Social Media Accounts
Ernie Hudson keeps an active presence online through verified accounts:
His official page is @erniehudsonofficial, where he shares updates, behind the scenes moments and fitness highlights.
X (Formerly Twitter)
His official handle is @Ernie_Hudson, which he uses for announcements, updates and fan interaction.
FAQs
How old is Ernie Hudson?
Ernie Hudson was born on December 17, 1945, so he is 80 years old. He turns 81 on December 17, 2026.
What is Ernie Hudson’s net worth?
Most sources estimate his net worth at around $5 million, though some figures go as high as $15 million. These numbers are estimates.
Who is Ernie Hudson’s wife?
He is married to Linda Kingsberg, a former flight attendant. They married on May 25, 1985. His first wife was Jeannie Moore, whom he married in 1963.
How many kids does Ernie Hudson have?
He has four sons: Ernie Hudson Jr. and Rahaman with Jeannie Moore, and Andrew and Ross with Linda Kingsberg.
How tall is Ernie Hudson, and who raised him?
Ernie Hudson is 6 feet (1.83 m) tall. After his mother, Maggie Donald, died when he was two months old, his maternal grandmother, Arrana Donald, raised him in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
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