NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Actor Ernie Hudson attends the "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on November 15, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Ernie Hudson, known for his role as Winston in the iconic movie Ghostbusters, has opened up about his experience filming the hit movie.
Despite being beloved by fans, it took the 77-year-old star a whole decade to embrace the film due to the psychological effects it had on him he says. In a recent interview with SiriusXM’s Gary Dell’Abate and Rahsaan Rogers on The Howard Stern Wrap Up Show, the veteran actor shared his experience.
“It wasn’t an easy road,” Hudson revealed, “I felt pushed aside initially.” He explained that he was brought in alongside big stars like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis, and it was challenging for him to find his place in the middle of it all.
“The studio wasn’t welcoming or inclusive,” he added. “It made it very, very difficult because I was a part of it, but then I very selectively was pushed aside.”
Hudson also touched on feeling that he was not given the recognition he deserved for his role in the film, starting with how it was promoted.
“When the posters came out, I’m not on the poster,” he said. “It took a long time. I went to the 30th anniversary release of the movie, and all the posters are three guys. Now I know the fans see it differently, and I’m so thankful for the fans because the fans basically identified with Winston, especially young, I don’t want to say minority kids, but a lot of kids.”
Despite being told that starring in a major movie from a major studio would change his career, Ghostbusters didn’t do that for Hudson.
“I was working pretty nonstop, I did Ghostbusters, and it was two and a half years before I got another movie,” he revealed. However, Hudson emphasized that he is grateful to be part of the Ghostbusters franchise and called director Ivan Reitman “a brilliant man” whom he has “so much love and appreciation for.”
Hudson admitted that the movie was psychologically difficult for him, and it took him ten years to make peace with it.
“Ghostbusters I would say, it was probably the most difficult movie I ever did just from the psychological perspective,” he said. “It was hard. And it was hard for a long time. It took me probably… 10 years to finally get sort of past that and just embrace the movie and enjoy the movie. It was very. Ghostbusters was really hard to make peace with.”
Despite the challenges he faced, Hudson’s portrayal of Winston in Ghostbusters has made a lasting impact on fans, and his character is still celebrated to this day. Hit play to hear the actor’s full account of his experience.
