- Has been a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff's office for 14 years (as of 2003)
- He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from Benton Harbor High School, but was medically discharged less than three months later due to asthma.
- Father of actor Ernie Hudson Jr.. Father and son have appeared together in the HBO series "Oz".
- Trained for the stage at the Yale University School of Drama.
- Admits that two of his heroes growing up were Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee. He later went on to star with the late Brandon Lee in The Crow (1994).
- His mother died when he was two months old.
- He also attended the University of Minnesota.
- Raised by his grandmother.
- He has four sons: Ernie, Jr., Rahaman, Andrew, and Ross.
- He was on the shortlist for the role of The Master in Doctor Who: The Movie (1996), until Eric Roberts won the role. His only association with the Doctor Who franchise is a major guest role in Miracle Day: The Middle Men (2011).
- Auditioned to reprise his Winston Zeddemore role from Ghostbusters (1984) for the animated series adaptation The Real Ghostbusters (1986) but was declined in favor of Arsenio Hall.
- Enjoys writing.
- Graduated from Wayne State University.
- Hosted Cinemax's "Summer of a Thousand Movies".
- Has one grandson.
- A two-time cancer survivor.
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