Key Takeaways:
* Ernie Hudson, famed for his role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise, felt selectively sidelined by Columbia Pictures.
* Despite being a key character, Hudson was omitted from Ghostbusters promotional material.
* Bill Murray, Star of Ghostbusters, was a significant support for Hudson, even threatening to quit if Hudson were not included.
* After Ghostbusters, Hudson found it challenging to secure auditions at Columbia, pointing to a possible industry blacklist.
When Ghostbusters hit the screens in 1984, it was a sensation. The parapsychologist trio of Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, later joined by Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), captured hearts with their unique gadgets and humorous banter. This applauded Hollywood movie, however, had a less-celebrated narrative playing out behind the scenes.
Ernie Hudson: The Subtle Sidelines of Hollywood
Ernie Hudson’s portrayal of Winston Zeddemore, the pragmatic and technical backbone of the Ghostbusters team, had a lasting impact on the franchise. Yet, Hudson admitted in a past SiriusXM interview that he felt he was “selectively pushed aside” by Columbia Pictures, the studio behind the Ghostbusters movies. Key changes were made to the script and promotional collateral, minimizing Hudson’s role after he was cast.
Despite Zeddemore’s integral role in the team from the original script’s onset, his introduction was deferred until the midpoint in the final film. This change, along with Hudson’s omission from the film’s poster, led him to believe that “it definitely felt deliberate.” Hudson said, “Had Eddie Murphy played the role that I played it would have he definitely would have been on the posters.”
Bill Murray’s Unflinching Support
Amidst the professional challenges, Bill Murray, the leading actor of the franchise, rallied behind Hudson. As Hudson points out, Murray was the only one who insisted on Hudson’s inclusion, asserting from the first day, ‘I have your back and he is the only one that said I won’t do it unless Ernie Hudson is in it.’
Columbia Pictures’ Chilling Aftermath
Despite Murray’s support, Hudson faced severe professional adversity post-Ghostbusters from Columbia Pictures. Hudson stated, “I couldn’t audition at Columbia for a long time, and I think the message went out the movie was successful but he’s not really a part of it.” This creation of a phantom blacklist in a box office hit’s aftermath highlights the hidden challenges actors can face.
In this tale of Hollywood realities, the comedic genius of the Ghostbuster franchise is a stark contrast to the challenging journey of one of its pivotal actors. As the story of Ernie Hudson unfolds, it shines a spotlight on the eerie specter of Hollywood’s less-celebrated narratives.
Ghostbusters continues to entertain audiences and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Despite the tribulations, Ernie Hudson’s portrayal of Winston Zeddemore remains an integral part of the Ghostbusters’ legacy, reminding us that the specter of adversity often intermingles with the glitz and glam of Hollywood’s lights.
