Most celebrities arrive on the red carpet at movie premieres dressed in ostentatious fashion and camera-ready.
And then there's actor Ernie Hudson, who made a statement with a more humble sartorial approach—then went viral for a very good reason.
The O.G. Ghostbusters star showed up at the premiere of the latest film in the franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, wearing a fitted black t-shirt and jeans.
Although he looked like he was stopping by the glitzy affair after making a home improvement store run, Hudson caught the attention of admirers who appreciated his return-to-basics look that accentuated his beefy physique and bulging biceps.
Here he is, still turning heads 40 years after the first Ghostbusters film was released.
However, the Michigan native was sheepish about his appearance and explained it wasn't planned.
He told Men's Health magazine in their April issue:
"I was actually a little embarrassed with the T-shirt, but my jacket had a smudge on it."
"I wasn't flexing or anything; I didn't really think about it."
In response to his black t-shirt hubbub on the red carpet, Hudson told People magazine he's usually attired "in a suit or a sport coat" at press events.
The father of four noted:
“I've always been in what I consider fairly good shape."
Regarding those impressive biceps, Hudson downplayed things and admitted:
"It's kinda strange, because this is the fifth 'Ghostbusters'."
"I've been doing this for well over 50 years, and those same arms have been there all the time."
He added:
"But it's nice to be noticed. It's flattering in a lot of ways."
However...
"But when the age thing comes up, it's like, 'Oh, we're surprised you're still alive!'"
"It would be nice if they said I was sexy and then say I'm 78."
For most of his life, Hudson easily managed to maintain his physique, but things started changing in the last five years.
Hudson recalled:
"When I turned 50, people said, your body's going to change. Nothing changed. Sixties, nothing changed."
"Seventies... there was a change."
Referring to his belly fat, he explained:
"Fasting didn't get rid of Mr. Jiggles."
"He just hung in there, you know, and he talks to you at night. He whispers: 'We need to eat something'."
"And suddenly, I'm feeding Mr. Jiggles. So a couple of years ago, I thought: 'I need to get to the gym'."
Hudson works with a trainer three days a week, which includes Pilates for mobility and strength conditioning.
He said:
"I have this trainer who's in his twenties, and he pushes me like I'm in my twenties."
On the days he doesn't hit the gym, he refuses to remain sedentary.
"I try to get in at least a half-hour walk at a nice pace, get the heart rate up over 110 BPM. That seems to be most effective for Mr. Jiggles!"
Hudson first played Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters in 1984.
He reprised his character for the 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II alongside his original costars Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts and Rick Moranis.
This was followed by a cameo in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot as Leslie Jones' character Patty Tolan's Uncle Bill.
The reboot is part of the franchise, but not part of the canon of the first two films. In addition to Hudson, original cast members Murray, Potts, Weaver, Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman—who directed the first two Ghostbusters films—also had cameos unrelated to their canon characters in the 2016 film.
Ramis—who passed away in 2014—was commemorated in the film's closing credits.
Hudson returned to his role as Winston for 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
This canon compliant sequel to the first two films was
directed by Jason Reitman—the son of Ivan Reitman. The elder Reitman also had a secret cameo in Afterlife.
Ivan Reitman passed away in 2022.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the sequel to Afterlife and is the fifth installment in the popular franchise.
Hudson recently treated kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan to a screening of the film.
Hudson is known for being generous with his community and his fans.
Hudson's other notable credits include The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Miss Congeniality, The Crow and the TV series Oz and the 2022 Quantum Leap reboot.
