'Ghostbusters' Actor Ernie Hudson Says He Only Pocketed $370 From His First ‘Big’ Hollywood Paycheck

Nearly five decades ago, Ernie Hudson first made his entrance into Hollywood.

Out of the veteran actor’s countless film and TV appearances, one of his most widely known roles is Winston Zeddemore in the “Ghostbusters” franchise. According to IMDb, the first installment of the “Ghostbusters” films alone made over $297 million worldwide. What’s more, among the later installments, “Ghostbusters II” grossed over $215 million, and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” grossed over $204 million — all starring Hudson.

Before being a part of box office smashes, Hudson experienced his fair share of receiving low pay. During the promo run for 2024’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” he revealed to The Root what he earned from his first big payday as a Hollywood actor.

“[My] first big check was $10,000 for one day’s work,” Hudson shared in the interview. “I was behind on rent and I told my landlord that I was waiting for the check to come.”

However, Hudson was unaware of just how much of his check was going to be distributed among his team.

“The check came and it went to my agent, my manager, then to my business manager,” he recalled. “And then, paid my publicist, and I got 370 bucks out of the $10,000 check. I didn’t do a whole lot with it. It wasn’t even enough to pay the rent.”

During the same interview, Hudson was asked whether or not he would be opposed to there being a digital recreation of his likeness in the next 40 years. At the rate of how technology is moving, he says he’s a believer that it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon including in the entertainment industry.

“If I’m dead, sure. Use a digital [recreation] of my face. And if I’m alive but looking like I’m dead, use a digital [recreation],” Hudson said jokingly.

He continued, “Technology has changed so much. They keep changing my phone, and just when I get used to something I don’t know how to use things. Technology is moving forward so fast, and whether we like it or not, I think that’s probably what the future is gonna be. And I’m sure I’ll be acting long after I’m gone.”