Ernie Hudson is a well-known American actor who played Winston Zeddemore in the “Ghostbusters” film franchise. According to IMDb, the first “Ghostbusters” film grossed over $297 million globally, while “Ghostbusters II” earned over $215 million. In addition, the Hudson-starring film “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” grossed $204 million.
Forty (40) years after “Ghostbusters,” Hudson has highlighted a worrying trend in Hollywood about the salaries of black actors and actresses. Viola Davis was the only Black woman on Forbes’ 2020 list of the top ten highest-paid actresses.
According to the American Association of University Women’s “Black Women and the Pay Gap” study, Black women earned 64% of non-Hispanic White men’s income in 2021. The survey also discovered higher income disparities for Latinas and Native women due to racism and sexism.
While the Hollywood wage gap primarily affects women, black male performers are not immune. Hudson’s experience is clear. During an interview with The Root, he revealed that he was underpaid prior to his box office success. According to him, he received only $370 from his first $10,000 Hollywood payment.
“[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.”
He continued: “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 if he would mind a computerized duplicate of his likeness in 40 years. He believes technology will be around for a while, including in entertainment.
“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 explained that technology keeps going through rapid changes, adding that it is what is going to be the future.
“Technology has changed so much,” he went on. “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.”