Ernie Hudson is one of the most sought-after actors of our time with an impressive list of credits and awards. His body of work has diverse range, including Ghostbusters 1 and 2 with Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis, TV’s Law and Order, HBO’s award winning series Oz, the acclaimed movie The Crow, Miss Congeniality 1 and 2 starring next to Sandra Bullock, and currently, he is the lead in the movie Carl Weber's The Family Business as L.C. Duncan, soon to be turned into a drama series on BET Networks. He is a beloved star in film, television and stage, long considered one of Hollywood’s iconic working actors who continually delivers.

His road to fame, however, had its share of hardships. In his early years, Hudson was born in poverty and raised in the housing projects of Benton Harbor, Michigan, in a time where civil rights had a long road ahead. The odds were more in favor of Hudson spending a life in prison than his having a successful life in Hollywood. Whether it was reconciling the loss of his mother and the absence of a father, gaining the reputation of being the toughest kid in school, serving in the Marine Corps, attending Yale, raising his sons as a single father or overcoming racism in the entertainment industry, Hudson was always supported first and foremost by his grandmother, who taught him patience and graciousness.

The wisdom Hudson gained before his Hollywood days allows him to relate to struggling individuals and communities. He understands the challenges of overcoming seemingly insurmountable problems and inspires others to always persevere. Hudson is also a two time cancer survivor and is now using his voice to amplify cancer prevention.

Hudson’s persistence has had him working in the film industry for over four decades. With such a resume, he can entertain audiences with stories of his humble beginnings, his Hollywood ups and downs and the lessons he has learned. As a popular inspirational speaker, Ernie shares the secrets of how to get out of the box of limitation and land dream roles, not just on the stage or screen, but roles important to everyday life.