The One Show viewers were surprised after finding out the true age of a famous actor who seems to have stopped aging.
Hollywood icon Ernie Hudson appeared on tonight’s BBC show to talk about his role in the new Ghostbusters movie, with his co-stars Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace.
However, fans were distracted during the interview with presenters Roman Kemp and Jermaine Jenas after learning that Ernie, who looks like he has barely aged, is nearly 80, having turned 78 in December.
Their disbelief was further compounded when they realised Ernie appeared in the original Ghostbusters film, playing the part of Winston Zeddemore, which was released 40 years ago.
Absolutely shocked, Dli O’Doir demanded on X: ‘Watching #theoneshow on BBC1 and wondering how on earth is@ernie_hudson 78 years old? Whats your secret Ernie?’
Agreeing, Craig Hughes fawned: ‘Ernie Hudson is a legend, looks amazing for his age.’
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Russ added: ‘Ernie Hudson doesn’t look a day older than the day the original #ghostbusters was released 78!!! Jesus!!’
Aside from the first Ghostbusters, Ernie also appeared in the follow-ups Ghostbusters II and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, as well as the 2016 female remake of the original, playing the cameo role of Patty Tolan’s uncle.
Discussing Ghostbusters' lasting impact on The One Show, Ernie said: ‘Fans for 40 years they’ve kept it alive even when there was no Ghostbusters. People got tattoos. They just showed up and kept it going.’
However, Ernie previously recalled his experience making the original Ghostbusters as ‘very, very difficult’ and claimed that the studio ‘selectively pushed him aside’.
‘I was the guy who was brought in, and so finding my place in the middle of that — and they were all welcoming and inclusive. The studio wasn’t, and the studio continued not to be.’
‘So it made it very, very difficult because I was a part of it but then very selectively I was pushed aside,’ he claimed while speaking on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Wrap Up Show in 2022.
The Miss Congeniality and Grace & Frankie actor also pointed out that he was ‘not on the poster’ for the film.
But he acknowledged that he was ‘so thankful’ for Ghostbusters fans for ‘seeing it differently’ as he recalled that ‘the fans basically identified with Winston, especially young – I don’t want to say minority kids – but a lot of kids’.
Looking back on their first outing together, however, Hudson was full of praise for late director Ivan Reitman and his co-stars, who were already well-known actors.
In the most recent Ghostbusters movie, Ernie also acts with celebrities like Off Menu host and comedian James Acaster and Paul Rudd.
As described: ‘In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all began – the iconic New York City firehouse – to collaborate with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve built a secret research lab to enhance ghostbusting.
‘But when the discovery of an ancient artifact releases a horde of ghosts that brings a deadly freeze to the city, Ghostbusters old and new must unite to protect their home and prevent the world from a second Ice Age.’
Since the start of his entertainment career in the 70s, Ernis has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, from The Basketball Diaries to Desperate Housewives.
Metro.co.uk has previously reached out to Sony Pictures Entertainment for a statement, representing original studio Columbia-Delphi Productions.
The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
