DECEMBER 16 -22,1985 THE CITIZEN
7
From "bustin gho ts" to
"bu ting criminals)" succ i
anything but an parition in the
performin career of actor/
playwright, and Benton H rbor
native, Ernie Hudson. With a
resume of acting credits as dense
as ape from the ew York
City phone directory anda stack
of playbill bearing the tides of
hi many plays, Hudson h di
tinguished himself an actor of
great range and a dramatist with
an incisive und rstanding of
. life.
In his starring role as detec­
tive "Tremaine Lane" in the
NBC Stephen J. Cannell com­
edy rie "The Last Precinct,"
Hudson goes undercover to
deliver a characterization with
more ide than a Lon Chaney
clip (eel Whether imper onat­
ing a rock mu . cian or foreign
diplomat, or hiftingfromadrag
queen to a street psycho on life'
cuttin edge, Hudson handle
hi multi- ided character ith
the e of a chameleon and th
craft of a studied veteran.
"Becoming omethin" i
both Hudson's reason for acting
and the credo th t has guided hi
life. Hudson vie "The Last
Precinct" a beginning despite
tarrin role in the motion pic­
ture Gbostbssters; NIl#olllll
LIlmj>ooll's/Joy of Sex, Two of Il Kiu,
SjJIleehllllter, Goillg &1-s"i,
R itmtillry II, The Oetllgo, Tn
JIlZZ Sillger, Mm;, Event and
tel vi ion movie "California
Girls," "Love On the Run,"
"Women of San Quentin,"
"Crazy Tim ," "A tter of
D th nd Life, to "Roots Il"
"Kin .:" d Bull," "Last of
the Good Guys," "Skag," and
other.
"The ri ill allo me the
opportunity to e plore new
char cterizations beyond the
mold of 1 din man with the
flexibility I enjoyed on tage."
The theatr provided Hudson
Hours: on-Fri 9-7 p.m.
Sat· 12·7 p.m .. (Closed Sun)
with a surplus of challenge
hich he an ered to critical
acclaim in the national stagings
of Y""'Il, Grellt Whi Hope, The
Emperor lOlles, Dllri of the Moon,
Ceremonies ill Dllri Old Me., BIIlei
Bart and the musicals Se11llll,
DmJJy GooJi ess, and I�J • SIfIIlII
Wor14.
As a playwright with a
dedica tion he describes as "a life
entence to the pen," Hudson
the realization of his boy­
hood dr m of writing hen
America' olde t Black theatre,
Concept East, staged hi fir t
p Y Prlly,ilg Tillie. The play
embodied the social idealism of
Black pride and w written as a
homage to the increasing social
consciousne emerging during
the early 1970's. His sub
quent plays "Rebellion 369"
and "My Kingdom Come" con­
tinued to affirm his talents as a
dramatist and further inspired
his interest in actin .
Orphaned at four month of
ge, Hudson as rai ed by hi
grandmother in his native Ben­
ton Harbor, Michigan. A
devoutly religious woman
ho e perception of a good
education as a high chool
diploma, she instilled in Hudson
?
•
,
" you're moving out of our service area
and . one served by a· ent cable
oompany. just • toll free:
1
We' make sure your new cable
company contacts you for . alation
so you woo't miss out on your favorite
cable entertai'lmeflt
" you're moving . . ou area, just caM us:
CABLE TV
926-1191
Christma
Baskets
for needy
HARBOR - On
December 23, 1985, the Blos­
somland Area Community Act­
ion Agency will be distributing
Christma Baskets to extremely
needy famili s. The Christma
B et will contain food,
clothes and toys.
The baskets will be distribut­
ed at the Community Action
Agency offices at: 100 W.
ain Street, Benton Harbor:
429 Pa Paw Street Coloma·
and 1217 S. 11 th Street, iles.
F amilie will be served on a
fir t come, first served basis.
Any organization, business or
individual wishing to identify
needy famille or donate food,
clothing or toy should call
the CAA office nearest to their
area Benton Harbor, 926·1515;
Coloma, 468-4552; and iles,
683·7230.
busting out
sity with the ho of
enhancing
his pro pects for a futur
career.
While in college he orked
as machinist and dreamed of
better life for his family. Hud­
son remained in college for 0
year until the promise of an
executive position ith
ichigan Telephone lured him
from his tudies.
After 2 years on the job, and a
lifestyle he would later describe
as exciting as "dial tone, to he left
for California and hi fir t
attempt at knocking on studio
doors. Discouraged by the
experience he returned to
Wayne State bent on complet­
ing his drama degree. During
this time he sa the University
staging of his play Rehellion 369
and productions of My Kingdom
Come, at Detroit' Vest Pocket
Theatre nd Actor's En emble
Theatre, and formulated the
d cision to enter Yale Univer-
ity' PHD Playwriting Pro-
gr m. The univer ity
dmi ions board revie ed his
or and a arded him a full
holarship.
10 Ion p r tion from hi
f roily, coupl d ith his wife's
lm co umin PHD pursuits,
ntually 1 d to divorce and the
red custody of their
nt n and twenty year
old on. Th younger on's
nam ould become
udonym for Ernie Hud on
and ould appear a writer
"Raharnan Mali .. on his play .
With foray into host of
theatr en embles and direc­
tional proj cts required an
active member of the local
theatre community.
In an effort to b cIo er to his
ons, he transfer! d to the
University of Minne ota' pro­
gram, but remained only one
term. An offer for a starrin role
in the play DadJy Goodness
brought a hasty departure for
Lo Angeles.
Vacillating for everal year
between educational pur uits in
Minnesota and opportunities
for professional ork, Hudson
decided in 1976 to make Los
Angele his nome.
For the last nine year Hud­
son has established an
impressive body of ork in
cIas ical theatre, motion pic­
ture and televi ion.
Whether bouncing the
board in national theatr com­
panies, or bringin laughs to
millions of television viewers
ith his current comedy series,
Hudson enjoy hi vocation
with the spirited pride and
re ard that comes from the pro­
ce of ... just becoming
.. something. "
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