- Ernie Hudson, Ghostbusters, 1983. The paranormal was, said Dan Aykord, his family’s business. That and having stayed in a house haunted by Mama Cass Elliott inspired his dark, futuristic update of such 40s’ comedies as Bob Hope’s Ghost Breakers and the Bowery Boys as Ghost Chasers – penned for John Belushi, Eddie Murphy and himself. Dan was actually writing a line for John when hearing about his shock death. (He said Slimer was John‘s ghost). Murphy was busy – policing Beverly Hills. “It wasn’t like I turned it down,” he told Jimmy Fallon, “I wasn’t available because I did this other movie.” Gregory Hines was seen and after a month’s wait (after five auditions) Hudson became Winston Zeddemore – no longer the same size role as it was for Eddie. In a 2015 interview, VelJohnson said he’d also been seen and was compensated with a prison guard to play with.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 1