At 80, Ernie Hudson still works out regularly — and it’s all part of his longevity journey.
In an interview with Men’s Health published on Wednesday, the “Ghostbusters” actor said he sees regular exercise as a way for him to live well for longer.
“I guess I’m excited because turning 80 is great. A number I never thought I’d see, but here it is. I always wanted to be an old guy who’s still feeling pretty good,” Hudson told Men’s Health.
Over the years, he’s come to realize the importance of tuning into his body and paying close attention to what it needs. “You just have to quiet your mind enough to listen,” he said.
That philosophy guides how he approaches fitness today.
“My biggest goal right now is just to stay alive,” Hudson said. “Weight becomes a big issue the older you get, especially if you’re from my community, the African American community. Every disease known to man seems to hit us harder, so it’s really important to get the exam, to stay flexible, to stay as mobile as you can.”
He added that mobility becomes especially critical with age.
“The older you get, you want to be at least flexible, so you’re not stumbling and falling down, which is the number one hazard. Falling and breaking something,” Hudson said.
At home in Los Angeles, he trains with a personal trainer two to three times a week. When he’s traveling or in New York City, he swaps in a different workout partner: his son.
“It gives me a chance to hang out in his favorite place, which is the gym,” Hudson said.
Much of Hudson’s training centers on building and maintaining upper-body strength, with workouts that include pushups, seated rows, and barbell bench presses.
He added that he has always believed in having strong arms, “so you appear that you can at least defend yourself.”
Not only that, Hudson said he feels the need to stay in top shape whenever he takes on a role, even if it isn’t especially physical.
“It’s important for a character that you’re able to lose yourself in that world,” he said.
Being fit makes it easier to focus on his job because he isn’t distracted by any physical discomfort or limitations, and regular exercise means he doesn’t have to scramble to get in shape when work calls.
But at the end of the day, exercise is only part of the equation.
“I stay busy, I travel a lot, and work takes precedence. But when you’re busy, diet is, I think, even more important,” Hudson said. “You can work out all you want, but if you aren’t in control of your diet, your eating habits, you’re going to have a problem.”
Hudson has long been serious about his workouts.
In 2024, he told Men’s Health that he goes for a brisk walk whenever he can’t fit in a formal workout and practices Pilates weekly to maintain his mobility.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always made a point of being able to touch my toes,” Hudson said. “So at some point during the day, every day, I’ll do a stretch to make sure I can still touch my toes.”
During a January appearance on the “Today” show, the actor said he fits in sets of pushups throughout his day.
“When I get up, I like to do a set of pushups first thing and throughout the day,” he said. “By the end of the day, I should have at least 100 pushups.”
