Ernie Hudson Talks Joining Boston Blue: “It's Definitely About Family”

Before we know it, Boston Blue will premiere, settling the debate about whether it’s a worthy successor to Blue Bloods.

TV Fanatic recently had the chance to catch up with veteran actor Ernie Hudson, who plays the family patriarch and minister, Reverend Peters, on the new series.

Hudson has played everything from characters on Ghostbusters and Oz to starring in both Boston Blue and BET’s Family Business this year. Check out what he has to say about both these projects and his long career.

TV Fanatic: I know that you’re doing Boston Blue and you’re doing Family Business, which are two very different roles. What’s it like for you to work on two very different projects like that at the same time?

Ernie Hudson: Well, I love it because, first of all, I love what I do.

But to be able to take a character like on Family Business and then Boston Blue… they’re both really about family, and that’s what fascinates me.

You know, Family Business is about chasing that American dream that you can question the means, but I love that character, while Boston Blue is a spin-off of Blue Bloods, and it’s that whole police tradition, but I play a minister who is a community organizer and brings a different perspective into that.

And so, they’re both a lot of fun, and I do see them both very, very differently, but at the heart of it is men who care deeply about their families.

That’s awesome. So I’m curious about what it’s like to play on both sides of the law at the same time.

I think we’re all on some level or other, chasing that American dream.

We feel we should be entitled to have whatever we want. And [in Family Business], this is a family where, somehow, the LC Duncan character I play has gotten into the belief that he can’t have what he needs for his family, playing it straight.

So he’s gotta make the rules up as he goes along, and he goes at 100% in what he believes in, and he’ll do anything to hold on to what he feels he deserves.

I haven’t played a character quite like him, who not only threatens but also goes all the way with it.

I love that part. Carl Weber is a wonderful, wonderful writer. So great.

One thing I keep reassuring people about is that even though Boston Blue isn’t Blue Bloods, it will still center family. What are your thoughts?

It’s definitely an interesting family, because I play a Baptist minister, head of one of the oldest Black churches in the country, and, like I say, very involved in the community.

But my daughter, who is the district attorney, married a Jewish guy and converted to Judaism, and then their kids are Jewish.

And then Donnie Wahlberg, who plays Danny on the show, and his son are Catholic. And so you get a little interesting dynamic. You know, an intersection of faith. So I enjoy that part of it.

What dynamics are you most looking forward to the audience seeing as Boston Blue progresses?

I think we hear a lot about police, policing, and police reform. And now, this new administration’s take on policing.

But I think being able to come in and bring in that community element that we don’t always hear. There are laws we have to enforce, but I think the community isn’t always taken into account.

And so it allows my character a chance to bring a different perspective to things. We all like things to be clear, cut-and-dry. However, my experience is that life never is.

One really cool thing I hope will continue on Boston Blue is that Blue Bloods would present different points of view, but they wouldn’t tell the audience what they should think.

Exactly, exactly. Give everyone a chance to make up their own mind. I think that once we can see it, it will sometimes show us something a little different from the way we saw it, you know? And I think that’s the humanity that we all share.

We tend to want to separate and say we’re different, but when you really start to dig a little deeper, you realize that there’s not that much difference. We’re all in this thing together.

One of the things I like about Boston Blue having so much diversity is that it’s still the same kinds of conversations they have at the table.

Exactly.

And I know you’ve done a lot of ensemble work. You’re doing Boston Blue now, and you did Oz. What’s it been like for you to collaborate with the cast on Boston Blue? What stands out to you about it?

Well, I love this cast. It’s a great cast.

Everybody’s experienced and professional, and everybody’s excited to be there. That’s important because you don’t want to be on a show where people aren’t 100% committed.

And you know what I love when you work with a cast that is as consummate as they are. It demands that you bring your best to play as well.

Additionally, I’ve done shows in the past where people weren’t quite up to speed, and then you have to slow down to ensure they’re giving their best.

Whereas a show like Boston Blue, these are consummate pros, so it allows me to just focus on what I need to do, and, of course, the Brandons are just great writers, and they give you great material to work with, which is so important.

That’s always the best part, right? You love what you do even more, because you don’t have to sell this thing that you don’t believe in,

I’ve been there. I’ve been there, and it’s a little difficult when you go, “this doesn’t make any sense, but I’m going to do it anyway.” There hasn’t been any of that so far

I know that you’re into fitness, too. How does your routine influence the way you approach your acting?

It’s funny because people ask about my routine, and I almost feel like I need to make up something. I’ve never really been totally committed to anything.

I have my moments. You know, if I’m playing a character that’s a martial artist, I need to be able to make it believable.

But over the 50-plus years I’ve been doing this, my philosophy is, don’t let things get out of control.

My grandmother raised me, and she would say, “Don’t do the dumb stuff.” And the dumb stuff is all those things that we know we shouldn’t be doing. We think somehow we can get away with it, you know.

I think we have an inner guide. For each of us, we know exactly what we need to do.

We’re all looking for shortcuts. And I found in my life there’s no shortcut.

You need to eat responsibly. If I feel a little off, I need to go to the gym. I need to walk more.

But nothing extreme.

And so that’s always been my philosophy, even though, in the 50-plus years I’ve been doing this, no one’s ever taken advantage of showing off my physicality.

I keep saying I was on Oz, and every guy on the show had his shirt off. But I am in a suit and tie here. What is that about?

So yeah, I’ve never really gotten to do that, though I’ve done some action things.

But in general, it’s nice that, at almost 80 years old, people are asking me about my routine.

A lot of people are inspired. They’re like, “Oh, I can have longevity too.“

Yeah. And that’s what my grandmother said. She believed in God, and her thing was always to be an example of what is possible.

And so you don’t want to live your life in a way that represents the worst. So if you want to be 80 years old, be an 80-year-old guy who still enjoys his work, and not be broke  — hopefully you have a little money. You want to live your best life, and hopefully someone else will be inspired by seeing that.

I love it. I was going to ask you what you hope people take away when they see you thriving in your career. But I think you just answered that.

I see so many young people who say, “Well, I want to be an actor. How do you do this?”

I can’t tell you how. I just say, “There’s a universal guide. You can call it God or ancestors, or whatever. But I know that if you can quiet yourself enough, you’ll be guided.”

It seems a little mystical, I guess, to some people, but that’s how I got into the business.

I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t have any money. But I knew that if I prepared, the opportunity would open up.

And so that’s always been my go-to. And at this stage, I still love to work, finding that role that I can just totally commit myself to

That’s kind of what I’m looking for now. I mean, it’s great being on Boston Blue and Family Business as well. But I’d love to find a comedy — something a little different.

I need to laugh a little bit now. I’m the minister, I’m the gangster. I need something a little light and funny.

It’ll be interesting to see if they give you some comic relief lines.

Yeah. He’s sort of this moral compass. But whenever I can bring in a little warmth and humor, I try not to make it too heavy. Nobody wants to see that.

So you want to play comedy, obviously, but what do you hope that this chapter you’re in now adds to your legacy as an actor?

Yeah, you know, I don’t know about legacy. We just do what we do, and people will draw whatever conclusions they can.

I meet people as I travel to different places, and it’s interesting because, in my career, people have different shows, but I don’t know if they’ve all put them together.

I see those The Crow fans who love The Crow and aren’t aware of Family Business. Or Family Business fans who aren’t aware of Congo, or Oz fans who only know Oz.

Finding a role that can pull all of those elements together would be great.

What message would you like to give your fans?

I’m always working to bring my best.

I try to choose projects that I believe offer something for me.

Boston Blue really does offer a lot, you know, and it’s definitely worth watching.

And so watch the show and form your own opinion, but I think it’s going to be a fun show to take in.

I know it’s an amazing cast. The writing is good, and I’m always going to give my 100% and hopefully it’ll make sense.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

For more Ernie Hudson, check out our coverage of the new version of Quantum Leap. We still have plenty of reviews and editorials about Blue Bloods if you’re missing it.

Boston Blue will premiere on CBS on October 17, 2025, at 10/9c and on Paramount+ on October 18

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