Bill Hudson

Biography

Bill Hudson is an American singer, actor & musician. He is popular for his musical band 'The Hudson Brothers' with his brothers. 

 

Childhood- Family

Bill Hudson was born on 17th October 1949 in Portland, Oregon, the United States to Eleanor Salerno(Mother) & William Louis Hudson(Father)

He was brought up by his mother, his father left them when Bill was just 6 years old. It is infamously believed that he said: "he was going out for a pack of cigarettes." The mother supported the family with the help of welfare money.

 

The Hudson Brothers

'The Hudson Brothers' is an American musical band of Bill Hudson & his brothers Brett Hudson, Mark Hudson. The Hudson Brothers were encouraged by their mother to sing and play music. 

The band started their journey as backup singers to David Cassidy in his albums "Home is Where the Heart Is" & "The Higher They Climb"

The band has released six albums and 24 singles from 1967 to 1980. 

"So You Are a Star(1974)" and "Rendezvous(1975)" are the band's hit songs, they peaked at #21 and #26 respectively at the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Bill played guitar and vocals, Brett played bass and vocals, Mark played drums, keyboard, and vocals.

The band has produced songs like- So You Are a Star (1974), Lonely School Year (1975), Rendezvous(1975), Help Wanted (1976) among other works.

Image: The Hudson Brothers- Bill, Brett & Mark

 

Brett Hudson

Brett Stuart Patrick Hudson was born on 18th January 1953 in Portland, Oregon.

He married Lavinia Lang in 1992, the couple has two children.

He had a stage 4 throat cancer in 2007 and is in remission since 2009

 

Mark Hudson

Mark Jeffery Anthony Hudson was born on August 23, 1951, in Portland, Oregon. He is the youngest of the Hudson brothers.

Mark is a record producer, songwriter, and musician. He co-wrote the Grammy award-winning song "Livin' on the Edge" for Aerosmith. He is part of the collective called "Boneyard Boys" that works on the creative process of the band Aerosmith

He was previously married to Wendy Gotelee (British dancer), he has a daughter- Sarah Hudson with her. Sarah is a singer and a songwriter herself.

Marriage- Wife

Bill Hudson & Goldie Hawn

Bill married actress Goldie Hawn in 1976, the couple had two children- Son Oliver Hudson(born in 1976) & daughter Kate Hudson(born in 1979). Bill filed for divorce in August 1980 and the divorce was granted on 9th March 1982. Bill has had an estranged relationship with Goldie's children, Children lived with their mother Goldie Hawn & her partner Kurt Russell.

Image: Bill Hudson wedding to Goldie Hawn

Goldie Hawn

Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress. She was born on November 21, 1945 in Washington, D.C. 

The Academy Award-winning actress is known for playing roles such as Judy Benjamin in Private Benjamin (1980), Joanna / Annie in Overboard(1987), Marion in There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), Elise Elliot Atchison in The First Wives Club (1996), Steffi in Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Helen Sharp in Death Becomes Her (1992)

Goldie was married twice (Gus Trikonis and Bill Hudson) and has been a longtime partner of actor Kurt Russell. She hs three children. Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson with Bill Hudson and Wyatt Russell with partner Kurt Russell.

 

Bill Hudson & Cindy Williams

Bill married actress Cindy Williams on May 1st, 1982, the two have two children together. They divorced on 15th December 2000.

[Bill Hudson with then-wife Cindy Williams]

Cindy Williams

Cynthia Jane Williams is an actress. She was born on August 22, 1947, in Los Angeles, California to Francesca Bellini (waitress) and Beachard Williams (electronic technician). She has a sister in Carol Ann Williams.

The Golden Globe-nominated actress is known for playing roles such as Laurie in American Graffiti(1973), Shirley Feeney (titular role) in Laverne & Shirley (1976-1982), Ann in The Conversation(1974), Laurie Bolander in More American Graffiti (1979) among others.

She has two children Emily and Zachary with Bill.

 

Children

Bill has five children with his two ex-wives (Goldie Hawn & Cindy Williams) and girlfriend Caroline Graham.

• Oliver Hudson (born in 1976)
• Kate Hudson (born in 1979)
• Emily Hudson (born in 1982)
• Zachary Hudson (born in 1986)
• Lalania Hudson (born in 2006)

 

Oliver Hudson

Bill's first child Oliver was born on September 7, 1976, to Bill and his first wife Goldie Hawn.

Oliver Hudson is an actor known for playing Kyle in Walk of Shame(2014), Kyle Autry in Black Christmas (2006), Ziegler in Going Greek(2001), Martin in "Splitting Up Together", Wes Gardner in "Scream Queens among others.

Oliver married actress Erinn Bartlett on 9th June 2006. He has three children Wilder Brooks Hudson (born in 2007) & Bodhi Hawn Hudson (2010) and daughter, Rio Laura Hudson (2013) with Erin Bartlett.

In an interview to Larry King in 2018, Oliver said that he and his father had started talking after a long time of estrangement.

 

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson was born on April 19, 1979, to Bill and his first wife Goldie Hawn.

Kate is a Golden Globe award-winning, Academy award-nominated actress who is known for playing Penny Lane in Almost Famous (2000), Andie in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Liv in Bride Wars(2009), Tess in Fool's Gold (2008) among others.

Kate was married to singer Chris Robinson from 2000 to 2007. The two have a son named Ryder Russell Robinson. Kate was engaged to singer Matt Bellamy in 2011, they had a son named Bingham Hawn Bellamy born in 2011. Kate started dating actor/ singer Danny Fujikawa in 2016, they have a daughter named Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa born in 2018.

 

Emily Hudson

Emily Taylor Hudson was born on 23rd November 1982 to Bill's second wife actress Cindy Williams.

 

Zachary Hudson

William Zachary Hudson was born on April 9, 1986, to Bill Hudson and Cindy Williams.

 

Lalania Hudson

Lalania Hudson was born on 2006 to Bill's ex-girlfriend, Caroline Graham.

 

Facts & Trivia

• Ancestry: He is of Italian ancestry (His maternal grandparents came from Sicily, Italy) with some Dutch & English (paternal) ancestry.
• Commercials: Bill along with his then-wife Cindy Williams appeared in the Waltham Pet Food commercials together
• Religious upbringing: He was brought up Roman Catholic bt his mother.
• Bill toured with 'The Osmonds' (Alan Osmand, Wayne Osmand, Merrill Osmand, and Jay Osmand)  in the '70s.
• Political inclination: Bill had supported democrat Michael Dukakis in his presidential campaign of 1988

 

Two Versions: The Other Side of Fame and Family

In December 2011, Bill released his biographical book about the aspects of his family life, about dealing with fame, his marriages, and divorce.

Bill writes about his estranged relationships with his children, the bitter side of a bad divorce, his own faults, and alienation as a parent and issues mostly related to his family.

He regrets not fighting for custody rights of his children Oliver and Kate. 

[Two Versions: The Other Side of Fame and Family]

 

Quarrel with Oliver & Kate

Oliver tweeted 'Happy Abandonment Day' on father's day pointing to his father Bill Hudson(They were rarely in touch with their father), Bill disowned his children Kate & Oliver in an online interview, he said he had only 3 children from that day.

 

Career

"The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show"

The Hudson brothers- Mark, Brett, and Bill hosted a variety show in 1974, the series was directed by Stan Jacobson and ran for a season with 16 episodes.

Ted Zeigler, Billy Van, Peter Cullen, Murray Langston, Freeman King were regulars on the show

 

Zero to Sixty(1978)

In the 1978 comedy movie directed by Don Weis, Bill plays Eddie, a supporting character. Bill's brothers Brett and Mark also appear in minor roles.

Darren McGavin (as Michael Nolan, the lead character), Sylvia Miles (Flo Ames), Joan Collins (Gloria Martine), Denise Nickerson (Larry Wilde) appear in the main roles.

 

"What the"

Bill worked in the TV series family comedy series directed by his brother Brett Hudson and Mark Hudson. Robert Downey Jr., Micky Dolenz, Timothy B. Schmit, Matt Sorum appeared as themselves in the series. Bill was one of the associate producers of the series as well as the camera operator.

The series wasn't aired, however.

 

Hysterical(1983)

The spoof horror movie was written by the Hudson brothers. Chris Bearde directed the movie.

Bill played Frederic Lansing, w writer waiting to be inspired on his vacation in Oregon. He is stuck in the lighthouse haunted by the ghost of Venetia (played by Julie Newmar), a woman who had killed herself 100 years ago.

Bill's brothers Mark and Brett play scientists (Paul Batton and Fritz Batton) who come to the town to investigate the case. It is a spoof of the 1980 horror movie The Fog by John Carpenter and other horror movies.

[Hysteria poster- Bill Hudson & Brothers]

 

Big Shots (1987)

In the 1987 adventure comedy movie directed by Robert Mandel, Bill played the father (Mr. Dawkins) of protagonist Obie Dawkins (Ricky Busker), Brynn Thayer played Bill's wife (Mrs. Dawkins)

The story revolves around Obidiah Dawkins losing his father to a heart attack and running away from home in pain, meeting new friends, and coming back home.

Ricky Busker (as Obie), Darius McCrary (Scam), Robert Joy (Dickie), Robert Prosky (Keegan), Jerzy Skolimowski (Doc), Paul Winfield (Johnnie Red) appeared in important roles.

 

Doogie Howser, M.D. (1980-1992)

In the family comedy-drama "Doogie Howser, M.D.", Bill played Michael Plenn. Neil Patrick Harris played Dr. Douglas Howser, the lead role. He appeared in three episodes:

• A Stitch Called Wanda (1989) (Season 1 Episode 3)
• To Live and Die in Brentwood (1991) (Season 2 Episode 15)
• That's What Friends Are For (1992) (Season 3 Episode 22)

Neil Patrick Harris (as Dr. Doogie Howser), Max Casella (Vinnie Delpino), Belinda Montgomery(Katherine Howser), Lawrence Pressman (Dr. Benjamin Canfield) appeared in the lead roles.

 

Filmography

Movies

Year	Movie	Character	Notes
1987	Big Shots	Dad
1983	Hysterical	Frederic Lansing	also the writer of the movie
1978	The Millionaire	Eddie Reardon	TV Movie
1978	Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park	Man in Kiss Booth	TV Movie
1978	Zero to Sixty	Eddie

 

TV Series

Year	TV series	Character	Notes
2011	What The		As camera operator and executive producer
1989-1992	Doogie Howser, M.D.	Michael Plenn	Episodes: That's What Friends Are For To Live and Die in Brentwood A Stitch Called Wanda
1989	Just Like Family
1986	The Magical World of Disney	Tom Burke	Episode: "Help Wanted: Kids"
1980	The Love Boat	Dr. Louis DaCosta	Episode: "Not So Fast, Gopher/ Haven't We Met Before? / Foreign Exchange"
1979	Bonkers!		Episode: Pilot (season 1 episode 1)

 

Documentary

Year	Project	Notes
2009	All the Presidents' Movies: The Movie	As composer
2001	Death of a Beatle
	The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll with Gene Simmons
	Adults Only: The Secret History of the Other Hollywood

 

Theatre/ Stage

Year	Play	Character	Notes
1977	Godspell		Creators: John Michael Tebelak & Stephen Schwartz Production: Kenley Players production Location: Veterans Memorial Theatre in Columbus, Ohio Art director: John Kenley Cast: Mark and Brett Hudson

 

TV Shows

Bill has appeared on various TV shows, both as a guest and a host.

Year	Show	Role	Notes
2015	Inside Edition
2008	E! True Hollywood Story
1988	Offshore Television
1985	More Than Brothers
1977	The Brady Bunch Variety Hour
1976	The Sonny and Cher Show
1974-1976	The Hollywood Squares	as himself	14 episodes
1975	The Rock 'n' Fun Magic Show	as himself	TV movie/ show
1974	The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show	as one of the hosts

 

Quotes

• (About Ex-Wife Goldie Hawn) What Goldie wants, Goldie gets
• I was consumed with love, I didn't think life could get any better.  I had just married the woman I loved and I felt like the luckiest guy on Earth 
• For years I have been living with the hell of Goldie manipulating the story of our time together 
• I never wanted to get into a public slanging match but I have other children now and they deserve the right to get to know Kate and Oliver

 

News and Updates

• He attended 1975 Academy award event
• He has attended several other award events like- American Cinema Awards, People's Choice Awards, and others.

 

References

1. Bill Hudson wiki
2.