He also appeared in a recurring guest role on the series Doogie Howser, M.D.. Hudson was born and raised in Portland, Oregon,[2] the eldest of three sons (Brett and Mark are his two younger brothers) born to Eleanor (née Salerno) and William Louis Hudson.

His mother was of Italian descent (his maternal grandfather came from Carlentini, Province of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy).

[9] As an actor, Hudson appeared in the film Big Shots (1987), and three episodes of the television series Doogie Howser, M.D.

[10] During his bachelor days, Hudson dated singer Karen Carpenter[11] and actresses Loretta Swit[12] and Jill St.

[16][21][22] In 2018, Hudson's son, Oliver, told Larry King that he and his father had begun speaking again after being estranged for many years.