Province of Syracuse
Hudson was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, the youngest of three boys, (Mark and Bill are his two elder brothers) born to Eleanor (née Salerno) and William Louis Hudson. His mother was Italian American (his maternal grandfather came from Carlentini, Province of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy). He and his brothers were nephews of actor Keenan Wynn. Hudson's father walked out on the family when he was six, and Eleanor was forced to raise her boys alone, relying on welfare to raise her boys during their upbringing. He was raised Roman Catholic.