Hudson

"Game over, man!"

Private First Class William L. Hudson is a fictional character in the 1986 science fiction film Aliens, portrayed by actor Bill Paxton. Deployed to LV-426 aboard the Sulaco with the United States Colonial Marines, his mission was to investigate the lost terraforming colony overrun by Xenomorphs. Armed with an M41A pulse rifle, Hudson displayed technical skill by hacking locks and locating colonists via their beacons. Though initially a braggart, the death of most marines and the destruction of the dropship sent him into panic, leading to his iconic line: "That's it, man!

Game over, man! Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now?" After being scolded by Ripley, he regained composure to help defend the team.

Ultimately dragged through a floor grating and disappearing as the atmosphere processor exploded, Hudson is presumed dead alongside his squad, leaving only Ripley, Newt, Bishop, and Corporal Hicks alive.

Quick Facts

Series: Alien
First: Aliens (1986)
Last: Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013; corpse only)
Gender: Male
Occupation: United States Colonial Marines Private First Class
Portrayed by: Bill Paxton
Creator: James Cameron

Lore & Background

Hudson's journey begins on the Sulaco, where he serves as a member of the United States Colonial Marine team investigating LV-426. He is identified by the designation A08/TQ1.0.41776E3 and carries an M41A pulse rifle. Before the mission turns sour, he demonstrates competence with electronics, using a pocket computer to hack a lock and tracking lost colonists through their locator beacons. As his fellow marines are killed by Xenomorphs, his initial bravado dissolves into sheer panic. This culminated when the dropship was destroyed, prompting his famous outburst: "That's it, man! Game over, man! Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?" Following a scolding from Ripley, Hudson finds the courage to contribute to the defense of the group. However, his redemption is short-lived; he is dragged through a floor grating by the Aliens and vanishes into the darkness.

Reader's Guide

The quote "Game over, man!" remains his defining contribution to pop culture, often cited in works like Family Guy, Halo: Combat Evolved, and Fallout: New Vegas (with the "Wild Wasteland" perk). In April 2026, he was added as a playable character in Dead by Daylight. Bill Paxton went through basic Marine training to prepare for the role, along with the other actors playing the Marines.

Did You Know?

Bill Paxton added the phrase "Contents under pressure... do not puncture" and a reference to his fiancée Louise Newbury to his Marine armor.
Producer Gale Anne Hurd stated that James Cameron wrote the role of Hudson specifically for Bill Paxton.
Paxton won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Hudson.