Alan Ruck credits Ferris Bueller himself, Matthew Broderick, for his success

Last Updated on April 28, 2023

Bueller…Bueller…oh, and Cameron, too! Ferris Bueller’s Day Off stars Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck recently sat down for a one-on-one conversation to discuss a variety of topics, most importantly (to a certain generation, at least) John Hughes’ 1986 comedy. But its status as a teen movie classic may not have happened without the pair’s work in the theater.

After some banter about plague masks, Ruck told Broderick, “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, but I owe you a lot,” causing confusion. Clarifying, Ruck said, “If there was no Matthew Broderick, there probably wouldn’t have been a Biloxi Blues, and that was a major springboard for me,” referring to the stage production of Neil Simon’s play, which Broderick would later star in the movie adaptation of. “If it wasn’t for Biloxi Blues, Ferris Bueller wouldn’t have happened for me. I’ve told you this before, but I think in a previous life you saved me from some horrible death.” 

Responding to Ruck’s take, Broderick said, “I thought you were really, really special from the first read-through of that show. And if I had any influence on Ferris Bueller, it was only because I thought you were so good and so right for the part. I just thought you were a very special actor, and I still do.”

While Ferris Bueller’s Day Off stands as one of Broderick’s best performances, Ruck steals nearly every scene (and precious car) he’s in as best friend/trade expert Cameron Frye, probably one of the best sidekick characters in movie history. The breakout role would lead to some memorable supporting turns for Ruck in Young Guns II, Speed, TV’s Spin City, and many more. Currently he appears on HBO’s Succession, playing Connor Roy, the presidential “hopeful” who nearly had his wedding day completely ruined…

This isn’t the first time the cast of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off reunited. In 2020, Broderick and Ruck were joined virtually by Mia Sara (Ferris’ girlfriend Sloane) and Jennifer Grey (sister Jeannie, who can’t just let her brother have a simple day off). Ben Stein (Economics Teacher), Cindy Pickett (Ferris’ mother) and Lyman Ward (Ferris’ father) even turned up.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off remains one of the most beloved coming-of-age comedies ever, even being selected into the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

What is your favorite scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?