Matthew Broderick was born in 1962 to parents who were deep in the movie industry. His mother was a screenwriter, and his father was an actor. His first breakthrough was playing alongside his father in ‘On Valentine’s Day.’ ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ which he is best known for, was soon to follow.
He has won a Tony Award and a Walk of Fame Star, he is married to Sarah Jessica Parker, and in 2022 took part in the ‘Plaza Suit’ production.
48 Hours of Writing
1986 were days when an impending writer’s strike was about to start and filmmaker John Hughes had no time to waste. He was known as a night bloomer within the industry, with abilities to create something in no time.
He sat at his desk and in less than four days, completed the entire 'Ferris Buellers Day Off' script. He did everything he could to avoid the strike and ended up writing one of his classics.
Chicago Corner of California
The plot takes place in Chicago, however, the house that is supposed to be the Bueller's family home is located in California. John Hughes, (writer and co-producer) was frustrated that they couldn't make the movie authentic by filming it in Chicago.
Those who are familiar with the US geographical characteristics will easily spot the trees and vegetation around the premises, making it difficult to believe the story is set in the Midwest.
Our House in the Middle of Our Street
Ferris Bueller (and the rest of the characters), all live in middle-class standard houses. Cameron's house, on the other hand, is nothing like a standard middle-class residence. The house is a masterpiece. It was built in 1953 and blends in with nature with its magnificent all-around glass windows.
The house easily emphasizes how different Cameron is from his fellow friends, not only in manner and character but also in how many dollars his family has in the bank.
New Kids on the Block
Hughes never mentioned if the cast from his movies are supposed to be acquaintances, as his films were all made during the same time and in the same places. 'The Breakfast Club' was shot in 1985, and 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was shot in 1986. Both movies' plots take place in Chicago, and the cast all (in both movies) go to the same high school — Shermer High.
In 'The Breakfast Club', the entire movie is set in the school, while in 'Ferris Bueller', the high school scenes don't take such a significant part (except for the part when the students ask for donations and walk down the corridors with donation buckets).
Slightly Older in Real Life
Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Jennifer Grey are all in their 20s when they play in the movie (not uncommon in the 1980s teen movies). In the movie, they are constantly surrounded by real teenagers, defying the gap years between the three main stars and the rest of the cast.
This was internationally done as John Hughes explains, wanting to make the three stars stand out even more and not blend in. Mia Sara (Sloane Peterson) on the other hand, was only 17 when shooting the movie.
A Teenager's Den
Like everything, the interior design of Ferris's room has a story behind it. It's not as if the designers decided to throw whatever came to hand and place it in the teenager's den, creating an average teen room appearance. A lot of thought was put into the decor.
Hughes (writer and co-producer) was influenced by his own teenagers. He said that Ferris Bueller's room reminded him of his own room back in the day and that it reflects the sort of character Ferris was.
A Really Long Day Off
The original script was much longer than what we were eventually given. The first version of the movie was 165 minutes long, which is more than 50% longer than the final 103 min.
It's very common that a movie's final cut is shorter than what they started with, but this makes us really curious. What on earth did Ferris and his friends manage to do in the remaining 62 minutes that was never shown in the movie?
It's All in His Head
There are many speculations about the movie, and this one going to amaze you. Apparently, some people claim that the entire story of Ferris Bueller's day is actually set in Cameron’s head. Maybe this explains why Cameron has some very significant lines throughout the plot.
He's the one who drives Ferris into stealing his dad's car, and the one who imitates Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago. Now, at first, none of this makes sense, but as we think deeper into this speculation, anything is possible. Especially in the imagined Chicago of 1986.
The First and Final Scenes
We love movies that break the fourth wall, keeping us connected and part of the story. In the movie, the opening scene and the grand finale provide a straightforward message from Bueller to the viewers. Both scenes were shot after the movie was complete, and only then added.
The producer felt that after two months of shooting the movie, he kind of built a relationship with the character, enabling him to take advantage (in a good way) of what he had created.
Never Had One Lesson
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is full of improvisations. The one when Ferris plays the clarinet, and then turns to the camera and says "Never had one lesson", is one of those moments.
The fact that Ferris (or Matthew Broderick) is aware that there is an audience watching him, gives the movie some spice. Ferris is not only a middle-class kid skipping school, but he is literally a friend, telling his story and making the viewers take part.
Art Institute of Chicago
1986 was the first year movie cameras were allowed to film inside the Art Institute of Chicago. We love the fact that Hughes took a childhood favorite spot, and turned it into a well-known scene in the movie.
We don't know how he persuaded the museum to allow a film crew into the building, but he did.
We do ask ourselves though if the script wasn't handed out, would Ferris Bueller really choose the museum as a place to spend his day off? We think not.
Von Steuben Day
Hughes couldn't have gotten any luckier than he did on the first day of filming. The parade scene was already set in the script but never in a million years did he think, they could actually manage to film the entire scene in a real one.
Von Steuben Day was celebrated in perfect timing. All participants were authentic, all of the music (besides The Beatles hit) was part of the real parade, and except for minor alterations they had to do the following day, the production team was given the scene on a silver platter.
Deutschland Deutschland!
The neighborhood John Hughes grew up in had a strong German influence with German ancestry citizens. This was emphasized by the cooking, the music, and the accent. The German song 'Danke Shoen' was used in the movie for a reason.
Hughes said in one of his interviews, that the German accent pronounced by some of his neighbors while growing up was something he couldn't ignore. When he found out Bueller was a German name, he knew he had to give the movie a Deutschland touch.
Shake It a Baby
If there is one song in the movie that will get you up off your feet it's with no doubt "Twist & Shout." The choice of this song for the scene in the parade upgraded and turned it into a singalong. Most of the dancers and people who participated in the "Twist & Shout" scene were no more than bypassers who had nothing better to do that day.
Many people who were at the parade at the time thought "Twist & Shout" was part of the parade, only later realizing it wasn't and was planted in as part of the movie.
The Water Tower
In the plot, things got a little out of hand when pupils literally asked for donations to save Ferris Bueller. So while Bueller was dancing down the streets of Chicago, the community was doing everything in their power to save his life.
The words "Save Ferris" were painted on the water tower (for real) and Hughes said that the painting was still on there for many years after. A touch of exaggerated humor never hurt anyone.
The Sears Tower Scene
Many things in filmmaking have changed over the years, and the next scene emphasizes this. The three musketeers visit the Skydeck Tower and go up to the 103rd floor. They lean against the glass wall, making the cameramen who shot this scene, literally sick. It took them a few hours to get over the nauseous feeling.
The movie producers used the real sound of the three when leaning their heads against the glass, something that would not be allowed in 21st-century movies. What insurance company would cover that? These days we have our best friend — the computer — to carry out these special effects.
Make Sure the Leaves Don't Fall
'Ferris Bueller's day off ' was filmed in October, making the natural scenery outside more orange and yellow and less green. As the movie takes place in the late days of spring the outside setting had to be altered (especially around Cameron's house which was built in the woods and surrounded by glass).
All of the leaves that were in the frame were painted green every single day during filming so everything looked as authentic as possible.
Glass Picking
In one of the last scenes, Cameron's father's Ferrari falls out of the glass window. It was shot in Highland Park which was the perfect place to stage such a display. One of the glass walls was replaced with new glass for fear that the original structure wouldn't hold after the window was broken.
The local city hall requested that every single piece of glass on the ground be picked up, without leaving a trace behind.
A Natural Construction Worker
One thing that wasn't taken into account when writing all of the dance scenes in the movie, was what would happen if Broderick (Ferris) hurt himself somehow somewhere during filming. So, naturally, Broderick was injured while jumping over fences and was unable to do the dance routine in the parade scene.
Luckily enough, there were a few people around who were busy minding their own business but ended up being part of the movie. The construction worker who was caught dancing on the scaffolding was not planned to be there but it worked out even better than the original plan of only Ferris dancing.
Small Little Details
The plot takes place on June 5th, 1985. The baseball game played (in real life) on that day was between the Cubs and the Atlanta Braves. Let us save you some Google time, the Braves won, 4-2.
Now, as the movie was shot during the fall, and the production team didn't want to stage a baseball game, the famous scene was filmed during a Cubs and Expos game. And as Hughes says, "As long as the Cubs were playing."
Space Shuttle Lines
There was a line that was supposed to become one of Ferris's iconic ones, however, life has its ways and things didn't go according to plan. In one of Ferris's monologs, he was meant to say "Come next year, I’ll be the first kid to ride on the space shuttle."
A few months before the film was shot, the Challenger exploded. Following this event, Hughes decided to cut out those lines and not mention anything that had to do with space.
A Cold Glass House
The time when Ferris talks to Cameron about his house and how cold and unwelcoming it was, was originally scripted for "The Breakfast Club." Hughes planned for the character of Alison to say the exact words during her monolog but for some reason, it was dropped.
Hughes felt that a teenager saying such words would be important and significant, that he just had to plant the sentence somewhere.
Everything Happens Behind the Scenes
The temperatures were high when it came to Ferris and his sister's (Jennifer Grey) relationship. They were the typical too-close-in-age siblings who had nothing nice to say about each other and were at each other's throats constantly. Behind the scenes, things were a bit cooler (or hotter) between the two.
Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey were getting together while making the movie, which spiced up their story even more. A couple of years later Broderick married "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jennifer went off dancing with some other guy.
Principal Rooney Keeps Silence
We are not sure if this was intended and if Hughes had some hidden message behind this, but throughout the entire movie, Bueller and Principal Rooney don't really have any conversation between them.
In all the scenes they appear together, only one does all the talking while the other just stands there and listens (or pretends to).
There’s a Real Sausage King of Chicago
Abe Froman doesn't really exist, however, there is a real sausage king in Chicago (or at least there was) who goes by the name of Doug Sohn. Sohn, at the time, owned a small sausage shop and was considered the best one around.
In the movie, Abe Froman is supposed to be the almighty sausage king who owned and ruled the entire industry. He was considered such a VIP the restaurant's host found it hard to believe a young guy like Ferris was actually him.
Easter Egg Number Plates
We bet the minute you finish reading this you'll go and watch the movie all over again looking out for these easter eggs that were planted.
Hughes used the car's number plates in the film to reference his other movie titles. NRVOUS is on Cameron's dad's car (no need to explain), VCTN (on Ferris's dad's car) stands for 'National Lampoon’s Vacation', and 4FBDO on Roony's car stands for 'Ferris Buellers Day Off'.
Don't You Forget About Me
Next time you watch the movie, pay close attention to Ferris's bedroom. On the wall, there is a 'Simple Minds' poster, which is the band best known for their hit 'Don't You Forget About Me'. Does that song title sound familiar?
The song is featured in Hughes's movie 'The Breakfast Club', another cultural classic that will never go out of style.
A $25,000 Scene
Have you ever asked yourself who volunteered their home to be wrecked and damaged by a Ferrari being smashed through a glass window? Well, apparently this scene cost the movie's production almost $25,000.
The house's owner knew the movie's producer and allowed them to do as they wished, which they did.
The White Album
John Hughes was a huge Beatles fan. He insisted on having at least one Beatles song in the movie. Now, this wasn't enough as the entire crew had to listen to the Beatles 'The White Album' for the whole 56 days of shooting.
It was played on repeat over and over again. Remember, in 1986 there were no Spotify, MP3 players, or phone music boxes. Everything was listened to through a double recording cassette player, at the most.
Swing Better
You are not the only one who wondered what on earth was Cameron shouting at the ball game. Well apparently it was this; 'Hey batter batter batter! Swing batter! He can't hit, he can't hit, he can't hit, SWING batter!
This is something unheard of these days but back then it was acceptable for fans to encourage their pitcher and simultaneously distract the batter on the opposite team.
The Restuarant Location
Many locations are used in a number of movies like schools, houses, and restaurants. The place where Ferris and his partners in crime have lunch is the same restaurant in 'St. Elmo's Fire' (1985) where Dale and Kirby meet.
This restaurant location was also used in 'The Blues Brothers' (1980). Can we let you on a little secret? The location is not really a restaurant. It's someone's private house.
A Pocket Packed Lunch
There are a lot of things actors are willing to do for a role even if it means putting their entire life on the line. In one scene, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is chased by a rottweiler.
To make the dog continuously chase and attempt to attack Rooney, the production made him put raw meat in his pocket to keep the dog stimulated. Seriously? This is definitely a route we would not take no matter how important the role was.
The Synthesizer Effect
Ferris Bueller invested a lot of money into the synthesizer system that produced the snoring effect while he was presumably at home in bed. At the time, the system cost over $8,000 which is equivalent to $20,000 in today's money.
Ferris could have bought a car with those bucks, however, he preferred to invest his fortune in a sound effect machine that enabled him to have the best day of his life.
Life Moves Pretty Fast
Although Ferris was only a teenager, he knew exactly what he was talking about. "Life moves pretty fast" is one of his iconic lines and was even quoted by Barbara Bush in one of her speeches.
He goes on by saying "If you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris knew what to say and when to say it. How else could he excuse ditching school? There was no way he was going to miss out on life.
A Lesson in Life
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' taught the viewers a good thing or two, however, there were some things that were aimed only at the young audience and weren't related to the older viewers of the movie.
These were the days before we had YouTube and Google to teach us stuff. Ferris taught us how to fake an answering machine message, how to use crash test dolls, how to hold a phony phone call, and how to skip school and not get caught. Can you imagine what Ferris would do if he had modern-day technology?
National Treasure Archive
When you think of national treasures or classic movies that have left a mark in history, you think of 'The Jazz Singer', or 'Lord of the Rings', but no one thinks of a 1980s teen movie. Still, it was the topmost-earning movie in 1986, so the National Film Registry thought otherwise.
They felt 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' was historically significant and must be put in the archive and preserved. Who are we to argue?
The Days of Biloxi Blues
Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck go back many years, even before the big days of Ferris Bueller. The two worked together on the production of 'Biloxi Blues' and spent many hours together on set.
Cameron sprinkled some of his hidden talents throughout the movie, improvising the people he used to work with. In one scene, he mimicked the director Ruck and Broderick worked with at the time.
The Gene Saks Touch
Never in a million years would Gene Saks ('A Fine Romance', 'Law & Order') think that he had a part in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off.' Alan Ruck and Saks go back many years, and Ruck somehow managed to interlace him into the movie.
In one scene, Cameron had to imitate Sloane's father, Mr. Peterson, and manages to pull off such a character by impersonating Saks's tone of voice. It was an inner joke between Ruck and Broderick that Huges never knew about.
Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?
What is the connection between 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' and former president Richard Nixon? Stay tuned. Ben Stein played the science teacher, who called out Bueller's name and provided the movie with one of its most iconic moments.
This was the first-ever acting role for Stein, who came from a world of speechwriting for big people (like former presidents). He was never given a script, never told what to say, and was just asked to talk to a bunch of pupils about boring things in science and economics. Anyone?
Gordie Howe No. 9 Tribute
Very few will notice that there is something odd in Cameron's clothing. There's no way he could have been interested in Hockey, making us question the purpose behind the Gordie Howe No. 9 red top.
John Hughes explained that he was a huge hockey fan and felt he must make a tribute to one of his favorite players and the easiest way was to make Cameron wear the red top.
2800, Chicago
Everything has a meaning, even the house number. We kind of envy John Hughes for having the ability to sprinkle his childhood memories throughout the set, making those moments last forever.
The Bueller's house number (2800) is the same house number Hughes grew up in. Now, we don't know if there is another meaning behind this number but even if there isn't, we think it's pretty cool.
Exercise Time
The film required some animal training for one of the scenes. The two squirrels that run up and down the telephone wire were actually trained to do so, and it was no spontaneous moment.
The moment in the movie is literally a few seconds and it still amazes us how much time and money was invested in these small details (that no one ever notices).
The Hand That Picked Up the Phone
When Ferris calls Cameron to plan out their day, Cameron picks up the phone, however, only his hand is shown on the screen. The viewers assume it was Cameron's hand but in fact, it was Hughes's hand who picked it up.
Hughes felt that the scene wasn't shot properly and it wasn't exactly what he wanted so after hours when everyone left, he did it himself. If Hughes himself had said this during his 1999 interview, we wouldn't have believed it. Talk about perfectionism!
So That’s How It Is in Their Family
When Ferris picks up Sloane from school, he forgets for a few seconds that he is supposed to act like Sloane's father and not boyfriend. Without a blink, he kisses her on the lips and drives off to start their daily adventure.
Mr. Rooney, the principal, appears amazed by what he has just witnessed and says "So that's how it is in their family." This line is still used by many and is considered one of the most iconic ones in the movie.
The Real Cameron Frye
Ferris Bueller may be just a fictional regular American boy, however, not all characters are pure imagination. Cameron Frye, played by Alan Ruck, is based on a real person who was John Hughes's friend during their school years.
Hughes said in one interview that the friend (he never mentioned his name) was ten times worse than Cameron Frye, being a complete hypochondriac, always sick, and always feeling like something's wrong.
The Middle Child
We've all been there. Our sibling gets away with practically anything while we can't even think of skipping school let alone execute it. In the movie, Jennifer Grey plays Ferris's younger sister, making Ferris the big brother no younger sibling wants.
In the original script, Ferris was supposed to have two younger siblings, making Jeanie the miserable middle child. We actually think the middle child characteristics would have suited Jeanie just perfectly being the angry little brat she is.
Ferrari 250 GT Can Go a Long Way
In the movie, the Ferrari 250 GT symbolizes Ferris and Cameron's ticket to freedom and holds a significant role in Cameron's relationship with his father. Cameron is desperate for his father's attention and will do anything to get it, even if it means wrecking the car.
Completely destroying a 250 GT was out of the question (regardless of how much the movie was predicted to earn), so a number of replicas were used for the harsh scenes, and the real car was used only for the closeups.
Back to School
The same week 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' came out, the movie 'Back to School' came out too. During the first few days, the latter performed better, but eventually, Ferris took the show. Not only do these two movies share the same release date but the two also feature the Beatles's hit 'Twist & Shout.'
The main difference was that 'Back to School' used a cover while Hughes used the real Beatles version. Got to stick to the origins!
Ferris Bueller's Playlist
The movie is full of great music hits, however, a soundtrack for the movie was never released. Hughes agreed that each and every song used in the movie was a masterpiece (and he was a huge music fan) but felt that there was no flow and that the songs weren't really connected to one another in any way.
Luckily enough, these days we have Spotify and are able to create our own Ferris Bueller playlist.
Only Beaten by Top Gun
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is a true classic. It was maybe intended to be just a light teen movie, however, it became a huge hit all over the world. When it was first released it was screened in almost 1500 cinemas and made a gross income of over 47 million during the first weekend.
'Top Gun' was one of the few movies that performed better, ranking number one in that year. Today, FBDO is considered one of the best comedy movies ever made and is ranked 10th in the USA.
Giggling Grey
In one of her interviews, Jennifer Grey said that filming Ferris Bueller was one of the best experiences she has ever had. She said that there was such great chemistry between the cast and the production team (and between herself and Broderick), that they were laughing and giggling more than they were actually shooting.
She even recalled one scene where she got the giggles so bad she was told to go and take a walk around the block until she calmed down.
The Grand Rooney Finale
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is one of those movies you can't leave at the end and must stay until the credits finish. In the closing scene, Mr. Rooney is the star for a few moments, getting onto the school bus after his car is towed and looking like he just left a wrestling ring.
Originally, this scene was supposed to be part of the movie, however, it was decided to drop it and leave it to the post-credits portion.
The Original Version Was Bad. Really Bad
The original version of the movie was completely different. The first screening of the movie didn't go all that smoothly, as all three stars (Broderick, Ruck, and Sara), together with the Paramount executives, all thought it wasn't funny enough.
Hughes, alongside the editor, cut and changed many scenes, and made the movie into what we are familiar with today. In the photo, Hughes is not looking very happy.
“Save Ferris” on Stage
Ferris Bueller left us with more than just a brilliant movie. The "Save Ferris" campaign was so big that a pop banג adopted the slogan and used it as their stage name (still active last time we checked).
There was also an 'Ed Rooney' band, which was less successful and eventually stuck to just 'Rooney.'
Paramount's Sloane
Mia Sara's character was originally named Tandy. We have no idea what the meaning of the name is and we are not sure the scriptwriter knows either. Minutes before starting to shoot the movie, the character's name was changed.
Paramount's CEO, alongside John Hughes, decided to name the third part of the threesome Sloane after the CEO's daughter. Not a very common name but it seemed to work well in the script.
Molly Ringwald Missed the Role
Molly Ringwald is for sure one of John Hughes's biggest stars. She was in a number of great hits such as 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club.' You would have thought the role of Ferris's girlfriend Sloane would have been perfect for her. She thought so too.
Hughes didn't think the same and never offered her the role as in his opinion, it wasn't big enough for such a star like Ringwald.
Louie Anderson's Moments of Fame
Louie Anderson appears twice in the movie under the same role as the flower delivery boy. On his first appearance, he shows up alone with a bunch of flowers, and on the second time, he is accompanied by a nurse.
Having a well-known comedian playing the role of what was meant to be a heartwarming gesture, emphasizes the fact of how the whole Save Ferris campaign got ridiculously out of hand.
Let's Cure the Cure
The legendary Robert Smith was asked to write a song for the museum scene. Smith was known for his British punk influence and it was believed that he would be the one to provide a new single first heard in the movie.
Apparently, there were some clashes and arguments between John Hughes and the music director of the movie which left Robert and his song out. Shame.
Shout It out Louder
Out of all the people in the world, Hughes had to argue with Paul McCartney. When it comes to The Beatles, you go with whatever they say and if the person responsible for the song thinks there is too much brass in the specific version (that's what McCartney said) then there is too much brass.
Eventually, Hughes had his way and the version he wanted was the version that was used.
The Real Bueller Power Couple
Lyman Ward and Cindy Pickett played Ferris and Jeanie's parents. They met before filming FBDO and fell in love in real life. They married shortly after filming the movie and lasted for a few years.
We know that they had two children, however, there is no record of them naming their kids Ferris and Jeanie. We don't blame them. What kind of name is Ferris anyway?
Parking the Youth
If you feel that you have seen the parking attendant somewhere before and just can't put your finger on it, we're here to help you. Richard Edson (who played the parking dude) was the drummer of Sonic Youth during the early 1980s.
Not only that, but he also appeared in over 85 roles on big and small screens. You'll see him in titles such as 'Desperately Seeking Susan', 'Dark Hearts', '3 Holes and a Smoking Gun', 'Black Dynamite' and many many more.
The Estevez Brothers
Charlie Sheen was originally supposed to do a lot more than just be the bad guy Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) meets at the police station. In fact, he had a whole story written for him but somewhere along the way the story was dropped and he remained with a very short role but boy was it a memorable one.
Hughes was already familiar with working with Sheen's family as he directed his brother, Emilio Estevez, in 'The Breakfast Club'. Yes, yes, they don't have the same name but they are brothers.
Emilio Estevez Frye
After playing Andrew Clark in 'The Breakfast Club,' Emilio was offered the role of Cameron Frye in the movie but he turned it down. He felt that playing Cameron would cast a shadow on his acting abilities.
The role of Cameron did require a more gloomy kind of character, and honestly, we can't see Estevez doing it. Alan Ruck was perfect for the role.
Anthony Michael Hall as Bueller?
Anthony Michael Hall is no stranger when it comes to John Hughes movies. He was a significant part of the 'Brat Pack,' which was a group of actors that all appeared together in the same 1980s teen movies.
According to Hall, he was offered the role of Ferris Bueller but because he fell out with Hughes he had to turn it down. He said that the character of Bueller was written especially for him and later on he regretted not doing the movie.
John Cusack Stood by Them All
John Cusack has shown his face in Hughes's movies too. He was a big name back then being the lead in 'The Sure Thing' and 'Better Off Dead'.
Hughes says Cusack was the only name he considered for Ferris's role (despite what other actors might have said), however, Broderick ended up with the role and Cusack moved on to star in 'Stand by Me'.
Jennifer Aniston and Ferris Bueller
The success of the movie didn't leave the great minds of the industry at ease. Before they knew it, the 1990s came along, and with them, a sitcom based on the Bueller movie was aired by NBC.
No one from the movie production team was involved and the entire cast was relatively unfamiliar. One actor was destined to become one of Hollywood's greatest names. Jennifer Aniston was taking her first steps in the industry by playing the role of Ferris's sister, Jeanie.
Parker Lewis Can't Lose
Aired in 1990, 'Parker Lewis Can't Lose' was a TV sitcom that was influenced by the Ferris Bueller movie and was more successful than the first NBC version with Jennifer Aniston.
The show tells the story of young teenagers, led by Parker Lewis (Corin Nemec), who only cares about being popular, up-to-date, and cool. The show had three seasons and was even nominated for the Best New Family Television Comedy Series award. Guess it wasn't that bad after all.
You Know You've Seen Her Before
One look at Edie McClurg and you know you've seen her before. She has that kind of face you never forget. She is hilarious and lets us take a peek at her comedy chops on 'Ferris Buellers Day Off'. There is no need to thank the screenwriter for her role as they didn't plan for her role to be in the movie in the first place.
McClurg is responsible for almost all of her lines. She improvised most of them including the part when she pretends to be Rooney while on the phone. She is indeed the cherry on top of the cake.
3.5 Minute Role
Before the days of 'Being John Malkovich' and before 'Platoon' was shot, Charlie Sheen played a tough guy in a police station. Sheen was really keen on giving his best, taking the role all the way. He wanted to slip into character and look as authentic as he could.
Being awake for 48 hours gave him exactly that and he indeed looked rough. He played a guy few mothers would be pleased to see their daughters with, and exactly the kind of guy Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) wanted beside her.
Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller) Then and Now
Matthew Broderick was born in 1962 to parents who were deep in the movie industry. His mother was a screenwriter, and his father was an actor. His first breakthrough was playing alongside his father in 'On Valentine's Day.' 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' which he is best known for, was soon to follow.
He has won a Tony Award and a Walk of Fame Star, he is married to Sarah Jessica Parker, and in 2022 took part in the 'Plaza Suit' production.
Alan Ruck (Cameron Frye) Then and Now
Born in 1956, Alan Ruck hasn't had too many big roles throughout his career. He played in 'Bad Boys,' 'Twister,' and more, and can often be seen on the small screen in hits like 'The Dropout' and 'Succession.'
Born in Ohio and spending his university days in Illinois, he is now married with two kids. He is still best known for his remarkable role of Cameron in the Bueller movie.
Mia Sara (Sloane Peterson) Then and Now
Her full name is Mia Sarapochiello, however, she is better known as Mia Sara (it's easier). In 1985 she played Lia in the movie 'Legend,' and 'Ferris Buellers Day Off' was the one that brought her breakthrough. Both her parents were photographers.
Mia has resigned altogether from the acting work and spends most of her time raising a family. She says that her kids think her role in the movie doesn't do her any good.
Jennifer Grey (Jeanie Bueller) Then and Now
Although 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' was Jennifer Grey's breakthrough, she is best known for her role as Baby in the romantic classic 'Dirty Dancing.' In the late 1980s, everyone wanted to be Miss Frances Housman, having the best time of her life.
Her recognition came in 'The Cotton Club,' 'Portrait of a Killer,' and in recent years she has been seen on 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'The Conners.' She was romantically involved with Michal J. Fox and Johnny Depp but eventually married Clark Gregg, although they have since divorced.
Jeffrey Jones (Ed Rooney) Then and Now
Often associated with comedic roles, Jeffrey Jones is known for playing in the 1984 movie 'Amadeus', 'The Devil's Advocate' and 'Deadwood.' Throughout his career, he has been nominated for several awards.
Jeffrey has an appearance like no one else and has always been offered to play the comic and outrageous characters to suit his features.
Charlie Sheen (Guy in Police Station) Then and Now
Born Carlos Irwin Estévez, he goes by the name of Charlie Sheen. He was born in 1965 and held a three-and-a-half-minute role in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. He has three siblings, all actors, and made his grand appearance on the big screen in 1984 in 'Red Dawn'.
Since then, he has appeared (as himself) in 'Being John Malkovich', he was a guest on the sitcom 'Friends', and 'The Big Bang Theory. It's a shame he only got three minutes.
Lyman Ward (Tom Bueller, Ferris's Dad) Then and Now
Born in 1941, Lyman Ward is best known to us for his role in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off.' He appeared on the 'Lavern & Shirly' show but didn't really make it big in the industry.
Although he continues to act both on the big screen and in theater, Ward is rarely heard of. When filming the Bueller movie he was already married to Cindy Picket (who played Ferris's mother), however, they divorced soon after.
Cindy Pickett (Katie Bueller, Ferris's Mom) Then and Now
Cindy Pickett has a few roles she is known for. She played Jackie Marler-Spaulding on 'Guiding Light,' she played Dr. Carol Novino on 'St. Elsewhere,' and of course, she played Ferris's mom on the 'Day Off' movie.
Her father was a director and her mother a drama teacher, so it's easy to see why she chose her kind of career. When she's not acting she is an amateur photographer.
Ben Stein (Economics Teacher) Then and Now
Benjamine Stein is first and foremost a writer and a commentator on political and economical issues. His role on Ferris Bueller is the one he is most recognized with. His political views are never kept to himself and he is known as one to give a piece of his mind.
He has published many books that have influenced and left a mark, such as 'How to Ruin Your Life,' 'Yes, You Can Time the Market,' and 'Can America Survive.'
Edie McClurg (Grace) Then and Now
Born in 1945, Edie (Edith) McClurg has played numerous supporting roles over the years. She is known for her roles in 'She's Having a Baby,' 'The Little Mermaid,' (she voiced Carlotta), 'Diff'rent Strokes,' and 'Small Wonder.'
McClurg may not have big roles to her name but she is one name to remember as she always brings to the screen supporting roles that end up providing unforgeable lines.