'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' cast: Where are they now? (2024)

Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller)

Early in his career, Matthew Broderick nabbed the coveted role of Ferris Bueller in 1986's Ferris Bueller's Day Off. He came into the now-famous part after making his onscreen debut in a 1981 episode of Lou Grant and earning subsequent credits for Max Dugan Returns (1983), WarGames (1983), and Ladyhawke (1985), as he racked up Broadway credits for Brighton Beach Memoirs (for which he won a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play) and Biloxi Blues. Broderick's turn as the lovable slacker made him a star, earning the actor a Golden Globe nomination.

Broderick's career took off from there, as he spent the rest of the '80s starring in the film adaptation of Biloxi Blues (1988), Glory (1989), Family Business (1989). The following decade saw Broderick topping the box office with gigs in The Lion King (1994), Godzilla (1998), Election (1999), and Inspector Gadget (1999), and continuing his Broadway fame in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (earning a second Tony, this time for Best Actor in a Musical) and Night Must Fall.

After marrying Sarah Jessica Parker in the late-'90s, Broderick went on to appear in You Can Count on Me (2000), The Stepford Wives (2004), Deck the Halls (2006), Tower Heist (2011), and Manchester by the Sea (2016), and lent his voice to Good Boy! (2003), Bee Movie (2007), and The Tale of Despereaux (2008). He continues to dedicate much of his time to the stage, earning additional Broadway credits for Taller Than a Dwarf, The Producers, Short Talks on the Universe, The Odd Couple, The Philanthropist, Nice Work If You Can Get It, It's Only a Play, Sylvia, Celebrity Autobiography, and Plaza Suite.

Alan Ruck (Cameron Frye)

Ferris found his best friend in Cameron Frye, played by Alan Ruck. The young actor played the hypochondriac Detroit Red Wings fan after earning his first onscreen credit just three years prior for 1983's Bad Boys.

After hanging up his jersey, Ruck hit the big screen in Three Fugitives (1989), Young Guns II (1990), Speed (1994), Star Trek: Generations (1994), and Twister (1996), and made the transition to TV with '90s appearances in episodes of Going Places, Picket Fences, and Mad About You. In 1996, he debuted one of his most famous roles to date when he started playing Stuart Bondek on Spin City.

Ruck wrapped the gig in 2002 and made other TV appearances on Greek, Bunheads, Masters of Sex, Psych, and The Middle. He reached new prominence as Connor Roy on HBO's Emmy-winning drama series, Succession.

Mia Sara (Sloane Peterson)

Newcomer Mia Sara earned her second onscreen credit for Ferris Bueller's Day Off, playing the leather jacket-wearing cool girl of Ferris' dreams. Sara made her debut just months prior, starring alongside Tom Cruise in 1985's Legend.

After playing Sloane, the actress continued her big-screen career in By the Sword (1991), A Stranger Among Us (1992), and Timecop (1994). She also expanded her résumé with small-screen gigs, earning credits for Till We Meet Again in the '80s, Chicago Hope in the '90s, and Birds of Prey and CSI: NY in the 2000s. She has largely taken a step back from onscreen acting.

Jeffrey Jones ( Ed Rooney)

Jeffrey Jones made a memorable turn in Ferris Bueller's Day Off as Principal Ed Rooney. He played the administrator with a mission to take down Ferris, after picking up previous credits for Easy Money (1983), Amadeus (1984), and Transylvania 6-5000 (1985).

After Ferris, Jones starred in Howard the Duck (1986), Beetlejuice (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Houseguest (1995), The Crucible (1996), The Devil's Advocate (1997), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Stuart Little (1999), Heartbreakers (2001), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), How High (2001), and on episodes of Deadwood.

Jones' career was largely suspended in the 21st century following a 2002 arrest for possession of child p*rnography.

Jennifer Grey (Jeanie Bueller)

After making a name for herself in Reckless (1984), Red Dawn (1984), The Cotton Club (1984), American Flyers (1985), and two ABC Afterschool Special installments, Jennifer Grey landed the role of Jeanie Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. She played Ferris' sister, who is fed up with his constant shenanigans and the fact that he never gets in trouble for his misbehavior.

The year after the comedy hit theaters, Grey returned to the big screen in her most famous role to date: Frances "Baby" Houseman in 1987's Dirty Dancing. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for the gig and went on to appear in Wind (1992), Bounce (2000), Redbelt (2008), and Keith (2008), and in episodes of Friends, Fallen Angels, It's Like, You Know..., and House.

She has lent her voice to Phineas and Ferb, starred as Judy on Amazon's Red Oaks, and won the 11th season of Dancing With the Stars. She published a memoir, Out of the Corner, in 2022.

Cindy Pickett (Katie Bueller)

Cindy Pickett joined Ferris Bueller's Day Off as Katie Bueller, Ferris' mother who sees no reason to be suspicious of her son. Before taking on the role, Pickett appeared in '80s episodes of Guiding Light; Riptide; Magnum, P.I.; and Call to Glory.

She returned to the small screen after playing Mrs. Bueller with gigs on St. Elsewhere, L.A. Law, and Murder, She Wrote. Pickett also added to her big-screen credits, appearing in Hot to Trot (1988), DeepStar Six (1989), Sleepwalkers (1992), Son in Law (1993), and Sex and Death 101 (2007). The actress has also popped up in episodes of The Client List and The Mentalist.

Lyman Ward (Tom Bueller)

The counterpart to Pickett's Mrs. Bueller, Lyman Ward played Ferris' father, Tom Bueller (he was also married to Pickett from 1986 to 1992). Ward joined Ferris Bueller's Day Off with more than a decade in the industry to his name. He made his debut in the '70s, racking up credits for Coffy (1973), Moscow on the Hudson (1984), Creature (1985), and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), and episodes of Bonanza, , Kojak, Alice, Barney Miller, Remington Steele, and Dallas.

After playing Mr. Bueller, Ward continued his small-screen work on Magnum, P.I.; Family Ties; Matlock; The Wonder Years; Melrose Place; Murder, She Wrote; and JAG. Ward also returned to the big screen with appearances in Sleepwalkers (1992), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), Independence Day (1996), and Rumor Has It (2005). He joined FX's Legit for two episodes in 2014 and had a bit part in one 2015 episode of Transparent. He returned to onscreen acting seven years later with the 2022 indie film In the Forest.

Edie McClurg (Grace)

Edie McClurg charmed in Ferris Bueller's Day Off as Grace, the assistant to Principal Rooney. Before playing the school administrator, McClurg booked roles in Carrie (1976), Cheech and Chong's Next Movie (1980), Eating Raoul (1982), and Mr. Mom (1983), and in '70s and '80s episodes of The Richard Pryor Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Alice, Diff'rent Strokes, and The Jeffersons.

Following Ferris Bueller, McClurg added to her packed résumé with Back to School (1986), Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988), The Little Mermaid (1989), Curly Sue (1991), A River Runs Through It (1992), The Rugrats Movie (1998), A Bug's Life (1998), Hanging Up (2000), Van Wilder (2002), Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), Cars (2006), and Fired Up! (2009), and episodes of Valerie, Bobby's World, The Addams Family, Life With Louie, Rocket Power, and 7th Heaven.

In the 2010s, McClurg focused largely on voice work, earning credits for The Life & Times of Tim, Fish Hooks, Wreck-It Ralph (2012), Frozen (2013), and Family Guy.

Charlie Sheen (Boy in Police Station)

Charlie Sheen may have charted limited screen time—and even been skipped over for a proper name—as the so-called "Boy in Police Station," but his Ferris Bueller's Day Off performance was impactful nonetheless. An alum of Red Dawn (1984), The Boys Next Door (1985), and Lucas (1986), Sheen's character meets Grey's Jeanie Bueller in the police station and hits it off with the straitlaced young woman.

From there, Sheen counted box office hits like Platoon (1986), Major League (1989), Hot Shots! (1991), The Three Musketeers (1993), and Scary Movie 3 (2003). He saw his greatest success on the small screen, however, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his turn as Charlie Crawford on Spin City and his eight-year run as Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men. Following a tumultuous few years in his personal life, Sheen returned to television in 2012 for Anger Management.

Sheen disclosed in 2015 that he was HIV positive, which some experts believe led to awareness for prevention and testing.

Ben Stein (Economics Teacher)

With the repeated uttering of one word, Ben Stein went from what could have been a forgettable minor character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off to one of the most memorable parts of the movie. He played an unnamed economics teacher, who coined one of the film's biggest lines when he monotoned "Bueller...Bueller...Bueller" while taking attendance for his class. After spending his early career as a lawyer, Stein picked up his first credited acting role in 1984 with The Wild Life.

After Ferris, he appeared in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Ghostbusters II (1989), Soapdish (1991), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Dave (1993), Dennis the Menace (1993), The Mask (1994), Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994), and Casper (1995), and episodes of Charles in Charge and The Wonder Years. In 1997, he began hosting Win Ben Stein's Money, wrapping up the gig in 2002 and going on to earn credits for Son of the Mask (2005) and episodes of The Fairly OddParents and Family Guy. Stein has spent recent years focusing on live and news programs.