Here's Where The Cast Of Ferris Bueller's Day Off Is Today

John Hughes could do no wrong in the '80s and '90s. The famed writer and director knocked it out of the park with several films including "The Breakfast Club," "Uncle Buck," "Pretty in Pink," and the cult classic "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" follows high school senior Ferris Bueller whose simultaneous restlessness and apprehension over the future leads him to fake sick so he can skip school for the day. He enlists the company of his best friend and girlfriend, and, together, they spend a good portion of the day trying to outrun the school dean.

"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is fun, funny, and full of scenes that have left an indelible mark on pop culture. While Hughes' writing and direction certainly deserve credit, so do the performances from an epic cast of characters, many who went on to have successful acting careers. Here's where the cast of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is today.

Alan Ruck seems to appear only in either undeniably iconic films and television series or projects that totally fly under the radar. One of those undeniably iconic films is, of course, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Ruck played Cameron Frye, Ferris' best friend who needs a fair amount of coaxing to go along with Ferris' crazy ideas (and, in Cameron's defense, most of the ideas are objectively reckless). Additional well-known projects Ruck has been part of include "Twister," "Speed," and "Star Trek: Generations." Ruck's career has had a bit of a renaissance in recent years thanks to parts in successful series including "The Dropout" and "Succession," which earned him an Emmy nomination before coming to a close in 2023.

In 2021, Ruck spoke with The Guardian about his famous roles and gave his unfiltered analysis of the commonalities among his characters. "I'm a character actor with not a lot of character. Most character actors have their thing, like John Malkovich is kinda scary, or whatever. I'm just this white guy who's not especially intimidating in any way, not intellectually and certainly not physically," Ruck said. The actor was also asked about a fan theory that Ferris doesn't actually exist but was dreamed up by Cameron as a symbol of his ideal. "Well, I hope whoever came up with that got at least an A on their paper, because it's very clever," Ruck said.

Jeffrey Jones played the memorable Edward Rooney in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Rooney is Ferris' high school dean who spends the entire course of the film hell-bent on catching Ferris and punishing him for skipping school by holding him back another year. In addition to his role in the John Hughes film, Jones has had parts in projects such as 1994's "Ed Wood," 1999's "Stuart Little," the 2000s HBO series "Deadwood," and 2019's "Deadwood: The Movie," which is his most recent role.

However, for Jones, the negative headlines concerning his personal life have largely overshadowed his career. In the early 2000s, Jones was arrested for child pornography and a few years later was mandated to register as a sex offender. Jones was later charged with failing to update his sex offender registration, and his past has continued to follow him. In 2023, Jones was slated to appear at the Rhode Island Comic Con, but after public outcry over his criminal history, the actor was disinvited from the event. "We would like to clarify that Altered [Reality] Entertainment does in no way condone the heinous acts of Jeffrey Jones and we apologize for the miscommunication amongst our staff," the event organizers said via Facebook regarding the booking.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

In "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Cindy Pickett played Katie Bueller, Ferris' mother whose concern for her son's health that day gets overshadowed by her frustration with her daughter's issues. Since filming "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Pickett has steadily continued acting, with some of her most notable projects including "Son In Law" in 1993 and "Medium" in 2007. In 2020, Pickett appeared in the dramatic film "Chasing the Rain." She has also done theater, including Shakespeare plays. In an interview with Culture Map Houston, Pickett said she had longed to return to stage acting because it's so different from screen acting.

During the interview, Pickett also spoke to the legacy of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." "It's kind of hooky in a good way. [Ferris] really did it to show his friend that life is to be lived. And that I think is why the movie is so loved because it catches a human spirit in all of us that we forget. We get so mundane in our little lives," Pickett said, adding that she still loves her character in the movie.

As the sweet, honest school secretary Grace in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Edie McClurg keeps dean Ed Rooney up-to-date on all the school gossip, reminding him exactly what his students think of him. While McClurg doesn't get a ton of screen time, she makes the most of it. McClurg's career has been just as prolific as her co-stars, even without quite the same name recognition. The character actor has had roles in famous films including "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," "Carrie," and "Wreck-It Ralph." In 2022, McClurg starred in the film "Eyes Upon Waking." You might also recognize her from popular TV sitcoms of the '80s including "Small Wonder" and "Valerie."

Unfortunately, McClurg's health has declined in recent years. In 2022, representatives of McClurg, who has an undisclosed type of dementia, took legal action against Michael Ramos, a man who has lived in McClurg's house and has been accused of abusing her. According to a filed report, Ramos "either has been or may be currently assaulting (McClurg) in a similar manner and that given her diagnosis of dementia, she may not even realize that it has been or is occurring" (per Today). Ramos' team has refuted the allegations, and no update on the matter has been given as of this writing.

If you or someone you know is dealing with elder abuse, you can find resources and support at the National Adult Protective Services Association website.

After starting his career in politics as a speechwriter for Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Ben Stein moved into acting, with "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" showcasing one of his most memorable perforances as the economics teacher who delivers quite possibly the best comedically boring monologue in film history. Since his role in the John Hughes classic, Stein has popped up in many projects over the years, with "Full House," "Seinfeld," and "The Drew Carey Show" among the most popular and 2018's "The Last Sharknado: It's About Time" among the most recent.

Throughout his acting career, Stein has never abandoned his political roots. The former bureaucrat has offered his opinions on the country's political landscape many times, and he hasn't been afraid to be critical. During the 2016 election cycle, Stein shared his thoughts on the candidates with The Guardian. "There must be something people like about him. I don't get him but there must be something people like," Stein said, referring to Donald Trump's candidacy. Stein did say, however, that he would vote for Trump in that election.