Childhood & Early Life
Alan Douglas Ruck was born on July 1, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother was a teacher, while his father worked for a pharmaceutical company.
He studied at ‘Parma Senior high School’ in Parma, Ohio. In 1979, he graduated from the ‘University of Illinois’ at Urbana-Champaign with B.F.A. in drama.
After his graduation, Alan moved to Chicago to work in stage plays and theatre. He stated that he didn’t know anyone in New York or Los Angeles, so, the best option for him was to do theatre in Chicago.
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Career
He had his breakthrough role in the film ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ in which he played ‘Cameron Frye,’ the crazy friend of ‘Ferris Bueller,’ played by Mathew Broderick. The released in 1986 and it was a major hit.
In 1989, he appeared in another hit film ‘Three Fugitives.’ In 1990, he played ‘Hendry William French’ in ‘Young Guns II,’ a sequel to ‘Young Guns’ (1988).
After a four year break, Ruck appeared in ‘Star Trek Generations’ in which he played ‘Captain John Harriman,’ a role he reprised in the fan film, ‘Of Gods and Men’ in 2008.
In 1990, he had a starring role in television series ‘Going Places.’ He played ‘Charlie Davis,’ an ad man from Chicago. The show lasted for a season.
His next film, ‘Speed,’ starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra bullock, was a box-office hit.
Meanwhile, he also became part of several television series, such as ‘Daddy’s Girs’ (1994), ‘Muscles’ (1995), ‘Mad About You’ (1995-96), and ‘The Outer Limits’ (1996). His next television show, ‘Spin City’ became a hit too.
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‘Spin City’ premiered in 1996 and lasted for six seasons (1996- 2002). Alan played ‘Stuart Bondek’ in the show and starred alongside Michael J. Fox and later, Charlie Sheen.
In 1996, he also chased the storm in the film ‘Twister’ in which he played the role of ‘Robert Nurick.’ For the next ten years, he appeared in a number of successful movies, such as ‘Walking the Waterline’ (1998), ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ (2003), and ‘Kickin’ it Old School’ (2007).
In 2005, he again starred alongside Mathew Broderick in the Broadway adaptation of ‘The Producers’ in which he played ‘Leo Bloom.’ He also appeared in two episodes of comedy series ‘Scrubs’ the same year.
During 2005-10, he appeared in a number of television shows, including ‘Ghost Whisperer’ (2007), ‘Greek’ (2007-11), ‘Boston Legal’ (2008), ‘Psych’ (2009), ‘Numbers’ (2010), ‘CSI: Miami’ (2010), ‘Rules of Engagement’ (2010), and ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ (2010).
During the same time, he appeared in several films, including ‘Ghost Town’ (2008), ‘The Happening’ (2008), ‘I Love You, Beth Cooper’ (2009), and ‘Extraordinary Measures’ (2010). In 2010, he became the lead in ‘NBC’s ‘Persons Unknown’ and also guest starred in ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’
His other notable appearances came in television shows, such as ‘Fringe’ (2011), ‘Bunheads’ (2012-13), ‘Burn Notice’ (2013), ‘Hot in Cleveland’ (2013), ‘The Whispers’ (2015), ‘The Middle’ (2016), and ‘The Catch’ (2016).
In 2016, he starred in the television adaptation of the 1973 film ‘The Exorcist.’ Alan played ‘Henry Rance,’ husband of ‘Regan McNeil’, the girl who was possessed by a demon.
‘The Exorcist’ also drew inspiration from a best-selling novel written by William Peter Blatty in 1971. He is now set to appear in an upcoming series called ‘Succession.’
He also made various appearances in films, such as ‘Shanghai Calling’ (2012), ‘Carnage Park’ (2016), ‘Dreamland’ (2016), and ‘War Machine’ (2017). His most recent film ‘Gringo’ was released in March, 2018.
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He is set to play his part as ‘Mr. Burgess’ in the upcoming film ‘Sierra Burgess is a Loser’ (2018). His other film ‘Captive State’ is also set to be released later in 2018.
Personal Life
Alan got married to Claudia Stefany in 1984. He has two children with Claudia, a son, Sam and a daughter, Emma.
The couple divorced in 2005. He got married to actress Mireille Enos on January 4, 2008.
He has two children with Mireille too—a daughter, Vesper, born in 2010 and a son, Larkin, born in 2014.
Facts About Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck is an avid cyclist and has participated in several charity bike rides.
In addition to his acting career, Ruck is also a talented stage performer and has appeared in numerous theater productions.
Despite his role as the uptight Cameron in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Ruck is known for his laid-back and friendly personality off-screen.
He is a dedicated supporter of various environmental causes and has been involved in several initiatives to promote sustainability.
Ruck enjoys collecting vintage watches and is particularly fond of timepieces from the 1960s and 1970s.
