Alan Ruck | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ruck atGalaxyCon Richmond in 2025 | |
| Born | Alan Douglas Ruck (1956-07-01)July 1, 1956 (age 68) |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
Alan Douglas Ruck (born July 1, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Cameron Frye inJohn Hughes' filmFerris Bueller's Day Off (1986), as well as television roles as Stuart Bondek on theABC sitcomSpin City (1996–2002) and Connor Roy on theHBO seriesSuccession (2018–2023), the latter earning himPrimetime Emmy andGolden Globe Award nominations. His other film credits includeBad Boys (1983),Three Fugitives (1989),Young Guns II (1990),Speed (1994),Star Trek Generations (1994), andTwister (1996).
Ruck was born inCleveland, Ohio, to a schoolteacher mother and a father who worked for a pharmaceutical company.[1] He attendedParma Senior High School inParma, Ohio, and graduated from theUniversity of Illinois with aB.F.A. in drama in 1979.[2] He recalled:
After school, I went up to Chicago, because I didn't really know anybody in New York or Los Angeles, and I knew people who were doing plays in Chicago. So I went up there, and I knocked around a little bit. And I guess about a year after I was out of school, I got my first job.
Ruck's first film role was in the 1983 drama filmBad Boys, in which he played Carl Brennan,Sean Penn's friend in the film. The same year, he played Roger Jackson inClass.
Ruck made his Broadway debut in 1985 inNeil Simon'sBiloxi Blues withMatthew Broderick. He was soon a stage actor at theaters around the U.S., including the Wisdom Bridge Theatre in Chicago.
Ruck played Cameron Frye inJohn Hughes' 1986 comedyFerris Bueller's Day Off, as the title character'shypochondriac best friend, after Broderick encouraged him to audition for the role; their real-life friendship was reportedly a factor in Ruck being cast.[3][2] One of his other film roles was in the 1987 filmThree for the Road.
Ruck later appeared in the 1989 comedy filmThree Fugitives. Following that, he played Hendry William French inYoung Guns II, the 1990 sequel toYoung Guns. He played CaptainJonathan Harriman of theUSSEnterprise-B in the 1994 filmStar Trek Generations, a role that he reprised, along withGenerations co-starWalter Koenig and otherTrek alumni, in the fan filmOf Gods and Men.[4] Alan played an annoying tourist named Doug Stephens on an ill-fated bus in the 1994blockbusterSpeed. Another supporting role was of the eccentric storm chaser Robert 'Rabbit' Nurick in the 1996 disaster filmTwister.[5]
From 1990 to 1991, Ruck starred as Chicago ad man Charlie Davis, in the ABC seriesGoing Places. ABC canceled the series after one season. He appeared in the seriesDaddy's Girls in 1994, which was canceled after three episodes. From 1996 to 2002, Alan played Stuart Bondek in the sitcomSpin City alongsideMichael J. Fox and later,Charlie Sheen. In 2005, he played Leo Bloom in the Broadway version ofMel Brooks'The Producers, a role also played by Broderick, hisFerris Bueller co-star.
Ruck was then cast in the pilot of theTim Minear-createdFox Network seriesDrive, but did not appear in the series. He also starred in one episode of theComedy Central sitcomStella as Richard, a man looking for work. He later starred in the season twoScrubs episode "My Lucky Day" as a patient, and played reporter Steve Jacobson on theESPN miniseriesThe Bronx Is Burning.
In 1998, Ruck guest-starred in the fifth episode of the HBO miniseriesFrom the Earth to the Moon as theNASA engineerTom Dolan.
In 2006, Ruck guest-starred in a single episode ofStargate Atlantis called "The Real World" and, in 2007, as unscrupulous property developer Albert Bunford in an episode ofMedium.
In the 2007 comedyKickin' It Old Skool, he appears as Dr. Frye, a possible connection to Cameron Frye; he even mentions still trying to pay off an oldFerrari, a reference to Cameron totaling his dad's Ferrari inFerris Bueller's Day Off.
Ruck played the part of a ghost of a family man in the 2008 filmGhost Town, which starredRicky Gervais. Ruck also had a small role in the 2008M. Night Shyamalan filmThe Happening.
In 2009, he had a minor role in an episode ofCougar Town: Frank, who has problems with his marriage due to a crush he had long ago on Jules, played byCourteney Cox. He played the role of Dean Bowman in the college fraternity dramaGreek. He appeared in a guest role as a manic geologist in an episode ofEureka. He played Mr. Cooverman in the filmI Love You, Beth Cooper. In 2009, Ruck filmed the medical dramaExtraordinary Measures[6][7] in Portland, Oregon, with starHarrison Ford.
Ruck appeared as a bank robber in a season three episode of theUSA Network seriesPsych, and as a lawyer in season five of the ABC seriesBoston Legal. He guest-starred as Martin, a magazine reporter, on an episode ofRuby & the Rockits entitled "We Are Family?"
In 2010, Ruck was cast as a lead character in theNBC mystery-drama,Persons Unknown. He guest-starred on the television showFringe as a scientist turned criminal, in theNCIS: Los Angeles season two episode "Borderline", and guest-starred as ex-money laundering accountant turned dentist on an episode ofJustified entitled "Long in the Tooth". He appeared in theGrey's Anatomy season five episode "In The Midnight Hour".
In 2012, Ruck was cast in the ABC Family seriesBunheads as the husband toSutton Foster's character, Michelle. In 2013, he appeared inNCIS, guest-starring in the season 11 episode, "Gut Check".
In autumn 2016, Ruck began a 10-episode run onThe Exorcist as Henry Rance, the husband (who has suffered mild brain damage in a vaguely explained accident) of Angela Rance (Geena Davis), better known as the adultRegan MacNeil, the tortured girl (played byLinda Blair) who is possessed by a demon in the 1973 hit filmThe Exorcist.
From 2018 to 2023, Ruck played the role of Connor Roy, the eldest son of a media magnate, in the HBO seriesSuccession. He was part of the cast's win for theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2022 and 2024. In 2023, he receivedGolden Globe andEmmy nominations for his performance.[8]
Ruck was married to actress Claudia Stefany from 1984 to 2005, with whom he has two children.[9][10][11] Since 2008, he has been married to actressMireille Enos, whom he met in 2005 while co-starring in the Broadway revival ofAbsurd Person Singular.[10] They have two children.[12]
On October 31, 2023, Ruck was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles. For unknown reasons, he lost control of hisRivian R1T, hit several vehicles, and crashed into the side of a pizza restaurant.[13]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Doctor Detroit | Student | Uncredited |
| 1983 | Bad Boys | Carl Brennan | |
| 1983 | Class | Roger Jackson | |
| 1986 | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Cameron Frye | |
| 1987 | Three for the Road | T.S. | |
| 1989 | Three Fugitives | Inspector Tener | |
| 1989 | Bloodhounds of Broadway | John Wangle | |
| 1990 | Young Guns II | Hendry William French | |
| 1994 | Speed | Doug Stephens | |
| 1994 | Star Trek Generations | Capt. Jonathan Harriman | |
| 1995 | Born to Be Wild | Dan Woodley | |
| 1996 | Twister | Robert "Rabbit" Nurick | |
| 1998 | Walking to the Waterline | Duane Hopwood | |
| 2000 | Everything Put Together | Kessel | |
| 2003 | Cheaper by the Dozen | Bill Shenk | |
| 2007 | Kickin' It Old Skool | Dr. Cameron Frye | |
| 2007 | InAlienable | Dr. Proway | |
| 2008 | The Happening | School Principal | |
| 2008 | Ghost Town | Ghost Dad | |
| 2008 | Eavesdrop | Casper | |
| 2008 | Star Trek: Of Gods and Men | John Harriman | |
| 2009 | I Love You, Beth Cooper | Mr. Cooverman | |
| 2009 | Don't You Forget About Me | Himself | |
| 2010 | Extraordinary Measures | Pete Sutphen | |
| 2012 | Goats | Dr. Eldridge | |
| 2012 | Shanghai Calling | Marcus Groff | |
| 2013 | Zombie Night | Joseph | |
| 2015 | Deathly | Richard | Short |
| 2016 | Carnage Park | Sheriff Wyatt Moss | |
| 2016 | Dreamland | Walter | |
| 2017 | War Machine | Lt. Gen. Pat McKinnon | |
| 2018 | Gringo | Jerry | |
| 2018 | Sierra Burgess Is a Loser | Stephen Burgess | |
| 2019 | Captive State | Charles Rittenhouse | |
| 2020 | Freaky | Mr. Bernardi | |
| 2023 | The Burial | Mike Allred | |
| TBA | Wind River: The Next Chapter† | TBA | Post-production |
| In Memoriam† | |||
| People We Meet on Vacation† |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Hard Knox | Frankie Tyrone | Television film |
| 1985 | First Steps | Dave | Television film |
| 1988 | Shooter | Stork O'Connor | Television film |
| 1989 | The Famous Teddy Z | Sheldon Samms | Episode: "Teddy Sells the House" |
| 1990–1991 | Going Places | Charlie Davis | 19 episodes |
| 1992–1993 | The Edge | Various | 13 episodes |
| 1993 | Picket Fences | Patrick Gatwood | Episode: "Unlawful Entries" |
| 1993 | Tales from the Crypt | Carty | Episode: "Oil's Well That Ends Well" |
| 1994 | Daddy's Girls | Lenny | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Muscle | Dr. Marshall Jones | 13 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Mad About You | Lance Brockwell | 4 episodes |
| 1996 | The Outer Limits | Howard Sharp | Episode: "Unnatural Selection" |
| 1996–2002 | Spin City | Stewart Bondek | Main cast; 140 episodes |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Tom Dolan | Episode: "Spider" |
| 1998 | The Ransom of Red Chief | Ambrose Dorset | Television film |
| 2002 | Scrubs | Mr. Bragin | Episode: "My Lucky Day" |
| 2003 | Queens Supreme | Dr. Katz | Episode: "That Voodoo That You Do" |
| 2005 | Stella | Richard | Episode: "Coffee Shop" |
| 2006 | Stargate Atlantis | Dr. Fletcher | Episode: "The Real World" |
| 2007 | Drive | John Ashton | Episode: "Unaired Pilot" |
| 2007 | Medium | Albert Bunford | Episode: "Second Opinion" |
| 2007 | The Bronx Is Burning | Reporter Steve Jacobson | 8 episodes |
| 2007 | Ghost Whisperer | Steve Sinclair | Episode: "Bad Blood" |
| 2007–2011 | Greek | Dean Bowman | 6 episodes |
| 2008 | Eureka | Dr. Hood | Episode: "Best In Faux" |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Wayne Davidson | Episode: "Kill, Baby, Kill!" |
| 2008, 2014 | Psych | Phil Stubbins Ruben Leonard | Episodes: "Gus Walks Into a Bank" / "Remake A.K.A. Cloudy... With a Chance of Improvement" |
| 2009 | Ruby & the Rockits | Martin Wexler | Episode: "We Are Family?" |
| 2009 | FlashForward | Tomasi | Episode: "White to Play" |
| 2009 | Cougar Town | Frank Miller | Episode: "Two Gunslingers" |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Dr. Allan Beckham | Episode: "Show Stopper" |
| 2010 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Buddy Mills | Episode: "Unshockable" |
| 2010 | Numbers | Arnold Winslow | Episode: "Growin' Up" |
| 2010 | Persons Unknown | Charlie Morse | 13 episodes |
| 2010 | Rules of Engagement | Dr. Greenblatt | Episode: "The Four Pillars" |
| 2010 | Justified | Roland Pike | Episode: "Long in the Tooth" |
| 2010 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Donald Wexling | Episode: "Borderline" |
| 2011 | Fringe | Dr. Krick | Episode: "Os" |
| 2011 | Five | Sam Jarente | Television film |
| 2012–2013 | Bunheads | Hubbell Flowers | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Ben and Kate | Principal Geoff Feeney | Episode: "Bad Cop/Bad Cop" |
| 2012 | Hawaii Five-0 | Brian Slater | Episode: "Ohuna" |
| 2013 | Hot in Cleveland | Reverend Lare | Episode: "Magic Diet Candy" |
| 2013 | Burn Notice | Max Lyster | Episode: "Reckoning" |
| 2013 | We Are Men | Minister | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2013 | Zombie Night | Joseph | Television film |
| 2013 | Masters of Sex | Psychiatrist | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | NCIS | Ward Davis | Episode: "Gut Check" |
| 2013 | Super Fun Night | Spencer Quinn | Episode: "Merry Super Fun Christmas" |
| 2014 | Intelligence | Jonathan Cain | Episode: "Cain and Gabriel" |
| 2014 | Instant Mom | Mr. Shank | Episode: "Teacher's Pest" |
| 2015 | Hindsight | Harry Lavigne | Episode: "...Then I'll Know" |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Alex Myers | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Major Crimes | Special Agent Jerry Shea | Episode: "Hostage to Fortune" |
| 2015 | Sofia the First | Herb (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Middle | Mr. Kershaw | Episodes: "Birds of a Feather" and "Film, Friends and Fruit Pies" |
| 2016 | Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life | Mark Barrett | Episode: "How to Survive Your Parents' Visit" |
| 2016 | The Catch | Gordon Bailey | Episodes: "The Trial" and "The Happy Couple" |
| 2016 | The Exorcist | Henry Rance | 10 episodes |
| 2016 | The Loud House | Lord Tetherby, Cop (voices) | Episode: "Out on a Limo" |
| 2018–2023 | Succession | Connor Roy | Main role |
| 2018 | My Dinner with Hervé | Stu Chambers | Television film |
| 2018 | Dirty John | John Dzialo | Episode: "One Shoe" |
| 2019 | One Day at a Time | Lawrence Schneider | Episode: "The Man" |
| 2022 | The Dropout | Jay Rosan | 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Elsbeth | Bill and Peter Hepson | Episode: "Finance Bros" |
