…Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Such is the mantra that made Matthew Broderick a household name and it’s 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that he feels will remain his enduring legacy, no matter what other titles he adds to his vast list of credits.
Today, Broderick is , and he’s been acting since ’81, landing his first big roles on the stage. Broderick was just 23 when he won his kingmaker role of Ferris Bueller, and since then he’s acted alongside Morgan Freeman in 1989’s Glory, appeared opposite Jim Carrey in The Cable Guy, and made his West End debut in 2019. But, as Broderick sees it, Bueller’s influence will remain most timeless of all.
Matthew Broderick discusses having ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ as his most celebrated credit
For many actors, they want fans to remember them for a variety of titles – a diverse portfolio, a wide range of skills. Broderick has long accepted that he will, for many, be first and foremost the face of the ’80s hit. “What’s my legacy? Well, I’m Ferris Bueller, I suppose,” he’s mused. “I have to accept it. And I like it. I’ve made my peace with it.”
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Landing the role of Ferris Bueller itself was something of a change in a very similar trend. There was, after all, a time when Broderick was thought of without any connection to Bueller. Now, though, the film has set a lot of people’s expectations for him.
Theatrically marching forward
“People associated me with younger roles,” said Broderick, “but I wanted them to come with me and get used to the fact that I’m wrinkly. And it was hard. The 90s were hard. Lots of ups and downs. But I always tried to keep at it, keep my heart in it. Hopefully that keeps you in the game.”
Additional motivation may come from the 1987 Golden Globe nomination he received for his performance. However, feats like this still – circle back to Ferris Bueller. In ’93, Broderick was out promoting his latest project, The Night We Never Met on The Dick Cavett Show. But before considering something new, everyone who saw him remembered Bueller.
“When I get on a subway, more often than not, I’ll probably hear it at some point during the ride: ‘Hey, Ferris!'” he revealed.
But he’s still got work – and that’s what matters to him most at the end of the day. “I always wanted to have a long career,” Broderick said. “And it’s been 40 years, so I guess I must have done something right.” Sure enough, he is continuing his theatre career on London’s West End alongside his wife Sarah Jessica Parker in an adaptation of Plaza Suite.
What movie do you think of first when you see Matthew Broderick?
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