Alan Ruck was born on July 1, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, and has made over 100 appearances in films and television, and on stage. He is best known for his role as the friend of Matthew Broderick and hopeless hypochondriac Cameron Frye, in John Hughes’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).
During the 1980s he appeared in films such as Class (1983) with Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy and Three for the Road (1987) with Charlie Sheen. The 1990s included Young Guns II (1990) with Emilio Estevez and Lou Diamond Phillips, Star Trek: Generations (1994), Speed (1994) with Keanu Reeves and Twister (1996).
Ruck’s television appearances include Tales from the Crypt (1989) opposite Lou Diamond Philips, Mad About You (1992) with Helen Hunt (his co-star in Twister), and Spin City (1996) with Michael J. Fox. Additionally, he now has a key role in Succession (a personal favorite of mine) and The Dropout (fascinating story, great show, check it out on Hulu).
October 30, 2022 was a very busy day, with the bridal show and now this event.
So I drive from Akron to Cleveland and grab a bite. Then I get to the theater early, as I like to renew friendships, ham it up a bit and relax before the event. I am standing in the lobby when a gentleman walks up and tells me he has to thank me. As he correctly stated, I had no idea who he was. He recants a story from the summer of 2021. I am sitting awaiting my upcoming improv class with another classmate while the class before us, improv for kids, is wrapping up. Parents are arriving to pick up their children. This gentleman is one of those parents.
He knew my classmate with whom he chatted. I was right there so I joined in and told him how much I enjoyed our class and what a great time we have. Apparently I was smiling at the time (I wasn’t aware that I do that….). These are his words not mine, he found my enthusiasm and smile so engaging, he began to think. He went on to tell me that he had just lost his job due to the pandemic, so he was at a crossroads. Well long story short, I inspired him to take a class (and many subsequent improv and acting classes) which sent his life in a different direction and it obviously made him happy or he wouldn’t have been thanking me. Wow! You never know who you are going to touch and how in every interaction you have with others. I was blown away by this!
The evening was great fun! Alan was very engaging and I got to ask him a question and we had much more of a conversation than the other’s asking questions, who simply asked their question and thanked him.
My great friend, Holly, whom I have previously mentioned (and a close friend of Alan’s), and I got caught up and frequent hugs ensued.
The picture you see here is my amazing friend Cole, with whom I have participated in improv classes, been on movie sets with and shared coffee. She is moving to Atlanta to further her acting career. I will miss her. She is so stylish and I love that about her as well as her many wonderful qualities. She is going to be a great success!!
Another friend and fellow improv classmate asked my how I am able to be so stylish.
Let’s recap: dressed in a lovely dress all day, walking a bridal show in three gowns, my own hair styled by a professional, seeing people I knew from elsewhere, audience members complimenting me on my dress, another wonderful Zoom experience with a known actor while having a conversation with him, seeing my friends Holly and Cole, being a woman in everyone’s eyes this day.
I loved spending the whole day in this dress. Walking around the bridal show, having dinner, walking down the street, attending this event. I literally never think of being “dressed” anymore, I am cognizant of my clothing no differently than when I am in sweats or my work clothes. And the amazing feeling of literally being out there, no wig to hide under, no question as to who and what I am. I am beginning to see a wonderful future and cannot wait to get to it!
Also check out the “Acting Roles” page!
Check out the second outfit in the Arizona photoshoot!
8 Responses
Kandi, you are such a great and powerful example of how positivity can move anyone to appreciate how being yourself brings people together. It does not matter how you are dressed, wig or no wig, it is YOU they know and are always happy to see. The polka-dot dress is cute, too!
Thank Tina, just trying to live my best life and if it means anything to anyone, all the better!
Lovely dress and your story here is yet just another normal day.
Which for all of us girls is as it should be, while I get it so many don’t get the transgender community but it’s all we ask is to be accepted as normal
This why I don’t care much for the in your face radical agenda folks.
They can do as much harm as the politicians who are trying to erase us.
Love ya girl, Rach
Keep being you Rach!! Love you too!!
File under the you are not going to believe it category.
In 1986, I am at the movies watching Ferris Buehler’s Day Off. I keep watching Cameron and asking myself where did I know him from? At the end credits, I see his name and the light bulb goes on.
Alan Ruck lived on my dorm floor for the 1975-1976 school year. He lived at the other end of the hall, and I didn’t know him well, but we interacted a few times.
So guy me has met Alan Ruck, albeit a lifetime ago. By the way, he was 30 or thereabouts when the film was made.
He talked about his age at the time during the Zoom. He also talked about is job about a year after Ferris, he was working in a Sears warehouse for a while. Humbling. Really cool, thanks Dee!!
Keep being the best you ever!
And Cleveland rocks.
Hugs,
A Nice Eastsider
We sure do rock! Thanks dear!!