Ferris Bueller Turns 50

Matthew Broderick, the man who played the ultimate 80s heartthrob in the John Hughes teen classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and as Eddie McClurg's character, school Secretary Grace isaid was “ a bit of a cool dude” is now 50. 

The man who always seemed to be 17 is in middle age. 

He made a spectacular re-enactment of  his most famous role in the 2012 Honda Superbowl ad (which you can watch below) 

Matthew got his most famous role as the charming, clever slacker Ferris Beuller at the age of 23. Playing hookie and visiting and art gallery has never been the same since. 

He also played the adult Simba in one of the best animated films of all time – The Lion King – ironically singing with Nathan Lane, which he would later do again in The Producers, both the movie and Broadway production, and the Broadway production of The Odd Couple. 

He also played the long-suffering straight man to Jim Carrey in the dark comedy – The Cable Guy. 

Broderick met actress Jennifer Grey, the one for whom “no one puts Baby in the corner” on the set of Ferris Bueller's Day off and was briefly engaged to her in 1986. 

Then Broderick met Sarah Jessica Parker through the actresses brother and the couple married on 19 May 1997 in a civil ceremony. 

Parker and Broderick have a son, James Wilke Broderick, now 9. They also have twin daughters through surrogacy in 2009. 

In 1987 Broderick was in Ireland with his then girlfriend Jennifer Grey when the rented BMW he was driving veered into the wrong lane, crashing head on with a car driven by Anna Gallagher, 28. She and her mother, Margaret Doherty were killed, while Broderick received a broken leg. 

He was later charged with careless driving and fined $175. 

Happy Birthday Matthew! You will always be that teenage slacker to us.