Here’s Why Cameron Frye Wore A Red Wings Jersey In ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’

If you’ve ever wondered why character Cameron Frye wore a Gordie Howe jersey in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the answer is finally here. Just as the 1986 comedy was set to celebrate its 30th anniversary, actor Alan Ruck, who portrayed Cameron Frye in the classic film, explains that his character wore the Detroit Red Wings jersey simply to spite his father.

The movie takes place in Chicago, as do several of John Hughes’ popular films (Home Alone, Uncle Buck, Sixteen Candles), so audiences have often wondered…why is Cameron wearing a Detroit Red Wings jersey? Ruck answered this burning question in an interview with MEL.

Ruck stated, “Since I didn’t grow up in Chicago, I never gave it a thought. John [Hughes] had spent some of his boyhood in Detroit. [Hughes] decided that Cameron had a horrible relationship with his father, but a great relationship with his grandfather, who lived in Detroit and would take Cameron to Red Wings games. That’s all it was, and it was never explained in the movie.”

The theory is that Cameron and his family are located in Chicago, and that his father would presumably be a Chicago Blackhawks fan. By cheering for the Red Wings, Frye was lashing out in one small act of rebellion. Ruck mentioned, “The psychology was that it was something that made Cameron feel good about himself, even though he was a Chicago kid.”

Gordie Howe, the player Cameron Frye so proudly represents by wearing his jersey, recently passed just one day before the 30th anniversary of the film. He died at the age of 88 at his son’s home in Ohio.

With this new revelation about the movie given by Alan Ruck, go watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off again to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary.