The Poster Memorabilia blog

Meeting Ferris Bueller on My Day Off

A stage door on 45th Street, a crush of fans, and the nicest man in show business.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

Do you know what's funny? I actually met Matthew Broderick on my day off. I kid you not! It was my first PTO from my new company, and I spent it getting his autograph on my Ferris Bueller's Day Off movie poster. The irony didn't escape me.

Before I get into it, I have to say that Matthew Broderick deserves to be a big movie star. He was in a lot of great films throughout the 80s and 90s, but he never really became a huge name. At least, not in the same vein as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, or Leonardo DiCaprio.

It always bugged me because he's just as talented as those other guys. But as beloved as he is, Broderick never got the same level of prestige as all the others.

Perhaps he never wanted to be like that in the first place. He's definitely a big name in theater though, especially here in New York City. His plays usually become hits, and he's always fun to watch. I actually met him at the stage door after one of his many performances, too.

It was around late 2014, and I watched his play, the It's Only a Play revival, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. He led a star-studded cast that included Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Stockard Channing. It was the best thing I spent my hard-earned salary on at the time.

While I also loved his co-stars, I focused only on Broderick. I wanted him to sign my movie poster, and if he did, I would try to meet the rest of the cast. As you can see, I did it, but that night was more memorable than just getting his autograph.

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A huge reason why is the man himself. I never met a nicer celebrity before or since. He's just as gentlemanly as he presents to the public, and if it was just his persona, then he’s doing a great job.

The stage door got pretty crowded when he came out, and I almost got crushed. He saw me near death and told the people behind me to back up. He even got pretty loud about it, too, and thanks to him, security helped prop me up as he approached the fans.

“So, yeah, Matthew Broderick literally saved my life.”

So, yeah, Matthew Broderick literally saved my life. And on top of that, he also signed my poster.

I became an even bigger fan after that night, and I always share this story with people I meet at parties. It's become a popular anecdote at soirees, but I get annoyed when some people don't believe it.

I understand it sounds too good to be true, but it is. And when those doubters visit my home, I always point to his autograph on this signed poster as proof. It's always the best feeling to see them so shocked and so wrong.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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