Ferris Bueller’s Day Off star Alan Ruck, 64, says he is a ‘lucky guy’ after nearly DYING from a blood infection he contracted while in a dirty hot tub
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off star Alan Ruck sees himself as a ‘lucky guy.’
The 64-year-old actor recently appeared on the Celebrity Catch Up podcast to discuss his life and career after appearing in the 1986 hit comedy, and relayed a story about how he almost died from an infection he contracted in a dirty hot tub.
In 2001, the Succession cast member apparently came down with a case of the flu that only grew worse during the filming of Spin City.
Cutting it close: Alan Ruck stated that he almost died after contracting an illness from a dip in a dirty hot tub; the actor is seen here in an October ad for LiftMaster
His condition only worsened after that, culminating in the actor collapsing at his home after suffering septic shock and kidney failure.
The Bad Boys actor’s prognosis was initially poor, and said during the podcast: ‘It was serious – they told my ex-wife for the first two days “we don’t think he’s going to make it.”‘
His doctors also initially expected that severe mental handicaps would occur as a result of the infection.
He added: ‘Then they said “he’s going to be on dialysis for the rest of his life,” but then for some reason my kidneys started to get better.’
Smashing expectations: The actor was expected to suffer heavily debilitating side effects from the infections, but he managed to recover much better than originally anticipated
At least it was not the car: Ruck is seen portraying Cameron Frye alongside Matthew Broderick in the 1986 hit Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
The Speed actor said that after making an unlikely recovery, his doctors were puzzled as to how he had managed to acquire the infection, and came to the conclusion that it probably resulted from when he stubbed his toe in a dirty hot tub.
‘After I got sick I talked with many people who were like, “I was on a cruise and I got the same thing – I had a strep infection in my bloodstream” – which is basically the old fashioned way of saying it is blood poisoning.’
The actor also noted that the truth as to the exact cause of the infection will continue to elude him, as he stated that, ‘We have no real idea exactly how it happened, and no real understanding of why I got well.’
Unanswered questions: The actor is still unsure about the true cause of his illness, stating that ‘We have no real idea exactly how it happened’; he is seen portraying Connor Roy in the second season of Succession
Ruck concluded that the experience had given him a new lease on life, stating that ‘If you wake up in the morning and you feel okay…that’s a good day.’
The Three Fugitives actor has reportedly taken his health much more seriously in the years since the incident.
In speaking about the importance of staying in shape, the actor stated,’That old saying if you have your health you have everything is really true.
‘You can have all the money in the world, but if your body doesn’t work it doesn’t mean anything.’