Alan Ruck Alan Ruck played John Harriman , the somewhat hapless captain of the in . He is probably most recognizable for his roles as the equally hapless Cameron Frye , Ferris Bueller ' s hypochondriacal best friend , in the 1986 comedy film " Ferris Bueller ' s Day Off " ( with Michael G . Hagerty and Jonathan Schmock ) and as Assistant Deputy Mayor Stuart Bondek in the television sitcom " Spin City " ( in which he worked with Victoria Dillard ) . Ruck hails from Cleveland , Ohio , and is a graduate of the University of Illinois . He made his film debut in the 1983 drama " Bad Boys " , which was also the film debut of guest star Clancy Brown . Later that year , Ruck appeared in the comedy film " Class " with Virginia Madsen . After acquiring fame for his role in " Ferris Bueller ' s Day Off " , Ruck appeared in such films as " Three Fugitives " ( 1989 , with Bruce McGill , Sherman Howard , Tim de Zarn , Brian Thompson , Scott Lincoln , Albert Henderson , and Gary Armagnac ) , " Bloodhounds of Broadway " ( 1989 , with Ethan Phillips and Googy Gress ) , and " Young Guns II " ( 1990 , with Christian Slater , Tracey Walter , Leon Rippy , Robert Knepper , and David Paul Needles ) . In 1990 , he won a lead role on an ABC situation comedy called " Going Places " , opposite guest star Hallie Todd . In this series , Ruck and Todd were among four writers who not only worked together shared a Los Angeles beach house , as well . Later in the show , the four began working for a talk show host played by Steve Vinovich , but the series was canceled in 1991 after only one season . Later , Ruck became a regular on the short - lived sketch comedy series " The Edge " . He subsequently starred in the CBS series " Daddy ' s Girls " , but this show was pulled from the schedule after only three episodes . His next show was the WB ' s " Muscle " with Dan Gauthier in 1995 , which was also canceled after one season . He followed this with a recurring role on the hit NBC series " Mad About You " before he landed the role of Stuart Bondek on " Spin City " . This series was a success , running for six seasons from 1996 through 2002 . Ruck was a regular on the show for all six seasons . In between failed TV shows , Ruck expanded his film resume , appearing in the blockbuster action thrillers " Speed " ( 1994 , with Carlos Carrasco , Richard Lineback , Jordan Lund , and Bruce Wright ) and " Twister " ( 1996 , with Bruce Wright , Richard Lineback , Scott Thomson , Patrick Fischler , Zach Grenier , and Sean Whalen ) . Also during this time , Ruck guest - starred on such television shows as " Picket Fences " ( working with Leigh Taylor - Young and Ray Walston ) , " Tales from the Crypt " , and " The Outer Limits " . In 1998 Ruck was one of the many " Star Trek " actors to appear in the acclaimed HBO mini - series " From the Earth to the Moon " . His co - stars on this series included Sam Anderson , David Andrews , David Clennon , Ronny Cox , Brett Cullen , Robert Curtis Brown , Ann Cusack , Jerry Hardin , Clint Howard , Daniel Hugh Kelly , John Carroll Lynch , Dakin Matthews , Deborah May , Andy Milder , Holmes Osborne , Ethan Phillips , Harve Presnell , Mark Rolston , and Stephen Root ; David Carson and Michael Grossman were among the directors . In 2000 Ruck co - starred ( again ) with s Ethan Phillips in the independent film " Endsville " . That same year Ruck appeared in another independent film , " Everything Put Together " , with Matt Malloy . His more recent film credits include the hit 2003 remake " Cheaper by the Dozen " ( with Holmes Osborne and the 2007 comedy " Kickin It Old Skool " ( co - starring Christopher McDonald ) . Most recently he can be seen in ' s thriller " The Happening " and the Paramount Pictures release , " Ghost Town " . Since " Spin City " ended , Ruck has been seen on such shows as " Scrubs " ( starring Ken Jenkins ) , " " ( starring Paul McGillion and Robert Picardo ) , " Medium " , " Ghost Whisperer " , and " Greek " . He also appeared as a reporter on the ESPN mini - series " The Bronx Is Burning " . In November 2008 , he appeared on the ABC drama series " Boston Legal " , playing an attorney whose client was played by Saul Rubinek . Series regulars John Larroquette and William Shatner , as well as guest star Bill Smitrovich , also appeared in Ruck ' s episode . Ruck reprised the role of Captain John Harriman ( now much more competent ) for the " Star Trek " fan film " Star Trek : Of Gods and Men " , directed by Tim Russ and co - starring Russ , Walter Koenig , Nichelle Nichols , Garrett Wang , J . G . Hertzler , Chase Masterson , Gary Graham , and many other " Star Trek " veterans . Ruck has also reunited with Koenig for the science fiction film " InAlienable " , which Koenig wrote and which co - starred Erick Avari , Gary Graham , Richard Herd , J . G . Hertzler , Andrew Koenig , Judy Levitt , Lisa LoCicero , Bertrand Roberson , Jr . , Patricia Tallman , and TNG star Marina Sirtis .