Matthew Broderick: Biography, Ireland Home, and Career in 2025

There aren’t many actors who can make a teenager’s day off feel like a revolution and then turn around and win a Tony on Broadway. Matthew Broderick has done both, and then some. He’s been a fixture on screen and stage for four decades, married to Sarah Jessica Parker since 1997, and the couple share a surprising connection to the windswept coast of County Donegal, Ireland—a holiday home that has become part of their story. This article unpacks the key moments of his life, the 1987 car crash that still shadows his name, and where his career stands today.

Born: March 21, 1962 (New York City) ·
Known for: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Broadway, The Producers ·
Tony Awards: 2 wins (Brighton Beach Memoirs, How to Succeed in Business…) ·
Spouse: Sarah Jessica Parker (married since 1997) ·
Irish property: Yes, a holiday home in County Donegal

Eight key facts, one pattern: Broderick’s career spans theater, film, and TV, while his personal life remains remarkably stable—a long marriage, three children, and a transatlantic property.

Where does Matthew Broderick live in Ireland?

County Donegal holiday home

• Broderick and Parker co-own a holiday home in Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland (Wikipedia).
• Broderick spent childhood summers in Donegal, giving the property a personal connection (Masterworks Broadway).
• In 2018, the couple undertook a major renovation of the cottage, turning it into a modern home (Donegal Daily).

Property details and purchase history

• The property is located in Roelough, Kilcar, with planning permission dating back to 2015 (Donegal Daily).
• It is not a primary residence; the family uses it for vacations (Irish Star).
• In 2024, reports emerged that Parker sold her interest in the property, though the exact status remains unclear (Irish Star).

What happened with Matthew Broderick in the 1987 car crash?

Details of the accident

• In August 1987, while driving in Northern Ireland, Broderick’s rented car crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle, killing two people (Wikipedia).
• The accident occurred on a rural road; Broderick was hospitalized with a broken leg and a collapsed lung (Wikipedia).
• The two victims were a mother and daughter from Northern Ireland (Wikipedia).

Legal charges and outcome

• Broderick was charged with careless driving, not drunk driving or manslaughter (Wikipedia).
• He pleaded guilty and paid a fine of £100 plus court costs (Wikipedia).
• He left Northern Ireland after the court case and has rarely discussed the incident publicly (Wikipedia).

“It’s something I carry with me every day.”

— Matthew Broderick, in a 2025 interview with Daily Mail

What does Matthew Broderick do now?

Recent film and television roles

• He appeared in the HBO series The Gilded Age in 2023 (Wikipedia).
• He joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building in 2024 (Wikipedia).
• He continues to take on voice acting roles in animated features (Masterworks Broadway).

Broadway and stage work

• In 2022, he returned to Broadway in a revival of Plaza Suite, starring alongside his wife Sarah Jessica Parker (ABC News).
• He has previously won two Tony Awards: for Brighton Beach Memoirs (1983) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1995) (Masterworks Broadway).

Upcoming projects

• As of 2025, Broderick is scheduled to appear in a new film project and is rumored to be in talks for a stage production (Wikipedia).

What are the most famous Matthew Broderick movies?

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

• Broderick’s most iconic role, playing the charming high-school truant Ferris Bueller (Wikipedia).
• The film became a cultural touchstone and is frequently quoted and referenced (Wikipedia).

WarGames (1983)

• His breakout film role, playing a teenage hacker who nearly starts a nuclear war (Wikipedia).
• Established him as a leading young actor in the 1980s (Wikipedia).

The Producers (2005)

• Broderick starred as Leo Bloom in the film adaptation of the Mel Brooks musical (Wikipedia).
• He had originated the role on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination (Masterworks Broadway).

Godzilla (1998)

• He played Dr. Nick Tatopoulos in Roland Emmerich’s monster reboot (Wikipedia).
• Despite mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success (Wikipedia).

Who is Matthew Broderick’s wife?

Relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker

• Broderick met Sarah Jessica Parker in 1991 through the theater world; they married on May 19, 1997, in a surprise ceremony at a Lower East Side synagogue (Business Insider).
• The couple first appeared together on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in 1996 (People).
• They reunited on stage in Plaza Suite in 2022 (ABC News).

“We have never spent a night apart except for work or family illness.”

— Sarah Jessica Parker, as quoted by People

Their children and family life

• The couple have three children: son James Wilkie (born October 28, 2002) and twin daughters Tabitha and Marion (born via surrogate in 2009) (Masterworks Broadway).
• The family primarily lives in New York City (People).

For Broderick, the challenge is balancing a legacy built on a single iconic role with a career that has spanned decades and continents. The Donegal property is a symbol of that duality: a New York actor with deep Irish roots. But the 1987 crash remains a permanent asterisk, and the public’s curiosity about it hasn’t faded. For any fan of classic American cinema, the choice is clear: appreciate the breadth of his work, from Ferris Bueller to Broadway, while acknowledging the full, complicated picture.