10 Incredible Star-Studded Cameos in Hulu's 'The Bear': From Jamie Lee Curtis to Jon Bernthal

Hulu's series The Bear defied the notion of an overcrowded kitchen with its star-studded cameos, captivating viewers for two seasons.

Premiering in June 2022, the show delves into the world of the food industry, centering around the skilled chef Carmy (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White) as he takes charge of his late brother Mikey's (played by Jon Bernthal) restaurant in Chicago.

In Season 1, Carmy's main focus was on helping the sandwich shop succeed while also dealing with his own grief. These initial episodes paved the way for the show's second season, which followed Carmy, Sydney, and other employees as they opened their new restaurant under a tight deadline.

During the middle of Season 2, The Bear took a turn with a flashback Christmas episode. This episode gave the audience a glimpse into the unstable relationships among different members of the Berzatto family, including Carmy, Natalie, and their mother Donna Berzatto, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis.

The Halloween star took to social media in June 2023 to share her experience in portraying the complex character.

"The secret is out. We all have them. Every family. Every human being. The heart of the remarkable creation known as @thebearfx revolves around the intertwined story of Carmen, Sugar, and Michael Berzatto, filled with hidden truths, intense emotions, and a touch of humor," captioned Curtis on an Instagram post. "When I watched the inaugural episode of the series last summer and witnessed Sugar asking Carmen about their mother, I instantly felt a deep connection to the role. I can't explain how, but I just knew."

Curtis described Donna as the "role of a lifetime" upon joining the cast, emphasizing how relatable and impactful her character is. She also expressed gratitude towards the creative team and her fellow actors for welcoming her and allowing her to fully embrace the role.

In contrast, Bernthal had a different experience when it came to his role as Mikey. He joined the cast in season 1 based on a recommendation from his former costar Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays Richie on the show.

"We had been searching for the perfect actor to play the role of Michael for quite some time. The team asked for suggestions, and when they turned to me, I suggested that we shouldn't actually show him on screen. I believed that building up anticipation around a character often leads to disappointment," Moss-Bachrach shared with Cinema Blend in June 2023. "But then one day, it struck me that Jon possesses such charisma and humor. I realized he would actually be a great fit."

Moss-Bachrach expressed how enjoyable it was to film scenes with Richie and Mikey, saying, "We genuinely love working with one another. So when he was asked to join the production, even without reading the script, he immediately agreed and said, 'Yes, I can do it. If we can make it work, count me in.' It was really cool. It was amazing."

Scroll down to see every star-studded cameo on The Bear so far:

Credit: Chuck Hodes/FX

A Complete Guide to the Star-Studded Cameos in Hulu's 'The Bear': From Jamie Lee Curtis to Jon Bernthal

Hulu's TV series, The Bear, defied the notion that having numerous chefs in the kitchen is problematic, as it garnered attention for its impressive lineup of celebrity appearances over two seasons.

Premiering in June 2022, this show delves into the culinary world, showcasing the journey of a skilled chef named Carmy (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White) as he takes charge of his late brother Mikey's restaurant in Chicago.

Season 1 revolved around Carmy's efforts to support the sandwich shop's success while coping with his own grief. These initial episodes set the stage for the second season, where Carmy, Sydney, and the rest of The Beef's staff worked together under immense pressure to open their new restaurant within a tight timeframe.

During the middle of season 2, The Bear took a detour with a Christmas episode that delved into the complex relationships among different members of the Berzatto family, including Carmy, Natalie, and their mother, Donna Berzatto, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis.

Content: In June 2023, the Halloween star took to social media to share insights on portraying the complex character.

"The secret's out. We all have secrets. Every family. Every person. At the heart of the exceptional creation known as @thebearfx lies a story of family secrets, intertwined with anger, trauma, sorrow, and humor surrounding Carmen, Sugar, and Michael Berzatto," wrote Curtis in the caption of an Instagram post. "When I watched the first episode of the show last summer and Sugar asked Carmen if he had spoken to their mother, I instantly knew I had to play her. Don't ask me how; I just knew."

Curtis described Donna as the "role of a lifetime" upon joining the cast. She expressed that everyone can relate to being around a person like Donna Berzatto, and she shared her own personal experiences. This is what makes the show so incredible, according to Curtis. She thanked Chris @chrisstorer and the entire creative team at BEAR for allowing her to fully embrace her role in the show.

Bernthal had a different experience when it came to his role as Mikey. He joined the cast in season 1 after being recommended by his former Punisher costar, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays Richie on the show.

"They had been searching for the right actor to play the role of Michael for quite some time. During a discussion, they asked if anyone had any ideas. When they asked me, I suggested that we never actually see him. I shared my opinion that building up someone's reputation often leads to disappointment," Moss-Bachrach revealed in an interview with Cinema Blend in June 2023. "But then, one day, it occurred to me that Jon is incredibly charismatic and hilarious. I thought he would be a perfect fit."

Moss-Bachrach mentioned that shooting scenes with Richie and Mikey was a breeze, saying, "We genuinely enjoy working with each other. When Jon was approached about the role, even without reading the script, he readily agreed. He said, 'Yeah, sure. I can do it. If we can figure out the logistics, let's make it happen.' It was such a cool and amazing experience."

Scroll down to see every star-studded cameo on The Bear so far:

Credit: Chuck Hodes/FX

Jon Bernthal

The Marvel star has made appearances in flashbacks as Carmy and Sugar's late brother, Mikey. He died by suicide four months before the events of the series.

Credit: FX/Hulu

Joel McHale

The Community alum portrayed Carmy's former boss who verbally abused him during their time in New York. McHale briefly reprised his role in the season 2 finale.

Credit: FX/Hulu

Molly Ringwald

The Breakfast Club star played a moderator at Carmy's first Al-Anon meeting in season 1.

Credit: Chuck Hodes/FX

Molly Gordon

The Booksmart actress brought the role of Carmy's childhood friend and love interest Claire to life in season 2.

Credit: Chuck Hodes/FX

Will Poulter

During season 2, the Emmy nominee helped train Marcus at a bakery in Copenhagen. 

Credit: FX/Hulu

Bob Odenkirk

The Breaking Bad alum played Uncle Lee in the infamous season 2 Christmas episode. His contentious relationship with Mikey led to a dramatic fight between the duo.

Credit: FX/Hulu

Jamie Lee Curtis

The Knives Out star brought the matriarchy of the Berzatto family to life in season 2.

Credit: FX/Hulu

Sarah Paulson

The Golden Globe winner played Carmy, Natalie and Mikey's cousin Michelle in the sophomore season.

Credit: FX/Hulu

John Mulaney

The comedian took on the role of Michelle's boyfriend in the second season's flashback scenes.

Credit: FX/Hulu

Gillian Jacobs

The Fear Street star played Richie's ex-wife, Tiffany, throughout season 2.

Credit: Chuck Hodes/FX

Sarah Ramos

The Parenthood alum appeared as a restaurant worker named Jessica who assisted Richie during his time at Noma.

Credit: FX/Hulu

Olivia Colman

The Academy Award winner made a surprise appearance as Chef Terry in a season 2 episode of The Bear.