Hollywood's Hidden Stars: Unveiling Familiar Faces in The Bear Cast

Hulu's The Bear features a talented cast of actors, including Jeremy Allen White as Carmy, alongside a diverse range of recurring faces and recognizable cameos. Created and directed by Christopher Storer, known for his work on Hulu's popular series Ramy, this eight-episode comedy/drama follows the story of a young and highly skilled chef who takes over his family's sandwich shop in Chicago after his older brother's passing. The Bear explores the power transition and clash of styles between Carmy and his cousin Richie.

Premiering on Hulu in June 2022, The Bear received rave reviews for its captivating narrative and authentic depiction of the fast-paced professional kitchen environment. The show's success led to its renewal for a second season, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the continuation of The Orginal Beef. With its fast-paced storytelling and a compelling ensemble of characters, The Bear adds a refreshing and occasionally comedic flavor to Hulu's FX library. While the cast may not be as star-studded as some of the streaming service's other recent projects, this only adds to the intrigue surrounding The Bear's ensemble and their other notable appearances.

Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto

Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White, leads the cast of The Bear. As a result of his experience in larger restaurants and his education, Carmy strives to enhance The Original Beef. However, he often faces resistance from his staff. In addition to his efforts to improve his late brother's restaurant, Carmy grapples with his grief and the constant anxiety that comes with his job.

Jeremy Allen White, who plays the lead in The Bear, is well-known to viewers for his portrayal of Lip Gallagher in Shameless. In addition to his standout role in Shameless, White has also appeared in Homecoming season 1 and Dave Franco's horror film The Rental. Audiences can anticipate his upcoming performance alongside Zac Efron in the wrestling biopic The Iron Claw.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie Jerimovich

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, known for his roles in popular shows like Girls and The Punisher, takes on the role of Richie Jerimovich in The Bear's cast. Richie, who has been working at The Original Beef for a long time, is Carmy's "cousin" and has a strong attachment to the restaurant's existing menu and operations. Despite Carmy's desire to make changes, Richie resists, fearing that he will disappoint everyone in his life. In addition to his work in television, Moss-Bachrach has recently appeared in Hulu's The Dropout and will star alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the upcoming R-rated comedy No Hard Feelings.

Ayo Edebiri as Sydney

Ayo Edebiri delivers a standout performance as Sydney, a key member of The Bear's cast. Having grown up visiting The Original Beef, Sydney is thrilled to join Carmy's team and work alongside her exceptional talents. She brings her own fresh ideas to the table, aiming to enhance both the menu and service. However, the fast-paced kitchen environment can sometimes overwhelm her.

Fans of Apple TV+'s Dickinson may already be familiar with Edebiri, who portrayed Hattie alongside Hailee Steinfeld. Additionally, she is the voice behind Missy Foreman-Greenwald on Big Mouth and has lent her voice to other notable projects such as the new Clone High series, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Edebiri's upcoming projects include the comedy film Bottoms and the highly anticipated MCU movie Thunderbolts.

Oliver Platt as Uncle Jimmy

Carmy discovers the dire financial situation of The Original Beef once he takes over. It is revealed that Mickey had borrowed $300,000 from their Uncle Jimmy, who expects the money to be repaid. However, Uncle Jimmy is not an intimidating moneylender and seems willing to assist Carmy by purchasing the restaurant location. Interestingly, with Mickey's newfound money at the end of The Bear season 1, Uncle Jimmy could potentially become a legitimate partner for the renovated restaurant.

Oliver Platt portrays the character of Jimmy, showcasing his remarkable versatility as a character actor. Platt has an extensive career encompassing various notable movies and television projects. He is currently most recognized for his role as Dr. Daniel Charles in Chicago Med. Platt's appearances include season 1 of Fargo, X-Men: First Class, A Time to Kill, and The Three Musketeers. As one of the most experienced actors in The Bear cast, his portrayal of Uncle Jimmy captivates viewers' attention whenever he is on-screen.

Abby Elliott as Natalie 'Sugar' Berzatto

Though Carmy has lost his brother, when he returns home, he is given the opportunity to reconnect with his sister Natalie, who is affectionately known as Sugar. While initially not involved with the restaurant, Sugar had co-signed on Mickey's lease. Her main focus is on reestablishing a connection with Carmy and helping him address his grief and anxiety, even though he continues to push her away. Portrayed by Abby Elliott, who gained popularity as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, Sugar has also made appearances on renowned shows such as Happy Endings, How I Met Your Mother, and Search Party.

Lionel Boyce as Marcus

Marcus, the dessert chef at The Original Beef, embraces the idea of Carmy taking over and revolutionizing the menu, unlike some of his fellow chefs. This newfound inspiration fuels Marcus's quest to create the perfect donut for the restaurant. However, his relentless obsession with this mission puts him at odds with Carmy. Lionel Boyce, known for his roles in the crime series Hap and Leonard and his voice work in the Adult Swim series The Jellies!, brings Marcus to life.

Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina

Tina, one of the chefs at The Original Beef, may have a tough exterior, but she has a nurturing side and treats everyone in the kitchen like a mother figure. Initially resistant to Carmy's new approach and skeptical of Sydney's authority, Tina eventually embraces the new methods with the help of positive reinforcement. She becomes a unifying force, working hard to keep the team together. Liza Colón-Zayas, who portrays Tina, is renowned for her role in In Treatment and has also made appearances in popular shows such as Law and Order: SVU and Blue Bloods.

The Bear Supporting Cast & Characters

Mikey Berzatto, Carmy's deceased brother, makes a brief appearance in a flashback during one episode of season 1 of The Bear. The role is played by Jon Bernthal, who is widely recognized for his portrayal of the titular character in The Punisher. Bernthal has also showcased his acting skills in notable films such as Baby Driver and Wind River, as well as television series like The Walking Dead. Additionally, he has been cast in the upcoming series We Own This City.

Joel McHale makes a brief appearance in one episode of Community, portraying Carmy's abusive boss in a flashback scene. Additionally, McHale is currently starring in the comedy Animal Control and has also appeared in films such as Ted, Blended, and Becky.

Edwin Lee Gibson portrays Ebraheim, one of the talented chefs of The Original Beef, showcasing his acting skills previously seen in Fargo season 4 and Winning Time.

Molly Ringwald, known for her iconic roles in The Breakfast Club and as a member of the Brat Pack, takes on the role of an unnamed attendee at an Al-Anon meeting.

Molly Gordon will be joining the cast of The Bear season 2 as Carmy's love interest. Known for her performances in comedy films such as Booksmart, You People, and Good Boys, Gordon brings her talent to the show.

Also joining the cast is Will Poulter, who will portray a skilled and compassionate pastry chef responsible for training Marcus. Poulter, an acclaimed actor, is recognized for his roles in movies like We're the Millers, Midsommar, and Dopesick. Additionally, he recently portrayed Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Bob Odenkirk, known for his role in Better Call Saul, will be joining the cast of The Bear season 2. However, details about his character have not been revealed yet. Odenkirk has also showcased his acting prowess in notable films such as Nobody, Nebraska, Little Women, and The Post.