“The Bear” season 3 serves up another helping of surprise guest stars: Here's everyone who clocks in
FX's high-stakes restaurant dramedy cooks up a whole new roster of star-powered cameos.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Bear season 3 finale, "Forever."
It wouldn't be a season of The Bear without an impressive roster of surprise guest stars.
FX Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri on 'The Bear'
Every time FX's high-stakes restaurant dramedy drops a new batch of episodes, they serve up some shocking cast additions. Ever since season 1 debuted with Jon Bernthal's unannounced casting as elder Berzatto brother Mikey, the critically acclaimed series keeps one-upping itself.
Season 2 delivered the perfect recipe of cameos for Carmy's (Jeremy Allen White) intensely dysfunctional family as well as the people who help cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) find new purpose. Season 3 (now streaming on Hulu) features a lot of those returning faces, but also cooks up even more surprise guest stars — and this time, the star-power comes mostly from a long list of real-life chefs lending even more culinary authenticity to the show.
FX Josh Hartnett guest starring on 'The Bear'
Josh Hartnett
The first famous face to pop up unexpectedly in season 3 is former teen heartthrob Josh Hartnett — and he's still breaking hearts. The Pearl Harbor star, most recently seen in Oppenheimer, makes his Bear debut in episode 4, "Violet," as the bane of Richie's existence: Frank, a.k.a. Richie's ex-wife Tiffany's (Gillian Jacobs) new fiancé. Frank tries to make peace with Richie and their complex family dynamic, but is clearly uncomfortable around Richie, and Hartnett plays Frank's awkwardness perfectly as Richie's favorite artist Taylor Swift plays in the background.
FX John Cena guest starring on 'The Bear'
John Cena
Who knew the Faks had another chaotic sibling?! John Cena steals the show in episode 5, "Children," when he arrives to the Bear to help buff the floors before it gets photographed by the Chicago Tribune. And if you thought Neil (Matty Matheson) and Ted (Ricky Staffieri) were tough to control, that's because you hadn't met their intimidating brother "Sammy f---ing Fak" yet. He loves to "haunt" his family, and continues to terrify Ted for stealing his SD cards until he says the "codeword." These adult men really bring the episode title to life in a big way.
FX Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina, David Zayas as Davis
David Zayas
David Zayas' casting on The Bear is a case of art imitating life. The Dexter alum shows up in episode 6, "Napkins," in sweeping flashbacks that reveal how Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) first came to work at the Beef when she hit rock bottom. Zayas plays her loving husband David — and the actors have actually been married in real life since 1998.
Brian Koppelman
This one may be a surprise for most fans, but Uncle Jimmy's (Oliver Platt) family friend Nicholas "The Computer" Marshall, who comes in to help cut the rising costs of the restaurant in episodes 5, "Children," and 9, "Apologies," is famous screenwriter and showrunner Brian Koppelman. He is best known for writing Rounders and Ocean's Thirteen and creating Showtime's Billions.
FX Jeremy Allen White
All those real chefs — and a fake one
The Bear has always featured real culinary celebrities, but season 3 served up a veritable feast of who's who in the fine dining world.
Daniel Boulud of New York City's Daniel and René Redzepi of Copenhagen's Noma are the first to appear onscreen, as they individually mentor Carmy in flashbacks in the premiere. Then Thomas Keller from Napa's French Laundry has a meaty appearance in the finale, generously helping Carmy on his first day of working at the restaurant.
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Later in the finale, when Carmy, Richie, and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) attend Ever's funeral service, they rub shoulders with a ton of real chefs: Alinea chef Grant Achatz, Elske pastry chef Anna Posey, Kasama chef Genie Kwon, Boka Restaurant Group head Kevin Boehm, Sanchez's Rosio Sanchez, Milkbar CEO Christina Tosi, Noma pastry chef Malcolm Livingston II, wd-50 chef Wylie Dufresne, and Make It Nice hospitality group co-owner Will Guidara.
And yes, that was Bradley Cooper in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. While he's not a real chef, Cooper is shown during a montage in a photograph from his 2015 movie Burnt as fictional Michelin star chef Adam Jones. The Bear extended universe? Yes, chef!
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