Then: Jeremy Allen White
Young Hollywood//Getty ImagesJeremy Allen White was raised by former actors in Brooklyn, New York. He dabbled in theater and dance while in school, which led to his decision to attend the Performing Arts School in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.
Before The Bear, he was known for his breakthrough role as Phillip "Lip" Gallagher in the television series Shameless, which he played for a decade. He also had a few minor roles in TV shows like Conviction, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and movies like Beautiful Ohio and The Speed of Life.
Now: Jeremy Allen White
Rich Polk/Golden Globes 2024//Getty ImagesJeremy has won several awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for his role as Carmine "Carmy" Berzatto.
He is also currently filming;Deliver Me From Nowhere, a biographical drama based on Bruce Springsteen, where he is playing the "The Boss" himself.
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Then: Ayo Edebiri
Jeff Kravitz//Getty ImagesRaised in Boston, Edebiri showed an interest in the arts early in life. She joined the improv club at Boston Latin School in eighth grade, and eventually attended New York University.
She started her career as a stand-up comedian, and gained major recognition on Comedy Central’s Up Next. She eventually created her own scripted her series with Rachel Sennott called “Ayo and Rachel Are Single."
She had also written for several shows like NBC's Sunnyside, and acted in the TV series Defective and the 2022 film, Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between.
Now: Ayo Edebiri
Frazer Harrison//Getty ImagesAyo plays Sydney "Syd" Adamu, a talented young chef who joins the crew as sous-chef under Carmy. Ayo has won several awards for her performance in The Bear, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television). She also starred in the thriller film, Opus in 2025.
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Then: Liza Colón-Zayas
Monica Schipper//Getty ImagesLiza Colón-Zayas grew up in The Bronx, New York, in a Puerto Rican household, studied theater at SUNY Albany and began her career off-Broadway.
Her big break into mainstream theater was in 2000 when she wrote, produced and starred in a one-woman show called Sistah Supreme, which narrates growing up as a Latina woman in New York during the 1970s and 1980s.
She’s acted in films such as The Purge: Election Year and Righteous Kill. She’s also appeared in TV series like Sex and the City, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and Dexter.
Now: Liza Colón-Zayas
Kevin Winter//Getty ImagesLiza plays Tina Marrero, a line cook at the restaurant who initially is resistant to the changes the shop is enduring, but later embraces the opportunity to train becoming a professional chef. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in 2024.
She's also signed on for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is set to be released in 2026.
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Then: Jon Bernthal
Evan Agostini//Getty ImagesJon Bernthal grew up in Maryland, but eventually moved to Russia to attend the Moscow Art Theatre School. After being discovered by the executive director of Harvard University's Institute for Advanced Theater Training, he moved back to the States to enroll in the program.
He’s performed in multiple plays since 2003, and had smaller roles in shows like How I Met Your Mother and CSI: Miami. His breakthrough role was Shane Walsh in the AMC horror series The Walking Dead.
Now: Jon Bernthal
Steve Granitz//Getty ImagesJon plays Michael "Mikey" Berzatto, Carmy and Natalie's late brother. Mikey’s death is a significant plot point in the show, and the reason why Carmy moves back to Chicago to run his sandwich shop.
He won a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2024. He also co-starred along Ben Affleck in The Accountant 2 this year.
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Then: Abby Elliott
Gregg DeGuire//Getty ImagesAbby Elliott's dad is actor Chris Elliott, so it's safe to say she's known all about the Hollywood for years. But before she made it big, Abby was part of the improv troupe, The Groundlings.
Eventually, she made her way to Saturday Night Live from 2008 to 2012, but was eventually fired.
She made her film debut in the 2011 movie No Strings Attached, and has had guest appearances in TV shows like How I Met your Mother, Broke Girls, and Happy Endings.
RELATED: 9 Celebrity Couples You Didn't Know Met on SNL
Now: Abby Elliott
NBC//Getty ImagesAbby plays Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto, Carmy and Michael's sister. She’s also the business manager of the restaurant. In 2024, Elliot won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
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Then: Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Bruce Glikas//Getty ImagesEbon Moss-Bachrach grew up in Massachusetts and studied Literature at Columbia University. At Columbia, he took an acting class that inspired him to pursue theater.
Ebon had his television breakthrough on the HBO show Girls, where he played the character Desi. He later appeared in The Punisher and Andor.
Now: Ebon Moss-Bachrach
David Jon//Getty ImagesEon plays "Cousin" Richie Jerimovich, Mikey's best friend and the de facto manager of the restaurant. He’s won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.
Another huge milestone in his career? He joined the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Ben Grimm / The Thing.
RELATED: Who Is Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Wife, Yelena Yemchuk?
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Then: Lionel Boyce
Variety//Getty ImagesLionel Boyce was born in Inglewood, California. Growing up, he played football, but eventually became a member of Odd Future, a hip-hop musical group. In 2012, he co-created the sketch comedy TV series Loiter Squad, and in 2015, he formed the production company Bald Fade Productions alongside Tyler, the Creator, with whom he also created the animated series The Jellies!
Now: Lionel Boyce
NBC//Getty ImagesLionel plays Marcus Brooks, a bread-baker-turned-pastry-chef under Carmy’s guidance. In 2024, he starred in the comedy/horror film Shell, and just finished wrapping up Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi movie starring Ryan Gosling.
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Then: Matty Matheson
Michael Stuparyk//Getty ImagesMatty Matheson grew up in New Brunswick, Canada, and actually has a lot of ties to the restaurant and food world. In 2000, Matheson enrolled in Humber College's cooking program, and has worked in the food and culinary industry since 2003.
His on-screen work began when he was hired as a host of the reality TV shows Dead Set on Life and It’s Supertime. He appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Before joining The Bear as a producer, culinary consultant and cast member.
Now: Matty Matheson
Paula Lobo//Getty ImagesMatty Matheson plays Neil Fak, a childhood friend of the Berzattos. In addition to acting, Matty owns an astounding six restaurants, and has partnerships with multiple brands, like Gozney.
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Then: Edwin Lee Gibson
Patrick McMullan//Getty ImagesNow: Edwin Lee Gibson
David Jon//Getty ImagesEdwin Lee Gibson plays Ebraheim, a line cook, who also was resistant to the changes Carmy was making at the restaurant, but soon rediscovers his love for the art.
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Then: Oliver Platt
Ron Galella//Getty ImagesOliver Platt has been acting for over three decades, making his film debut in 1988 with his role as FBI Agent Ed Benitez in the movie Married to the Mob. During the '90s, he also appeared in Working Girl, Flatliners, Beethoven, The Three Musketeers and A Time to Kill.
Now: Oliver Platt
David Jon//Getty ImagesOliver Platt plays Cicero, but he's mostly referred to as “Uncle Jimmy.” The Berzattos have known him for years, but he's not blood related. He did, however, loan them money to open the restaurant.
Outside of The Bear, Oliver will continue to appear on Chicago Med.

Rosamelia is an Editorial Intern at Good Housekeeping. She's also a graduate student in NYU's Magazine and Digital Storytelling program. In her free time, you can find her reading and reviewing books on her bookstagram: amelias_biblioteca.
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