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'The Bear' Fans, You Have to See These Then and Now Photos of the Cast

Wondering what the beloved kitchen crew was up to before? Here’s everything you need to know.

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The FX on Hulu show The Bear quickly became a fan favorite when it debuted in 2022. Since then, the show and its cast have won and been nominated for several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Jeremy Allen White).

While some of the cast members, like Oliver Platt and John Bernthal, had their breakthrough roles before the show, others have gained broader recognition thanks to it.

Regardless, it's always fun to learn what our favorite chefs were up to before they landed their role. So take a scroll down memory lane with these then and now photos.

Then: Jeremy Allen White

jeremy allen white visits young hollywood studio
Young Hollywood//Getty Images

Jeremy 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

81st golden globe awards show
Rich Polk/Golden Globes 2024//Getty Images

Jeremy 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

2019 clusterfest bill graham stage day 2
Jeff Kravitz//Getty Images

Raised 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

76th primetime emmy awards arrivals
Frazer Harrison//Getty Images

Ayo 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

celebrity charades 2014: judgment day
Monica Schipper//Getty Images

Liza 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

76th primetime emmy awards show
Kevin Winter//Getty Images

Liza 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

cbs upfront presentation
Evan Agostini//Getty Images

Jon 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

los angeles premiere of amazon mgm studios "the accountant 2" arrivals
Steve Granitz//Getty Images

Jon 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

nbc universal tca press party
Gregg DeGuire//Getty Images

Abby 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

the tonight show starring jimmy fallon season 12
NBC//Getty Images

Abby 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

opening night of martin mcdonagh's "the pillowman" on broadway curtain call and after party
Bruce Glikas//Getty Images

Ebon 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

"the bear" cast and producers dinner
David Jon//Getty Images

Eon 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

premiere of fx's 'the bear'
Variety//Getty Images

Lionel 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

the tonight show starring jimmy fallon season 12
NBC//Getty Images

Lionel 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

aug 29, 2009 matty matheson is a chef at oddfellows restaurant at 936 queen st. west. exterior photo
Michael Stuparyk//Getty Images

Matty 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

matty matheson
Paula Lobo//Getty Images

Matty 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 archives
Patrick McMullan//Getty Images

Gibson grew up in Houston, Texas, and began working in theater at 16 years old. Since then, he’s appeared in over 100 theater productions. He won an O.B.I.E. Award for his performance in The Seven.

He’s also appeared in films like Marshall and Mom and Dad, and the 2014 TV show Fargo.

Now: Edwin Lee Gibson

"the bear" cast and producers dinner
David Jon//Getty Images

Edwin 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

screening of "the infiltrator"
Ron Galella//Getty Images

Oliver 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

"the bear" cast and producers dinner
David Jon//Getty Images

Oliver 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.

Lettermark

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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