The Bear is a critically acclaimed FX on Hulu television series that follows the story of Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a young and ambitious chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to run his late brother’s struggling restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland. Carmy, a perfectionist with a troubled past, must navigate the challenges of running a kitchen while dealing with the personal demons and quirks of his eccentric staff.
The Bear has been widely praised for its authenticity and attention to detail in its portrayal of the world of restaurants, with many fans praising its realistic depiction of kitchen life, from the chaos and camaraderie of the line cooks to the precision and creativity of the dish preparation. The show’s creators have consulted with real-life chefs and restaurateurs to ensure that every aspect of the show is as accurate as possible. With that said, The Bear has a cast member who is actually a world-renowned chef. So, here’s everything you need to know about Matty Matheson, who plays Fak on the show.
Who Is Matty Matheson?
Matty Matheson is a Canadian chef, restaurateur, and internet personality born on February 7, 1982. He rose to fame as the executive chef of Parts & Labour, a popular restaurant in Toronto, Canada, which unfortunately closed its doors on January 1, 2019. However, Matheson didn’t let his success go to waste and has since launched several new ventures. In December 2020, he opened Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club, a takeout restaurant in Toronto that serves up classic burgers and comfort food. His culinary empire continued to expand with the opening of Prime Seafood Palace, another Toronto-based eatery.
Matheson’s online presence also gained momentum after appearances on popular YouTube shows like Vice and Architectural Digest, cementing his status as a beloved figure in the culinary world. With his charismatic personality and no-nonsense approach to cooking, Matty Matheson has become a household name in the world of food and entertainment. He also has his own YouTube channel, where he is known for his comedic spin on cooking. What’s more, he has amassed over 1.7 million followers on Instagram, where he regularly posts videos around cooking, weight lifting and family life.
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How Was He Cast on The Bear?
As mentioned, The Bear has been lauded for its depiction of the restaurant world. The show is fast-paced, often frenetic, and at times extremely stress-inducing. However, this is how many in the business describe life in a kitchen. A great deal of the show’s accuracy can be attributed to Matty Matheson, who was originally hired as a consultant due to his extensive knowledge of the world.
When his charismatic personality captivated the showrunners, Matheson was offered a part on the show. To that, he accepted, therefore wearing three hats, as he simultaneously acted as consultant and executive producer as well. Matheson stars as Neil Fak, a childhood friend of Carmy and a repairman for the restaurant. Although he has limited acting experience, he found himself nominated for a BAFTA nomination in 2024. Also, his cast and crew praised his style of acting, calling it the “Mathod acting school of dramatic reading.”
Why Doesn’t Matty Matheson Play a Chef on The Bear?
To many, it may seem perplexing that one of the world’s most famous chefs would take on the role of repairman in a series about the restaurant industry. However, when Matheson was offered a role in the show, he insisted that he did not want to play a chef. When appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Matheson was prodded by Kimmel as to why he doesn’t play a chef. Kimmel said: “You are a very accomplished chef. You are on a show about chefs, about a restaurant. You do not play a chef on that show.” Matheson responded: “I didn’t want to. I was like, ‘I really wouldn’t want to be a chef if you’re going to ask me that. That sucks. I wouldn’t want to do that because that’s stressful.'”
Does the Renowned Chef Have Any Other Acting Credits?
Before starring on The Bear, Matty Matheson had very little acting experience to his name. He starred in two episodes of the series Workin’ Moms as Mams. He then leant his distinctive voice to the animated TV series, Craig of the Creek, in 2021. He has returned for season 3 of The Bear, and will also star in Chris Bauer and Bobby Lee in the upcoming drama movie, Doug Out. Want to read more about the cast of The Bear? Here are 7 things you didn’t know about Jeremy Allen White.
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