WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for The Bear season 3.

There are several new and returning cameos in The Bear season 3. After winning 10 Emmy Awards in January 2024, The Bear returned for an impressive season 3 that expanded on several characters’ backstories while also introducing some fresh new faces. While some of the season 3 guest appearances were expected, such as Will Poulter’s return as Chef Luca and Jamie Lee Curtis in her unforgettable portrayal of Donna Berzatto, there were a few cameos that came as a complete surprise. Many of the cameos occur in The Bear season 3 episode 1 titled “Tomorrow.”

A slate of The Bear season 2 guest stars also returned in The Bear season 3, including fan-favorite characters Chef Terry (Olivia Colman), Stevie (John Mulaney), and Mikey Berzatto (Jon Bernthal). Sarah Paulson and Bob Odenkirk appear in flashbacks from season 2 but were not cast to return in season 3. In addition, several famous and world-renowned chefs are also featured in The Bear season 3, including Thomas Keller, who is shown teaching Carmy how to prepare a roasted chicken dish in The Bear season 3’s finale titled “Forever.” The Bear season 3 has received positive reviews but has already drawn critical comparisons to the exceptional second season.

10

Will Poulter

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow” & Episode 10 “Forever”

Will Poulter returned as Chef Luca in The Bear season 3 after first appearing in one of the best episodes of season 2 titled “Honeydew”. Carmy had arranged to send Marcus to Copenhagen to study under Chef Luca and bring his knowledge back to Chiacgo to help elevate The Bear’s desert menu in season 2. Luca is originally from London and met Carmy while working at Ever under Oliva Colman’s character, Chef Andrea Terry, which is expanded on in flashback scenes of The Bear season 3. Carmy and Luca studying together shows how far they have individually come in their careers while essentially receiving identical training. Luca also attends the Ever “funeral service” that takes place in The Bear’s season 3 finale where he gets to know Sydney on a more personal level.

9

Olivia Colman

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow” & Episode 10 “Forever”

Olivia Colman reprises her role as Chef Andrea Terry after first appearing in The Bear season 2, episode 7 titled “Forks.” Chef Terry is first revealed during a scene with Richie during his week staging at Ever, which is her renowned restaurant. Due to several factors including the impact of the pandemic, Chef Terry was forced to close Ever’s doors even though it was still considered one of the greatest restaurants in the world. While the audience meets Chef Terry through her brief interaction with Richie, it’s revealed in The Bear season 3 that Chef Terry was one of the first esteemed chefs to see the potential, drive, and creativity in Carmy, which inspired her to take a special interest in his progression. Chef Terry is in attendance at the Ever funeral service in The Bear’s season 3 finale and shares one of the last scenes of the season reflecting with Carmy.

8

Jamie Lee Curtis

Appears in Episode 8 “Ice Chips”

Jamie Lee Curtis made an unforgettable impression in The Bear season 2, episode 6 “Fishes” as the mother of Carmy, Sugar, and Mikey, Donna Berzatto. She was introduced with a frantic energy in the Berzatto family kitchen as she prepared a fish dinner for Christmas, which revealed much of the backstory and dynamics about Carmy’s upbringing in the extended flashback. Donna last appeared in The Bear’s season 2 finale getting caught by Pete outside of The Bear restaurant on its opening night, saying she caouldn’t handle going inside. She only appears in one episode of The Bear season 3 “Ice Chips” which focuses entirely on Sugar giving birth to her first child and Donna being by her side helping in her own way.

7

Jon Bernthal

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow” & Episode 6 “Napkins”

Jon Bernthal is one of the most crucial and central characters in The Bear even though he is only portrayed in flashback scenes due to his tragic death. He was first introduced in a flashback scene in season 1, episode 6 “Ceres” as the charismatic and passionate older brother of Carmy and Sugar, telling a funny story alongside Richie while preparing a meal in the kitchen. Mikey also was featured in the classic episode “Fishes” in season 2 highlighted by the intense showdown between him and his Uncle Lee, played by Bob Odenkirk. In The Bear season 3, Mikey appears in the first episode “Tomorrow” as well as in what is arguably the best episode of the new season “Napkins” that chronicles Tina’s backstory and hoe she started working for The Beef restaurant after Mikey gave her an opportunity.

6

Gillian Jacobs

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow” & Episode 9 “Apologies”

Gillian Jacobs plays Tiffany in The Bear, who was first introduced in season 2 and was featured in two of the greatest episodes of the series, “Fishes” and “Forks”. She plays Richie’s wife, who eventually becomes his ex-wife, who becomes engaged to a new partner named Frank, who is portrayed for the first time in season 3, episode 4 “Violet.” Although their marriage did not work out as well as they had anticipated, Tiff and Richie still have a solid relationship as they are parents of a young daughter named Eva. It’s clear that Richie still loves Tiff in The Bear season 3 and is full of remorse and pain for no longer being able to call Tiff his wife. Tiff is featured in both “Tomorrow” at Mikey’s funeral and in episode 9 “Apologies” telling Richie to show up at her and Frank’s wedding.

5

John Mulaney

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow”

John Mulaney very briefly reprises his role as Stevie in The Bear season 3, episode 1. Stevie’s first and only other appearance in the series was in none other than “Fishes” in season 2. Stevie is the partner of Michelle Berzatto, played by Sarah Paulson, who is one of Carmy, Sugar, and Mikey’s cousins. In “Fishes”, Michelle told Carmy that he was more than welcome to stay with them in New York to pursue his dream and work at The French Laundry. The Bear’s season 3 premiere episode shows that this is exactly what Carmy ended up doing, with Stevie often placing a blanket over him on the couch that Carmy would crash on after a long day. However, Michelle does not appear in season 3.

4

Joel McHale

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow” & Episode 10 “Forever”

Joel McHale portrays David Fields, who is one of the few true antagonists in the entire series. Fields was an abusive chef that Carmy used to work for while he was in New York working at The French Laundry. He appeared in several flashback scenes in season 1, episode 2 “Hands”, epsiode 3 “Brigade”, and episode 8 “Braciole”, as well as season 2, episode 10 “The Bear”, but is featured for the first time in the present tense in The Bear’s season 3 finale. Carmy finally gets the opportunity to confront the abusive chef at the Ever funeral service. When he does, Fields shows zero remorse and tells Carmy he should be thanking him for making him an excellent chef, even though he was brutal on him.

3

David Zayas

Appears in Episode 1 “Tomorrow” & Episode 6 “Napkins”

David Zayas is arguably best known for portraying Angel Batista in Dexter and Dexter: New Blood. He is also the real-life husband of Liza Colón-Zayas, who has played Tina in The Bear for three seasons. It was only a matter of time before her husband David found his way onscreen in The Bear and fittingly, he portrays Tina’s loving and supportive husband who has been there through thick and thin. David does not have much of a role outside of being there for Tina as she looks for a new job in “Napkins”. He is also shown being in attendance at Mikey’s funeral service, which obviously happened after the events of “Napkins” take place. There’s a good shot that Zayas will return in future seasons of The Bear.

2

Josh Hartnett

Appears in Episode 4 “Violet”

One of the biggest surprise cameos in The Bear season 3 was the new addition of Josh Hartnett’s character Frank, who is Tiff’s new fiancé. In a brief scene in episode 4 “Violet”, Richie drops off his daughter Eva at Frank’s very nice house after having a conversation with her about what to call him as her imminent step-father. Frank and Richie have a brief exchange about their potential awkwardness. Hartnett delivers his natural charm as Frank, who despite being somewhat of a situational antagonist to Richie, seems like an all-around good guy. Harnett was perfectly cast as the guy that Richie certainly wants to hate but can’t. Frank tells Richie he should have given him a heads up before proposing to Tiff, and Richie handles the matter with grace.

1

John Cena

Appears in Episode 5 “Children”

The biggest surprise cameo in The Bear season 3 was by far John Cena, who is introduced as one of the many siblings of Neil and Ted Fak (Matty Matheson, Ricky Staffieri). Cena shows up to The Bear restaurant about halfway through the season and immediately joins the antics of Neil and Ted. He doesn’t stay for long, but Cena certainly adds the most shock value out of all the celebrity cameos in the new season of The Bear as Sammy Fak. Sammy helps Neil and Ted prepare the restaurant for a photoshoot that will go along with a critic’s review of the restaurant for the local newspaper. It’s uncertain whether Cena will appear in future seasons of The Bear, but his familial relation to the Faks makes it very possible.