Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Bear Season 2.
One of the best things about The Bear Season 2 is the number of exciting cameos and guest stars that appear. The show picks up right where Season 1 left off, with Carmy, Syd, and the restaurant staff joining forces to turn The Beef into a much more ambitious restaurant, The Bear. The whole main cast is back, and each character gets even more screen time this season. Additionally, a good bunch of movie stars and TV veterans appear occasionally in exciting cameos.
Both old and new faces show up in The Bear Season 2 and offer great narrative impact despite their limited screen time. Episode 6, "Fishes", for example, counts on multiple guest stars for a long flashback that delves deep into Carmy's dysfunctional family, set sometime before Michael's death. Each small guest star serves offers something unique to the story and, hopefully, some of them will return in the future.
10 Joel McHale
The star of the comedy show Community, Joel McHale only appears briefly in a flashback, but his presence can be felt in a pivotal scene of The Bear Season 2's finale. Viewers are left to believe that a man sitting by the window of the restaurant is Carmy's former boss, played by McHale, an oppressive chef who only made Carmy feel small. McHale's Season 1 scenes flash through Carmy's mind in an anxiety-inducing moment, and it's only later that the person sitting there is revealed to be just an ordinary customer.
Aside from Community, McHale is famous for playing Sylvester Pemberton, the Starman, in Stargirl, and Frank Shaw in the comedy show Animal Control. The actor is set to reprise his Jeff Winger role in an upcoming Community movie that will gather other members of the original cast.
9 Molly Gordon
Molly Gordon is one of The Bear Season 2's best surprises. She's introduced in Episode 2, "Pasta", as Claire, Carmy's childhood friend, and love interest. It's uncertain whether Claire will be returning to the show after the unhappy ending of her relationship with Carmy, but the little fans get to see from her is sweet and amusing.
While there's an argument to be made that Claire was only brought into the show to give rise to a dilemma in Carmy's arc, Gordon delivers plenty of amazing moments. The actress is most commonly known for playing Nicky in the show Animal Kingdom, Maya in the comedy film Shiva Baby and Triple A in Booksmart.
8 Will Poulter
Will Poulter appears in Episode 4, "Honeydew", then later on in a picture with Carmy, implying they were both good friends in their early chef careers. He's introduced as Luca, a talented pastry chef that teaches Marcus valuable lessons in Copenhagen. Different from the chaotic chefs and workspaces previously introduced in The Bear, Luca is calm and patient, carefully assisting Marcus in his recipes.
He's the kind of charismatic character that would be welcome to return, although the distance between Denmark and the U.S. doesn't help. Poulter is currently trending after joining the MCU as the powerful Adam Warlock. He appeared in a series of other successful projects such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Midsommar, and the dystopian franchise Maze Runner, in which he plays Gally, a major supporting character.
7 Jon Bernthal
Jon Bernthal's character, Michael Berzatto, is one of The Bear's best characters even though fans only get to see him in flashbacks. His sudden death was the catalyst for the show's biggest events, impacting the lives of each character and causing Carmy to return and attempt to save his brother's restaurant in a way to make up for him. Bernthal perfectly captures all the good and the bad about Michael, from the way he can lighten up a room at ease to his turbulent personality in times of distress.
In "Fishes", the character returns with a heavy emotional charge; viewers get to witness Michael's vulnerability and the pressure put on him. Although his fate is well-known, it's impossible not to cheer for someone to just hug him and promise everything will be fine. Michael, however, would never let any of his loved ones see how truly hurt he was. Fans might be familiar with Bernthal's performances as Shane in The Walking Dead and Frank Castle in both Daredevil and The Punisher TV shows.
6 John Mulaney
The Bear is at its best when it addresses the drama of each character with effective hints of humor, which makes John Mulaney a perfect choice for a cameo. He's one among the multiple guest stars that appear in "Fishes," which recounts a traumatic family dinner in the Berzatto home. Mulaney plays Stevie, Michelle's boyfriend, who tries his best to ease the dinner's boiling tension with witty remarks and sarcastic jokes.
Mulaney proved himself to be an outstanding voice actor in movies such as Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers, but he's predominantly known as a stand-up comedian. His Netflix specials, John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid, and John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City were instant hits and are a must-watch for any comedy fan.
5 Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson is also one of the guest stars that appear in The Bear Season 2, Episode 6, "Fishes". She plays cousin Michelle, a charismatic member of the family and someone Carmy clearly can count on. Paulson is most commonly known as a recurring actress in the cast of American Horror Story, an anthology horror series that explores a different theme in each season, changing the settings and the characters but often keeping key cast members.
The actress also joined the cast of American Crime Story and Ratched, two TV shows that retell shocking real-life crimes. On the big screen, Paulson can be seen in movies such as Ocean's Eight, Carol, and 12 Years A Slave.
4 Gillian Jacobs
Richie's girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, Tiffany, only appeared through phone calls until having her moment to shine in The Bear Season 2. Gillian Jacobs takes over the role of Tiffany in two impactful appearances: the first in "Fishes," detailing what her relationship with Richie was like and hinting at what caused them to break up. The second in Episode 7, "Forks," an episode entirely dedicated to Richie, in which he calls Tiffany to invite her to a concert and learns from her that she's engaged.
Jacobs is the second star from the comedy show Community to join the cast of The Bear. She's also known for playing Ziggy's adult version in the Fear Street trilogy and Mary Jayne Gold in Netflix's Transatlantic.
3 Jamie Lee Curtis
Perhaps the biggest guest star surprise was Jamie Lee Curtis as the matriarch of the Berzatto family. The actress, who just won an Oscar, "just knew" she had to join The Bear after watching the first episode (via PEOPLE). She joined the cast as Carmy's estranged mother in "Fishes," which delves deep into their family dynamics. Curtis also makes a quick appearance in the season finale, reluctantly going to Carmy's new restaurant but leaving without talking to her children.
Although Curtis has a natural talent for comedy, her performance perfectly showcases the tragedy of the Berzatto family. Her unpredictable mood shifts and fragile emotional state add up to the tension of "Fishes," setting the path for a thrilling climax that revolves almost entirely around Curtis' performance. The actress is famous for playing the legendary Laurie Strode in the Halloween franchise and for her role in the Oscar-winning movie Everything Everywhere All at Once.
2 Bob Odenkirk
After the success of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk finds himself at the peak of his career, gaining unanimous praise among both the critics and the public audience as one of the most memorable TV performances in recent memory. In The Bear, he appears as the Berzatto's uncle, Lee, who provokes Michael until a commotion breaks out at the Berzatto's Christmas dinner.
Odenkirk is a TV veteran, but also has an impressive career in the movies, starring in the action-packed thriller Nobody and in the Oscar-nominated film Nebraska.
1 Olivia Colman
When fans thought they couldn't have more surprises after the multiple guest star appearances in "Fishes," "Forks" offers a delightful surprise with Olivia Colman as Chef Terry, Richie's ultimate inspiration after his time training in the world's best restaurant. She takes over the role of a mentor in a heartwarming scene, changing Richie's perspective entirely with just a casual chat.
Colman is one of the most active figures in both TV and film nowadays, appearing in successful shows such as The Crown, Fleabag, and Heartstopper. On the big screen, she's known for The Father, The Lost Daughter, and The Favourite, which earned her an Oscar for her lead performance.