'The Bear's Berzatto Family Tree Explained: How Is Everyone Related? (2024)

With love comes strange currencies, and with a new season of The Bear comes new additions to the Berzatto clan. Season 3 of the acclaimed series is already among us, and, by now, it feels like we are all part of Chicago's most chaotic family. In the excellent Season 2 episode "Fishes," we learn more about it, getting a full picture for the first time of why the Berzattos are the way they are. But life always goes on, and there are always new developments and even new members of the family showing up in Season 3. This includes blood relatives, extended family, and aggregates in general. There are many people, and it's very easy to get lost between all the screaming. Some of them we know, while others are introduced to us as part of the series' ever-expanding star-studded cast. So, who's who in The Bear's Berzatto family tree?

The Core Berzatto Family Consists of Carmy, Sugar, Mikey, and Donna

These are perhaps the most obvious people to identify. When we talk about "the Berzattos," there are four people who come to mind. First, there's The Bear's main character, Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), who's a workaholic, a depressed and anxious chef, and also the youngest of three siblings. Then comes middle sister Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto (Abby Elliott), a sensitive, but sometimes clueless woman who takes on an overly careful approach towards everyone, even her mother. Finally, Michael "Mikey" Berzatto (Jon Bernthal) is the oldest of the siblings, who, despite his charming and confident attitude, has a complicated personality, which leads him into a drug problem and many failed business attempts. He is incredibly proud of his family, even if he doesn't openly show it.

The three Berzatto siblings all have complications, mostly because of their upbringing. They were raised by their mother, Donna Berzatto (Jamie Lee Curtis), who had to do it mostly by herself because the kids' father (who we know nothing about) had no interest in them. She has a lot of self-esteem issues and, just like her youngest son, feels undeserving of the love and affection her children try to display towards her. This manifests in her unwillingness to allow people to get close to her even though they are constantly trying to help her. She also has a hard time forgiving people for their mistakes, and that's probably where Carmy gets the same behavior from. Donna and Sugar have an especially complicated relationship, although some of it is tenderly amended in Season 3. We also learn that Donna is known as "Aunt DD" among the kids' friends, making for a fun and sweet touch.

Due to Donna's mental health issues, the Berzatto siblings grew up relying mostly on each other and their friends, which is why the three of them are so close and the Berzatto house is so full around the holidays. Eventually, Carmy has enough of his family problems and decides to move to New York to become a proper chef, also traveling to Copenhagen for his apprenticeship with Luca (Will Poulter) and returning to Chicago only for Christmas, later returning for good when Mikey dies and leaves him The Beef.

It may come as a surprise to those unaware, but no, Richie Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) isn't a blood relative of the Berzattos. Instead, he was Mikey's best friend growing up, which led him to be admitted as part of the family, even confessing that Donna is like a mother to him. He always tagged along with Mikey for everything, but while Mikey had a talent for cooking, Richie had none whatsoever, and his temper often prevented him from learning anything. He starts coming into his own, however, when Carmy sends him to stage at Ever with chef Terry (Olivia Colman), where he finally learns about his strengths working in service — and some discipline, too.

This drifter behavior eventually led him to lose his wife, Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs), who we meet in "Fishes" while she was pregnant with their daughter, Eva (Annabelle Toomey). They get divorced, and as of Season 3, Tiffany is engaged to Frank (Josh Hartnett). Frank is a well-meaning guy who is aware that Tiffany and Richie still care deeply for each other, and tries his best to make people feel comfortable despite the weirdness of the new family dynamics. This is also the Taylor Swift-loving corner of the Berzatto clan — Tiffany is wearing a 1989 T-shirt when we meet her, Richie takes Eva to see The Eras Tour concert in Chicago, and, in the excellent episode "Forks," he blasts "Love Story" in his car after his apprenticeship ends.

A touching moment that consolidates Richie's maturing is the chocolate-covered banana he sends to "Uncle" Jimmy (Oliver Platt) in the Season 2 finale. This is a callback to when Jimmy tells Tiffany back in "Fishes" his story about the banana stand close to the Berzatto home, and how the only thing she could handle eating that day due to her constant throwing up because of her pregnancy is a banana. It's a thoughtful way of showing appreciation for all Jimmy has done for Richie and his family.

Jimmy "Cicero" Kalinowski Is an Uncle to the Berzattos

Another Berzatto blood relative is Jimmy "Cicero" Kalinowski. He's an uncle to the Berzatto trio (Richie also considers him an uncle in spite of not being a blood relative), and he does have a particularly close relationship with Donna. He used to help Mikey financially, loaning him money to keep The Beef afloat. Jimmy is level-headed and is usually who the kids turn to for advice, both financial and personal (but mostly financial). He loves the Berzatto kids and takes a fatherly role in their lives, although he thinks he should have helped them more during their upbringing. He helps Carmy and Sugar by investing in The Bear, and this poses a problem in Season 3, since his accountant, Computer (Brian Koppelman), is always advising him to cut costs and employees to make up for Carmy's rampant expenses as head chef.

"Uncle" Lee Lane Is an Unofficial Part of the Berzatto Family

Lee Lane (Bob Odenkirk) is also not a blood relative of the Berzattos, but he is seen as part of the family, as an on-again, off-again boyfriend of Donna's. He's the kind of person who likes to feel superior by talking down to people and stealing their thunder when they're having fun. This is what leads to his big fight with Mikey at the Christmas table, repeatedly saying he's "nothing" and talking about his substance abuse. What's worse, he kept Mikey close after five years, because he's identified as one of the people who loaned Mikey part of the money Carmy finds in the tomato cans at the end of Season 1 with the inscription "KBL". As Cicero explains in the Season 2 premiere: "Kalinowski, me. Berzatto, you. Lane, Lee." Thank God Lee doesn't show up in Season 3 of The Bear.

The Berzattos' Extended Family Includes Sarah Paulson's Michelle and John Mulaney's Steve

An actual cousin to the Berzattos, Michelle (Sarah Paulson) is a restaurant owner who moved to New York. She's in a relationship with Stevie (John Mulaney), who the family thinks is gay because of his appeasing personality. He often also acts as the voice of reason in the family, despite the fact that no one takes him seriously (which also amuses him). Michelle, on the other hand, is sharp-tongued and quick-witted — a typical Berzatto.

At a crucial moment at the Christmas party, Michelle approaches Carmy to offer him a move to New York in order to work as a chef and to "get away from these people." Her intentions are certainly good, and she does hold a special place for Carmy in her heart, but their conversation serves to further sink Carmy into his workaholic mindset, telling him to "keep his eyes on the motherf***ing prize."

The Faks, Including John Cena's Sammy, Are Incredibly Close to the Berzattos

Another clan of non-blood relatives, the Faks are usually the comic relief amid all the chaos of the Berzatto clan. Recurring Faks include Neil (Matty Matheson) and Ted (Ricky Staffieri), both of them childish and downright silly, but jolly and helpful. Neil loves the Berzattos as his actual family and considers himself Carmy's best friend. He started out as the handyman at The Beef and is now a host at The Bear, with Ted taking up the role of handyman.

The Faks are a clan of their own, but blend seamlessly with the Berzattos, even though the latter clan is never sure of how many Faks there really are. There are nine Fak siblings (although Neil always forgets about Avery), and, apparently, all the boys have Geoffrey as their middle name. In Season 3, we meet another one, Sammy Fak (John Cena), who shows up to help Neil and Ted polish the floor at The Bear, and leads the family-owned facilities company, Matter of Fak. We also hear more about the cryptic character of Francie Fak, whom Sugar talks about with some contempt in "Fishes," but Neil and Ted claim "is always there" for them.

Sugar's Husband Pete Is Trying to Find His Place in the Berzatto Family

Oh, Pete (Chris Witaske)... he's Sugar's husband, and a beacon of positivity and politeness among the Berzatto chaos. He may be a bit overwhelming and wants to be a little too nice, but he just wants to be liked by the family, and that's exactly why they don't take him seriously. He is an important part of it, though, and his scenes with Donna in the Season 2 finale and in Season 3's "Ice Chips" are among the most touching parts of the whole series. He knows the Berzattos are good people and understands their tragedy, and those moments definitely earn him our respect.

Sugar's Baby Is the Newest Addition to the Berzatto Family in Season 3 of 'The Bear'

At the end of Season 2, Sugar learns she is pregnant, and in Season 3, the time to have her baby comes. We don't know much about the new little baby Berzatto, only that it's a girl, but she comes at a very auspicious moment in the series, symbolizing renewal and healing for the Berzattos. Sugar's water breaks as she is running an errand for the restaurant, and she's forced to call Donna to meet her at the hospital since no one else would pick up the phone. It's thanks to this that Sugar and Donna get a chance to amend some of their relationship. Carmy still hasn't met his niece, by the way, and only sees her through a picture sent by Sugar with the text "Wild." Indeed.

Claire "Bear" Is a Longtime Berzatto Family Friend

She may be even more unofficial than Richie and the Faks, but Claire is also part of the extended family on The Bear. She's a childhood friend of Carmy's who became his girlfriend after decades of estrangement. In "Fishes," Mikey and Richie mention to Carmy that they met her and try to set the two of them up, but Carmy refuses because he thinks it's a prank. Claire and Carmy finally date in Season 2, but Carmy's meltdown in the season finale drives Claire away. Still, Carmy says that "Claire is peace" in Season 3, prompting Neil to try and talk Claire into taking Carmy back, but she warmly and politely declines. The extended Berzatto family loves her and is rooting for them to end up together. As Neil puts it in Season 2, she's the best and Carmy's the best. Hopefully, the two can work it out.

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Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a young chef from the fine dining world, returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop after a tragedy. As he navigates the chaotic environment of the small kitchen, Carmy must manage the struggles of turning around the failing business while dealing with his own grief and personal demons. The series dives deep into the intense world of culinary arts, highlighting the challenges of running a restaurant, the bonds formed among staff, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Release Date

June 23, 2022

Creator

Cast

Jeremy Allen White , Ebon Moss-Bachrach , Ayo Edebiri , Lionel Boyce , Liza Colón-Zayas , Abby Elliott , Oliver Platt

Main Genre

Drama

Rating

Seasons

3

All episodes of The Bear are available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.

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