Matty Matheson Is Way More Than a Star of ‘The Bear’

Matty Matheson might be best known these days as Neil Fak, the lovable and slightly chaotic handyman on “The Bear,” but if you think that’s all there is to him, think again. The Canadian chef, YouTube star, cookbook author, and restaurant owner is juggling way more than just TV scripts. With a booming restaurant portfolio, a new cookbook, and a seriously personal backstory, Matheson has become one of the most relatable—and respected—figures in food today.

Matty Matheson Was Originally Hired as a Consultant on ‘The Bear’

When “The Bear” creator Chris Storer asked Matheson to consult on the show’s pilot, the goal was simple: make the restaurant scenes feel real. And Matheson knew his stuff. He pointed out that the kitchen was way too polished for a struggling sandwich shop and helped Jeremy Allen White learn how to hold a tasting spoon. But then Storer had a bigger idea.

“Chris was like, ‘Would you act? Can you act?’” Matheson recalled in a profile in Grub Street. “I was like, ‘I don’t know… can I act?’”

Turns out, he could. Sort of. Acting was completely new territory for him, and he admits it’s still one of the hardest things he’s ever done. “My brain is beyond ADHD, so memorizing lines on top of everything else in my life is very stressful,” he said. “It’s similar to restaurants—you need to be prepared. When they say ‘Action!’ that’s service.”

Even though Matheson had already built a name for himself on YouTube and in food media, “The Bear” introduced him to an even bigger audience. These days, he gets recognized on the street—not as Matty, but as “Fak.” And while he finds it funny, it hasn’t changed who he is.

Food, Family, and Finding His Way

Before the fame, Matheson was a kid from small-town Canada who didn’t quite fit in. He dyed his hair green, went to punk shows, and admits he was more interested in partying than planning a future. Cooking changed all of that. Enrolling in culinary school gave him purpose, even if he never actually finished the program.

By 24, he was running a top Toronto kitchen. But behind the success, he was struggling with addiction. After a heart attack at age 29, he knew something had to change. “By the end, I’d make six vodka drinks just to get going,” he shared. “It became unmanageable.”

Now in his 40s and sober, Matheson lives on a farm near Niagara Falls with his wife, Trish, and their three kids. The names of his children are tattooed on his body—over his heart, behind his neck, and on his shoulder. He’s still working nonstop, running 13 restaurants that range from pizza joints to a spot named after his daughter: Rizzo’s House of Parm.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an empire,” he said. “It’s a dozen small businesses. You’ve got to serve a lot of cups of coffee to make something work.”

Matheson’s love of food started early. His mom used to mill her own grain for bread, and he spent family vacations at the Blue Goose diner, which his grandfather owned. That diner, he says, planted the seed. “I think my love of restaurants comes from the love of my grandfather.”

Despite the social media success (and his massive online following), Matheson says he doesn’t chase algorithms or trends. He doesn’t even have TikTok. “Everything looks the same now,” he said. “Every restaurant has anchovies.”

Fans can catch Matheson in season 4 of “The Bear” out now on Hulu.

Tell us! Is Matty Matheson’s Neil Fak one of your favorite characters on “The Bear”? Let us know in the comments below.

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