Fans were shocked after Josh Hartnett cameod in 'The Bear' season 3 as Frank, the fiancé of Richie's ex-wife.
After Josh Hartnett made a surprise cameo in The Bear season 3 when the episodes dropped in late June, the actor is finally serving up an explanation on how the guest appearance came together.
Sitting down with The Hollywood Reporter, the 45-year-old actor detailed how he was approached to join the show in the role of Frank -- the fiancé of Richie's ex-wife, Tiffany. Cousin Richie is of course played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, while Community alum Gillian Jacobs portrays Tiffany.
According to Hartnett -- who most recently starred alongside Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan's Best Picture-winning film Oppenheimer -- the cameo came about through a friendship with The Bear creator Christopher Storer who graciously offered him a job that he jumped at.
"It was organic, but not that organic. He was like, 'Thanks, man. We have to work together at some point. Let's make this happen.' And then maybe a year goes by and he called my agent and said we've got a role for Josh," Hartnett explained, adding that he accepted immediately.
He continued, "I said yes right away, before I even read the script, because I wanted to work with him. Our business can be cruel at times, and sometimes you get really lucky and meet people you really admire. Chris and I always got along, so I was just delighted that he asked."
In the Emmy-winning series, Hartnett plays the well-meaning but unusually open soon-to-be father-in-law of Richie and Tiffany's daughter, Eva. The actor only appears in one episode -- season 3, episode 4 -- but his cameo quickly caught the attention of social media.
During his single scene, Hartnett's Frank (or "Waldo" if you ask Tiffany and Richie's daughter, Eva), opens up the door to Richie dropping off his child, only to end up having a sweet -- if not slightly uncomfortable -- heart-to-heart with his fiancee's ex.
"I'm feeling really sh**ty about something," Frank says. "I should have given you a heads up before I asked Tiff to marry me... I should've talked to you." Richie, of course, brushes it off but keeps eyeing an exit as he's placed in the scene with his back against the wall (literally and figuratively).
After several bouts of uncomfortable silence -- and Hartnett's character getting oddly close to Richie, which he told THR was not in the script -- the scene ultimately resolves as Richie makes a break for it. Richie also manages to sidestep Frank's questions about his RSVP to their wedding and when he and Tiffany can come to The Bear for dinner.
The actor was hardly the only big-name star to appear in season 3, however. Throughout the 10-episode season, actors and actresses like Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cena, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney and Will Poulter all appear. Hartnett says he credits Chicago with keeping his cameo a surprise.
"I felt like the city of Chicago was really protective of The Bear. People there love that show, and it feels like it's an unwritten rule that you don't spoil it," Hartnett shared. "And certainly nobody who is on the show wants to spoil it. It's so much more fun to have that last-minute reveal."
As far as his experience on set, the actor -- who is set to star next in M. Night Shyamalan's horror-thriller, Trap -- says that even though the cast and crew (much like their characters on the show) demand excellence, they still have so much fun together.
"And I have to say that they have so much fun making that show. It shouldn't be called work. Actors just come to set and hang out even on their days off. It feels like a group of friends making a show at University or something. Yet it's this phenomenal success," he shared.
The show follows the lives of the restaurant staff at The Bear, a Chicago-based restaurant led by Camen "Carmy" Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White). While the first two seasons saw the chefs working to get the high-end eatery off the ground, season 3 focused on the crew working towards perfection in order to beat the odds of becoming another great restaurant that closes too soon.
The show also stars Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Matty Matheson, Abby Elliott, L-Boy and Liza Colón-Zayas.
For a breakdown of all the season 3 guest stars and more coverage of The Bear, check out the links below.
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