Neil Fak is a main character in the comedy drama series The Bear. He works as a mechanic at The Original Beef of Chicagoland and was friends with Michael Berzatto. He is portrayed by Matty Matheson. He's a certified sweetheart, but serving food is not his sweet spot. He struggles to prove himself as a server after handing off the screwdriver to his brother Ted.
Background[]
Fak grew up in the south side of Chicago and knew Mikey and Carmy Berzatto since childhood. He was close friends with Mikey Berzatto, but never got along with Richie Jerimovich due to the latter's anxiety about belonging to the Berzatto family. As both are "related through friendship", Richie seems to feel in competition with Fak, constantly trying to one up and belittle the man. This family feud seems to be long running, as Fak navigates the conflict by yelling for "mom", who's in on the joke.
He stayed close with Mikey, who often depended on his mechanic skills to help out around The Original Beef of Chicagoland. After Mikey committed suicide Fak was very upset by the news, but happy to continue helping out at The Beef, becoming closer with his old friend Carmy, who inherited the restaurant from his deceased older brother.
Personality[]
Fak is a jolly and overtly friendly guy, always happy to help if anyone needs him. He is a very chatty man, constantly telling stories and giving opinions, even when people would rather he focus on a job. Fak is very sympathetic to anyone who is hurting and usually lets all of Richie's insults roll off his back instead of stooping to his level.
Physical Description[]
Fak is a somewhat squat, distinctly rotund white man with fair skin that's covered almost entirely in tattoos. He has hazel eyes and unkempt, curly brown hair that's usually covered by a backwards trucker cap and facial hair styled into a mustache and stubble. For many of his appearances, he wears a mechanic's jumpsuit because of the odd jobs he performs around the restaurant.
In more formal situations, Fak wears a three-piece suit with a patterned tie and slicks his hair back.
Throughout the Series[]
Season 1[]
Neil Fak, commonly referred to as Fak, is a friend of Richie Jerimovich, the best friend of Michael, the former owner of The Original Beef of Chicagoland.
Fak is called by Carmy to fix a toilet backup at the restaurant. He expresses his desire to become an official employee and interviews with Richie, which escalates into a fight that Carmy has to break up. During this confrontation, Fak reveals that Richie has been selling cocaine in the alley behind the restaurant as a means of sustaining the business during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Richie agrees to stop selling drugs.
Later, Fak informs Carmy that it would cost over $5,000 to replace a damaged condenser in the restaurant.
Season 2[]
Fak is involved in the construction efforts of The Bear restaurant. Alongside Richie, Fak takes on a leadership role in managing the construction process. They encounter hiccups such as the discovery of a mold problem during the renovation phase. Fak, being a part of the construction team, plays a crucial role in addressing these issues and ensuring the progress of the project.
Fak plays a pivotal role in the final stages of preparation for the restaurant's opening. He remembers that Michael once considered committing insurance fraud by destroying the restaurant and realizes that Michael disabled the fire suppression system. Fak takes the initiative to fix the system in time for the fire suppression test, allowing the restaurant to pass and officially open.
Season 3[]
Neil remains a loyal, humorous, and at times absurdly earnest part of The Bear team. While he’s often relegated to odd jobs and comic relief—like the hauntings, the light fixes, and overenthusiastic apologies—he plays a key part in the restaurant’s camaraderie. His strong bond with Ted, his openness with Claire, and his goofy interventions in tense moments add much-needed levity. Neil also displays surprising emotional depth, like when he and Ted plead with Claire to forgive Carmy.
Season 4[]
Relationships[]
Fak has encountered most, if not all, of the staff at the restaurant that forms the focal point of the show (The Bear).
Being both a competent mechanic and a close friend of the family, Fak is often target of Richie's antagonizing behavior, as the man tries to cope with his fractured sense of belonging by disrespecting Fak's decisions and questioning his masculinity and competence. Fak doesn't seem to take their feud too seriously, as he still treats Richie with the warmth and respect he doesn't get, often complimenting Richie's actions and encouraging him.
Appearances[]
| Season 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. System | Appears | ||
| 2. Hands | Appears | ||
| 3. Brigade | Absent | ||
| 4. Dogs | Appears | ||
| 5. Sheridan | Appears | ||
| 6. Ceres | Absent | ||
| 7. Review | Appears | ||
| 8. Braciole | Appears | ||
| Season 2 | |||
| 1. Beef | Appears | ||
| 2. Pasta | Appears | ||
| 3. Sundae | Appears | ||
| 4. Honeydew | Appears | ||
| 5. Pop | Appears | ||
| 6. Fishes | Appears | ||
| 7. Forks | Appears | ||
| 8. Bolognese | Appears | ||
| 9. Omelette | Appears | ||
| 10. The Bear | Appears | ||
| Season 3 | |||
| 1. Tomorrow | Appears | ||
| 2. Next | Appears | ||
| 3. Doors | Appears | ||
| 4. Violet | Appears | ||
| 5. Children | Appears | ||
| 6. Napkins | Appears | ||
| 7. Legacy | Appears | ||
| 8. Ice Chips | Appears | ||
| 9. Apologies | Appears | ||
| 10. Forever | Appears | ||
| Season 4 | |||
| 1. Groundhogs | Appears | ||
| 2. Soubise | Appears | ||
| 3. Scallop | Appears | ||
| 4. Worms | Credit Only | ||
| 5. Replicants | Appears | ||
| 6. Sophie | Appears | ||
| 7. Bears | Appears | ||
| 8. Green | Appears | ||
| 9. Tonnato | Appears | ||
| 10. Goodbye | Credit Only | ||
Quotes[]
- "Fak always fixes the balls!" - Fak in "Hands"
- "Here comes the Fak Attack!" - Fak in "Sheridan"
- "He is mean! He is not nice! He is a fucking asshole!" - Fak about Richie in "Sheridan"
Trivia[]
- Neil appears in 34 episodes of the series in total.
- He does not appear in the episodes Brigade, Ceres, Worms and Goodbye. However, Matty Matheson was credited in the latter two..
- He has two cats, both named Ralph.
- Fak plays the keyboard and joined a jazz fusion class.
- He is allergic to grapes.
- Fak's actor, Matty Matheson, is a well-known celebrity chef. This is ironic, considering Fak is one of the only characters who isn't a chef.
Gallery[]
