The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach opens up about fans calling him ‘Cousin’: “I get a lot of comments”

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, known for his role as Richard "Richie" Jerimovich on the popular FX on Hulu drama The Bear, shared his experiences with fan attention and his thoughts on the show's success.

In a June 19 interview with The Guardian, Moss-Bachrach, 47, reflected on the impact of the show. While he has enjoyed a successful career with roles in Girls, Andor, and The Punisher, he noted, "I’ve never had anything connect like The Bear."

The actor recounted a memorable fan interaction, saying, "I was on top of a little mountain outside Kyoto and a Korean couple came up to me and were saying how much they love the show." 

He admitted that constant fan recognition can be overwhelming, sharing, "I get a lot of comments. People yell 'Cousin!' at me all day. Sometimes, you know, you’re just not having a great day. And it’s just like, 'I’m sorry, man, I don’t have much for you.'"

Moss-Bachrach also spoke about his co-star Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmy on the show. 

He expressed his support for White amidst his growing fame, stating, "I mean, I’m not even sure I can say I’m happy for him. Because he thinks it’s all quite ridiculous. So, no, I try to support him. And I basically try to protect him when the fans get really excited."

Winning his first Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series this year, Moss-Bachrach described the experience as "one of the most joyful nights of my life," but also admitted it brought stress. 

He said, "…because then we go back to make season three and we’ve won a bunch of awards, you start to feel like: 'Oh, f---.' I mean, then you really don’t want to be discovered to be a fraud. And then there’s pressure."

Despite these pressures, Moss-Bachrach expressed gratitude for the success of The Bear. "I feel very fortunate in a time where work is really tight in my business. I just feel very privileged."

The upcoming third season of The Bear will follow Carmy (White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and Richie as they strive to elevate their establishment from a beef stand to a fine-dining restaurant while maintaining their business. 

"It’s a losing battle every single day in the restaurant business," the official synopsis states. "Carmy pushes himself harder than ever, and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his intensity."

The Bear season 3 premieres Thursday, June 27 on Hulu.