Who is Mr. Clark? Who Plays Him in The Bear?

The fourth season of FX’s ‘The Bear’ brings back Carmy and his crew and their endless quest to keep the eponymous restaurant up and running. This time, the stakes are even higher because the team has only two months to break even, or they will have to close shop for good when the clock runs out. While Carmy expresses his conviction to get a star, which would do wonders for the restaurant, he and the team also know that they must treat every customer like they are the most important thing in the world, and this turns out to be a great work philosophy, considering an incredibly important guest they have in the third season. SPOILERS AHEAD.

The Mysterious Mr. Clark is the Guest the Bear Had Been Waiting For

In the third episode of the season, Richie discovers that one of their guests for the evening is a family who is flying from Chicago to celebrate the daughter becoming cancer-free. Despite the budget constraints and the set menu, Richie decides to make the evening memorable for the family. However, when the family does arrive, we don’t see the evening unfold from their point of view, but from the perspective of a guest at the table next to them. Richie surprises the family with the Chicago Beef sandwich, even though it wasn’t on the menu, and later, turns the restaurant’s rear into a wintry night so that the daughter can experience snow in Chicago. While the family deeply appreciates all this, the other lone guest also looks at the whole thing keenly.

This is interesting, especially when his cab arrives and his name is revealed to be Mr. Clark. Now, going back to an earlier scene in the season, when the crew discusses reviews, especially for a star, it is revealed that the Michelin guys usually try to hide their identities with different means. For example, they could fiddle with their reservation, bring a celeb along to distract the restaurant’s crew, or use weird last names, like a street’s name from the city. Curiously, Clark Street is a significant one in Chicago, and considering that our mystery guest calls himself Mr. Clark, there is a very good chance that he was the Michelin man that the crew was supposed to be on a lookout for.

Mr. Clark’s Reaction Means Great Things for the Bear

Mr. Clark in ‘The Bear’ is played by Gary Janetti, the writer-actor best known for his satirical version of Prince George on ‘The Prince,’ while also enjoying a massive social media following. Additionally, he is also known for his work on ‘Family Guy,’ ‘Will and Grace,’ and ‘Vicious.’ In ‘The Bear,’ he takes a different turn by appearing in the unexpected role of Mr. Clark. He doesn’t appear for the rest of the season, but his presence means a lot for the Bear, especially Carmy, who has been vying for a star since the beginning of the show. After the lukewarm review from the Tribune, Mr. Clark’s presence could do wonders for the Bear, especially considering how happy he seemed with the way the evening went.

He was happy seeing how the family at the table next to him was treated with love and care, and how the restaurant staff went above and beyond to give them a great experience. When Richie checks up with him, he also mentions loving Sidney’s scallop dish, while being impressed by how the staff seems to be able to read the guests’ minds. He also mentions the “excellent vibe” of the place, and the fact that he has a smile on his face even as he boards his cab means he has had a thoroughly great time, and the Bear has made its mark on him. The Bear’s staff seems to catch up with him in a later episode when Neil tells Richie about a repeat customer who seems to fit the bill of being a Michelin inspector.

While Richie is happy, especially since the restaurant has been doing exceptionally well, there is no more news about what the inspector actually thought of the place. Because getting a Michelin is such a huge deal for Carmy, it makes sense that the show is going to save it for the next season, especially considering that he is going to retire now. Perhaps, Mr. Clark will return for another visit before giving his final verdict about the place. Getting a star before he retires would certainly validate all of Carmy’s struggles to put the Bear on the map, and it would also allow for him to leave on a high note, much like his mentor, Andrea Terry. For now, however, he and the staff can congratulate themselves on the simple fact that they are being considered by Michelin people, especially in the aftermath of the Tribune review.