Matty Matheson

Matthew James Matheson is a Canadian chef and actor born on February 7, 1982. He is best known for his presence in television and the culinary industry, including his role as Neil Fak on the FX on Hulu series The Bear from 2022 to 2026. In addition to acting in the series, Matheson served as an executive producer, producer, and culinary consultant. He has also hosted television series such as Viceland's It's Suppertime! and Dead Set on Life.

Matheson was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, to Stephen, an engineer, and Joan, a waitress. His family lived in Nova Scotia before moving to Fort Erie, Ontario, when he was 11 years old. His family traces roots in Prince Edward Island back to the 1700s, where his grandfather, a former RCMP officer and restaurateur, operated The Blue Goose restaurant in DeSable. Matheson spent summers at his grandfather's restaurant as a child. He moved to Toronto in 2000 to attend the culinary program at Humber College, but dropped out to briefly work as a roadie for a metal band. After discovering an aptitude for butchering meat, he pursued culinary positions in Toronto restaurants.

In 2003, Matheson began working under chef Rang Nguyen at Le Sélect Bistro in Toronto, where he learned French culinary techniques. He joined the restaurant La Palette in 2006 and became executive chef at Parts & Labour in 2010, maintaining the position until the restaurant closed permanently on January 1, 2019. During his time at Parts & Labour, Matheson gained public recognition that led to regular appearances on Vice's show Munchies, hosting roles on Viceland, appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the launch of his own YouTube channel.

Matheson has opened and partnered in numerous restaurant concepts, later incorporating them under Our House Hospitality Company. In 2015, he partnered with Shlomo Buchler to launch Maker Pizza, which expanded across the Greater Toronto Area. He later operated pop-ups such as Matty Matheson's Meat + Three and Birria Balam. In December 2020, he opened the permanent takeout restaurant Matty's Patty's Burger Club in Toronto. He subsequently opened Fonda Balam in October 2021, Ca Phe Rang in January 2022, Prime Seafood Palace in April 2022, and Rizzo's House of Parm in Fort Erie in November 2022.

Beyond his restaurants, Matheson has released three cookbooks: Matty Matheson: A Cookbook in October 2018, Matty Matheson: Home Style Cookery in September 2020, and Matty Matheson: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches in October 2024. In 2020, he co-founded Blue Goose Farm in Fort Erie to supply vegetables to his and other Toronto restaurants, and co-created the podcast Powerful Truth Angels. He launched the workwear brand Rosa Rugosa and a kitchen utensil line in 2022, and formed the hardcore punk band Pig Pen in 2025.

Matheson has dealt with substance abuse in his past, experiencing a heart attack at age 29 due to regular drug use. He stopped using drugs and alcohol at the end of 2013, seven months before filming his first episode of Keep It Canada. He is married to his wife Trish, with whom he has a daughter named Rizzo. In his personal time, Matheson enjoys riding motorcycles and custom choppers.