Justsmile Magazine - Loitering With Lionel Boyce

“Well, I don’t know why they chose me to speak,” says Lionel Boyce, onstage with the cast of The Bear at the 2025 Golden Globes, accepting the award for Best Television Series. “I don’t know if they believed that we would win.”

That underdog spirit courses through The Bear. Set in the high-pressure world of a struggling Chicago sandwich shop turned fine-dining restaurant, the show thrives on chaos, doubt, and the constant threat of failure. Boyce, in his first major television role, plays Marcus, a quiet, deeply focused pastry chef whose curiosity and care shine through. While the rest of the kitchen staff spirals, Marcus stays late, perfecting his desserts, more invested in getting them right than in earning praise. It’s a breakout performance in a show that has become a cultural phenomenon, dominating awards seasons with over 10 Emmys and a handful of Golden Globes.

Polo shirt and overalls STONE ISLAND. Shoes CLARK’S. Hat WORLD VINTAGE.

‘Odd Future flipped my world on its head.’ – Lionel Boyce

Boyce has the same easy disposition as his character. Even over Zoom, there’s a looseness to his affect, as he speaks in poetic, meandering sentences. He first appeared to us some 15 years ago as L-Boy in the raucous, punk, LA-based collective Odd Future, where he built a career on the fringes by performing and experimenting with his friends. Now, with The Bear, he finds himself at the center of one of the most celebrated shows on television. Who believed he would win this big?