A crowd gathered at a Chicago park last weekend for an epic showdown – who could best channel the vibes of TV heartthrob Jeremy Allen White? From tiny tots to grown-ups, contestants rocked the signature looks of White’s characters, sporting pristine chef whites like his role as Carmy in The Bear or channeling his Shameless persona as Phillip. The atmosphere was electric as fans cheered for each hopeful who stepped up to show their resemblance.
When the cheers settled, 37-year-old mental health therapist Ben Shabad emerged victorious. “I didn’t really plan on winning – especially when I saw all these guys that looked like Jeremy Allen White – but the energy here is so exciting,” Mr. Shabad told the Chicago Tribune. Staying true to the show’s gritty spirit, the winner walked away with $50 and a pack of smokes – a perfect nod to Carmy’s chain-smoking habits.
The Bear, currently crushing it in its third season, tells the story of Carmy, a fine-dining chef who returns to run his family’s Chicago sandwich joint after losing his brother to suicide. The show’s been killing it awards-wise too, snagging six Emmy Awards in 2024, matching Succession for the most wins.
The brains behind this fan fest were Chicago roomies Kelsey Cassaro and Taylor Vaske, who jumped on the celebrity lookalike contest bandwagon following similar events for stars like Dev Patel and Paul Mescal. The trend’s been hot lately – remember when Timothée Chalamet shocked everyone by showing up at his own lookalike contest in New York last October? These doppelganger showdowns just keep popping up nationwide.
“People were online saying, ‘Why doesn’t Chicago have one?'” Ms. Cassaro shared with the Chicago Sun-Times. “I was like, ‘I think it should be Jeremy Allen White if we do it.’ And I also think a lot of Chicago dudes look like him,” she added. What started as a social media joke turned real when the duo saw how much buzz their flyers generated around Chicago.
While White himself didn’t make a surprise appearance, his doubles kept the party going strong. “I’m just impressed by [White’s] acting ability, and the shows that he’s been in have been really good, so I take it as a compliment that people think I look like him,” said Mr. Shabad.
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