By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Edwin Lee Gibson is one of those multi-hyphenate creatives who likes to make art in front of and in back of the camera.
Best known for his breakout role as Ebraheim in Hulu’s comedy-drama series, “The Bear,” which has earned him critical acclaim and recognition within the industry, the talented actor has appeared in numerous other TV shows and films, including “Unprisoned,” “Fargo,” “She Taught Love,” “Shameless” and “Marshall.”
“The Bear” is about a young chef from the fine dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop after a heartbreaking death in his family. A world away from what he’s used to, Carmen (Jeremy Allen White) must balance the soul-crushing realities of small business ownership, his strong-willed and recalcitrant kitchen staff, and his strained familial relationships, all while grappling with the impact of his brother’s suicide.
As Carmen fights to transform the shop and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges kitchen crew that reveals itself as his chosen family.
Gibson plays a member of the crew, a mysterious cook named Ebraheim.
When he’s not acting, Gibson is passionate about teaching and giving back to his community. He’s taught theater and writing workshops to young people in various cities.
A Houston native who married his second wife, Dina, 15 years ago, Gibson moved to Los Angeles three years ago after 15 years in New York, the U.K., Pittsburgh, Tucson, Paris and Washington, D.C. He admits to initially not liking Los Angeles.
“I fancied myself an actor,” said Gibson, a producer, writer and former stand-up comedian. “But I had no ambition to be a movie star. Life is very interesting. L.A. is slow. It’s a great place for me now.”
While he loves acting, Gibson also has a passion for writing. After high school, he studied at Empire State University, earning an arts and social theory degree. He later received a masters in fine arts degree in writing for the screen from Point Park University’s inaugural writing program. He recently presented at the Writers Guild Awards, presenting Kevin Hart with the award for best short form series.
I recently caught up with Gibson to discuss his career.
DD: Why do you think “The Bear” is so popular?
ELG: This cast of actors is wonderful. There are people who you have seen but not seen a lot. Liza [Colon-Zayas, who plays Tina Marrero] and I were friends in New York for 30 years. It’s a great group, from the creators to the cast. We all get along very well. We made it with no expectation. The runners gave us good scripts and good stories. It’s authentic. It’s popular because, at its core, it’s about family. Adept at comedy and drama. We got Chicago right. We also got the food service industry right.
DD: Could you work in an authentic restaurant?
ELG: I was a waiter for a week. A guy asked for six iced teas. He snapped his fingers. All six iced teas fell on him. I don’t play that.
DD: Can you cook? If so, what’s your favorite thing to cook?
ELG: I’m better. I never starve. I used to bake a lot. I love baking peanut butter cookies. I can get by.
DD: Your character is so mysterious. He has a hidden past. In your mind, who is Ebraheim?
ELG: If you notice, the network never says where he’s from. He’s probably a transplant through Somalia. I have my idea of what it is. He’s only described as a mystery man who has lived a thousand lives. He’s from East Africa. I’m interested in his trek. He’s the most calm amongst everyone because he has seen so much. He’s probably seen death.
DD: Talk about what you like and don’t like about your character, Ebraheim, the mysterious cook.
ELG: I love everything about him. I love his silence and manner. He quietly watches over everyone. I don’t judge my characters within the context of the story. I don’t let my personal feelings get in the way.
DD: Why should people watch “The Bear?”
ELG: It’s a show about the family you inherit. We can all relate to that, even if things aren’t great with our families. People are moved by it. It’s a great commentary on family and how you can lean on people.
DD: What goes into your acting choices?
ELG: In the theater, it’s different. I’ve been doing theater for 44 years. I’ve done 104 plays over that time. Now, it has to be something that scares me. I’m not interested in it if it doesn’t strike fear in me. With screenwork, it’s different. I want that challenge, of course. At the same time, you get to spend time with a character. It might be seven or eight weeks spent with a character in theater. On screen, you spend a couple of years with it. I like what I can learn about a character over the years.
DD: What do you like to write?
ELG: I tend to write stories that won’t let me go. For the film, I’m writing something about my brother — a story about being a caretaker. I tend to write stories that are fish out of water. It sounds cliché, but they are set in different parts of the world.
DD: Will we see something you’ve written soon?
ELG: Everything I mentioned, including the original pilots or screenplays, is finished. I have a movie titled, “A Pink and Red Dress Mostly Satin Covered in Flowers Mostly Roses.” Getting these things produced is the next step. I promised myself to shoot something I wrote during the hiatus from “The Bear.” I will use the money from “The Bear” to shoot things.
DD: When you’re writing, what is your style?
ELG: I didn’t go to drama school. I began writing for stage in my late 20s for the screen. I knew I needed some discipline, so I went for my MFA. When I sit down, it starts with the idea and the logline. I don’t write any particular time of the day. I don’t work well in silence. I need stimulus to keep me focused. I’ll have a cigar. Things hit me at different times.
DD: If you weren’t an actor, what would you be?
ELG: A civil engineer. You’re entrusted with understanding how things are laid out and then how you can structure and restructure stuff for the good.
DD: Why did you stop doing stand-up?
ELG: My stand-up was for almost eight years. You have to know when to get out of something. You don’t want to stay at the party too long.
DD: What do you like about your profession?
ELG: It’s fluid. It changes. It constantly challenges me. It’s exciting. I don’t always like my job, but there is never a moment I don’t love it.
DD: Are you happy with your career?
ELG: I’m such a fortunate man. I say that often. The universe and I made a deal for me to work my ass off. I’m keeping my part of the deal.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
