The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach Recalls Modeling in a Skimpy Swimsuit for Alison Roman’s Cookbook

Mar. 15, 2025

Ebon Moss-Bachrach on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’.Photo:Disney/Randy Holmes

EBON MOSS-BACHRACH JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs every weeknight at 11:35 p.m. ET and features a diverse lineup of guests that include celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians and human interest subjects, along with comedy bits and a house band. The guests for Tuesday, January 7 included Cher (“Cher: The Memoir, Part One”), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”), and musical guest Guest Sheila E. feat. Gloria Estefan.

Disney/Randy Holmes

Ebon Moss-Bachrachjust opened up about the time he posed for a photo in a skimpy swimsuit, but it wasn’t for the type of publication you might think.

During a Tuesday, Jan. 7, appearance onJimmy Kimmel Live, the actor, 47, was in for a surprise when the late-night host asked about a very obscure project from his résumé — a photo shoot he hoped would go unnoticed.

Kimmel, 57, then whipped out a copy of a particular cookbook that soon had the actor bursting into laughter.

“I don’t even know if you’re allowed to show this picture,” said Moss-Bachrach as he erupted into laughter.

Kimmel then drew attention to a sexy photo of a headless model holding a strawberry cake.

“That human torso belongs to … you,” said Kimmel as the audience laughed out loud.

The star ofThe Bear, too, could barely refrain from chuckling at the sight of the photo.

“So I was [laughs]. These are novelty swim trunks,” he explained.

“Yes they are!” quipped Kimmel as the audience hooted and hollered. “Let’s have a look at those novelty swim trunks. They seem to be painted on your body. Are they?”

“They’re like a youth medium,” replied Moss-Bachrach.

Kimmel, who was clearly curious about how the sexy mystery photo came about, went prying for answers.

”How did they get you to do this?” he asked Moss-Bachrach.

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Ebon Moss-Bachrach attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards on January 15, 2023.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Ebon Moss-Bachrach attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards on January 15, 2023.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

He continued: “And our good friend, Jenni Konner, who I met makingGirls. I live to make Jenny laugh and so, I’m also known for, I like wearing Speedos. I like small bathing suits."

“Unbeknownst to me, there was also a photo shoot for this cookbook happening the same day,” he recalled. “So I came out from swimming, and the suit worked, it made Jenny laugh. But these guys were also really into it, so they said, “Could we take a picture of you for this strawberry cake and I said, “Okay, sure, I get it, it’s hilarious.”

He continued: “The goggles are good, the chain looks nice, I had a good tan going, but I was like, ‘Please, I don’t want this to be associated with me. I don’t want my face — no. And no one will ever know. And here we are.”

The photo eventually mades its way into Roman’s cookbook and it remained a secret, at least until Kimmel outed him.

“Did you at least get to eat the cake?” asked Kimmel.

“Yeah,” replied the actor.

“And now you’re on a show about food. That’s kind of great, right? It’s interesting, the way. Maybe that’s what really led you toThe Bear.”

“Life is beguiling,” said Moss-Bachrach.

source: people.com