| Gary "Sweeps" Woods | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Portrayed by | Corey Hendrix |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Gary Woods |
| Nickname | Sweeps |
| Occupation | Sommelier, retired professional baseball player |
Gary "Sweeps" Woods is a fictional character on the FX Network television series The Bear . Created by Christopher Storer and played by Corey Hendrix since the show's premiere in 2022, Sweeps is a former professional baseball player who worked as a runner and janitor, sweeping and mopping floors at the local sandwich shop the Original Beef of Chicagoland. Sweeps has now retrained to be the sommelier of the fine-dining restaurant the Bear. [1] Part of his character's education includes a seminar with famed real-life Chicago sommelier Alpana Singh. [2] In the season four episode "Soubise" she tutors him on pairings (what wine goes with fish, or mushroom dish). [3] According to one foodie website, by the end of season four, Sweeps has become adept at picking "perfect" wine pairings for dishes at the Bear. [4] According to financial consultant Nicholas "the Computer" Marshall (Brian Koppelman) strong wine sales are one of the fragile restaurant's financial bright spots. [5]
Sweeps' baseball career, which ended when he tested positive for steroid use, [6] included sweeping the Padres, [7] and he also "swept St. Louis three times and had a no-hitter." Sweeps could not afford housing while trying out for the Chicago Cubs and playing on their farm team. [8] He was a left fielder for AAA teams and was also recognized for his hitting skill. [6] Getting a job at the Beef pulled him out of a "dark place" after his expulsion from baseball. [6]
