The Bear's Chris Witaske Recalls Emotional Fan Encounter That Led to Him 'Bear Hugging' a Stranger (Exclusive)

Chris Witaske is recalling an emotional fan encounter following the finale of The Bear season 2.

The actor, 41, spoke with PEOPLE at the season 3 premiere of The Bear on Tuesday, June 25, and reflected on how a chance encounter with a fan made him realize how deeply viewers care about the show.

"I was at a concert in Chicago and this guy came up to me and talked about that scene that I have in the final episode of season two with Jamie Lee Curtis," Witaske explained. "And as he was talking, he started getting emotional. He broke down crying because it really affected him."

He continued: "And so there I was, bear hugging this stranger at a concert. It was a cool moment."

Witaske admitted that there were times during filming that he also got emotional. Remembering the the episode "Fishes" — in which he filmed an intense scene with Curtis — he recalled feeling overwhelmed at times.

"That was crazy, man. Even in between takes, I was like, 'This is too much,'" he explained. "It was too much, man. It was. And some of these people are more method actors than me. I am like a Chicago comedy dude, and so when people stay in character in between takes and intense. It's a lot. That night I had to decompress and meditate."

As for season 3, the Chicago native teases "there's something coming," adding that viewers should "buckle up." He also reveals that Jamie Lee Curtis, who portrayed Jeremy Allen White's character Carmy's mother, will be returning.

In addition to Witaske and White, their costars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Abby Elliott, Matty Matheson, Liza Colón-Zayas, Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon as well as executive producer Joanna Calo and creator Christopher Storer were in attendance of the Los Angeles premiere of the upcoming season, which premieres Wednesday, June 26.

Reflecting on the dynamic between Edebiri and White's characters — who are officially in business together starting in season 3 — Edebiri said at a press conference earlier month that Sydney has "really looked up to" Carmy, but she's now "in the thick of doing business with" him – which is "a lot more chaotic than she might have idealized before they really started working together,” per Vanity Fair.

Edebiri — who will make her directorial debut in the upcoming season — previously shut down the possibility of a potential romance between the characters. Following the show's first season, the Emmy winner told TVLine, "I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I don't think so. I don't think so. And Jeremy has said this, too."

The new season shows Carmy, Sydney, and Richie (Moss-Bachrach) doing whatever it takes "to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine-dining establishment, to the highest level, all while doing their best just to stay in business," per an official synopsis.

"It’s a losing battle every single day in the restaurant business. Carmy pushes himself harder than ever, and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his intensity.”

As the team behind the restaurant "grows in size, each member will strive to reach a greater level of service within their role," and their "quest for culinary excellence will propel the crew to new levels and stress the bonds that hold the restaurant together."

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All 10 episodes of season 3 of The Bear will premiere Wednesday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET on Hulu.