'The Bear' actor pushing to make Italian beef Illinois' official state sandwich

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- Lawmakers are calling on Hollywood to back up a bill to make the Italian beef Illinois' official sandwich.

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Actor Corey Hendrix, who plays "Sweeps" on the popular Chicago-set restaurant drama "The Bear" is speaking out.

On Wednesday, he is expected to join State Rep. Rick Ryan for an event in Springfield.

"There is a rich history behind the Italian beef sandwich," Ryan said. "It's our state's most famous sandwich, brought to the United States by working class Italian immigrants who found resourceful ways to make meals stretch and ends meet. And it is still extremely popular today."

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Ryan and Hendrix will talk about why they think the Italian Beef deserves to replace the Horseshoe as the state's official sandwich.

The Horseshoe is a meat patty on toast, topped with fries and smothered in cheese sauce.

Hendrix grew up in the North Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago