The actor reflects on his iconic role as Don Draper on 'Mad Men' and discusses the misinterpretations of anti-hero television, noting that fans often misconstrued the lessons these characters.
- Jun 24, 2024
AceShowbiz - For seven seasons, Jon Hamm captivated audiences as Don Draper, the enigmatic ad-man of AMC's "Mad Men". Along with characters like Tony Soprano and Walter White, Draper cemented the era of anti-hero television, but as Hamm points out, fans often misconstrued the lessons these characters were meant to convey.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Hamm opened up about his complicated relationship with Don Draper. "People thought that Don was this paragon of masculinity or whatever," he said. "There were so many think-pieces, and you go, 'Wait, he was pretty fucked up.' "
Despite the character's flaws, series creator Matthew Weiner ended "Mad Men" on a somewhat positive note, with Draper finding a moment of solace and inspiration atop a mountain. However, Tony Soprano and Walter White met less favorable fates.
Hamm never had the opportunity to discuss his experience with James Gandolfini, who played Tony Soprano, but he did build a bond with Bryan Cranston, Walter White's portrayer. "Bryan, we did one of our first photo shoots together for AMC's new lineup," Hamm recalled. "He's in his tighty-whities and a chemical apron and I'm in a suit with a cigarette. He's like, 'You got the better deal on this.' "
Before landing the role of Don Draper, Hamm auditioned unsuccessfully for the part of Sam Seaborn in "The West Wing". Rob Lowe, who ended up getting the role, "never auditioned," but was under consideration at the time. According to Hamm, "If Rob Lowe plays this part, it'll be the Rob Lowe show, and we don't want that. We want it to be a mystery about who this guy is.' "
Despite his initial disappointment with losing the role, Hamm went on to achieve great success with "Mad Men". The show's creator, Matthew Weiner, avoided casting a "superstar" for the role of Don Draper, allowing Hamm to fully immerse himself in the character and create one of the most unforgettable anti-heroes in television history.
