Mad Men, the AMC period drama about Manhattan advertising executives in the 1960s, was the major turning point inJon Hamm’s career. Starting out in the art department for softcore adult movies, Hamm landed the leading role of Don Draper in the series and his career skyrocketed exponentially. A complex and emotionally selfish survivor of the Vietnam War,Draper is one of the leading executives in Manhattanwith a convoluted past strung on a web of lies. However, after the show wrapped its 7th Season in 2014, Hamm struggled with typecasting, and had to make a drastic change to prove casting agents wrong.
Hamm appeared on the latest episode ofThe Hollywood Reporter’s Roundtable Series, alongside actors like Nicholas Galitzine, Matt Bomer, and David Oyelowo, and discussed his typecasting followingMad Men.“Every script I got was a cigarette, and a hat, and a cocktail,“Hamm said. While the actor said he’s incredibly grateful for the opportunitiesMad Menhas afforded him, he was looking for a change. He described working onMad Menas his “day job”, saying"that’s what I do six months out of the year.“Hamm knew he had to make a bold change to prove casting agents wrong, which led to the then rising star shifting tones from a 1960s set, suave drama, to appearing in as many comedic projects as possible. Hamm continued:
“That was why, for me, it was a very conscious decision to lean into the comedic side of stuff that I wanted to do - whether it was30 Rock, orSNL, or fill in the blank - because I knew I had [Mad Men] going. That train had left the station, very successfully. It was nice to earn credibility on both sides of the dramatic and comedic isle.”
Jon Hamm Wore Prosthetic Nipples in Fargo Season 5
FollowingMad Men’s finale, Hamm has appeared in multiple comedy movies and shows, includingBridesmaids,30 Rock,Parks and Recreation,Minions, andGood Omens. However, he still dips his toes in the dramatic waters now and again. Hamm played the narrator in FX’sLegion, a murderous criminal in Edgar Wright’sBaby Driver, and as a new character inTop Gun: Maverick. Post-Mad Men, Hamm’s biggest dramatic role is inSeason 5 of FX’s seasonal anthologyFargo.
The Best Part of Unfrosted Is Basically a Mad Men Short Film
Unfrosted’s hilarious Mad Men parody is arguably the best and funniest part of the entire movie.
Hamm played Roy Tillman, a sheriff and the main antagonist in the show’s fifth season. Despite his devout religious practices, Tillman had an edgy past, and it required Hamm to don a surprisingly comic prosthetic. Under his rancher’s jacket, Tillman has pierced nipples, and Hamm had to wear prosthetic covers over his own to avoid going true method actor and getting piercings himself. During his appearance on the Roundtable, Hamm was asked about the nipples, and he revealed that he didn’t keep them after filming wrapped. Clive Owen then joked that he’d seen them at a Hollywood auction.
Hamm’s next role sees the actor lend his voice to Sentinel Prime in theanimatedTransformers Onemovie, alongside Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Scarlett Johansson.Transformers Oneis currently scheduled for release on July 09, 2025.
All 7 seasons ofMad Mencan be streamed on AMC+.
