A Personal Tragedy That’s Every Child’s Nightmare Led Jon Hamm to His Life-changing Role in Mad Men
In the history of television, very few characters have resonated with audiences by capturing the complexities of human existence. The enigmatic protagonist of Mad Men, Don Draper is among those few characters who did it brilliantly. Portrayed with haunting perfection by Jon Hamm, Draper epitomized the American Dream in the best possible way.
Jon Hamm in Mad Men | AMC
But surprisingly, Jon Hamm’s path to becoming Don Draper is not just a tale of professional success but a profound journey shaped by personal tragedy and resilience. Much like his onscreen role, grappling with inner turmoil, Hamm’s journey to Mad Men stems from a deeply personal tragedy that reshaped his perspective on life and art.
Jon Hamm’s Journey to Mad Men was Shaped by His Real-Life Tragedy
Not every actor’s career is shaped by their personal life incidents, but the ones that do, turn out to be as iconic as Jon Hamm. Losing his mother at the early age of 10, from colon cancer, followed by his father’s demise a decade later, Hamm was practically turned into an orphan at 20, grappling with real-life struggles from a young age.
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But surprisingly, experiencing the hardships of being on his own from a budding age, and living the nightmare of every child, Jon Hamm somehow used his tragedy as a catalyst for his professional career. According to Hamm’s discussion with THR, he noted how Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner believed that the actor could embody the character of Don Draper with utmost brilliance.
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men | AMC
There’s a story that Weiner tells about how you left your first audition, and he said, “That man was not raised by his parents.” In his eyes, it made you an ideal fit to play the orphaned Don Draper? Interviewer asked.
There is something about being orphaned that gives you a different sensibility. You’re older than your years. And you have more experience than most kids and a different outlook or approach to life. And I still think about it that way. My friends that have parents that are still married or still alive, and it’s not a judgment either way, it’s just different.
The profound loss of his parents left an indelible mark on Jon Hamm, which he later used to transform his Hollywood career. Navigating through the complexities of grief, as Hamm found solace in the world of acting and channeled his pain into creative expression, he successfully landed the role of Don Draper in AMC’s critically acclaimed series, Mad Men.
Jon Hamm’s Don Draper Became One of the Most Iconic TV Characters
Set against the backdrop of 1960s America, Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men delved into the cutthroat world of advertising while unraveling the enigmatic layers of its central character. Therein, for Jon Hamm, Don Draper’s persona resonated on a profound level, offering him a blank canvas to mirror his personal life tragedies and confront his past.
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Admitting that Matthew Weiner saw right through him and believed in his potential to embody the role that deeply resonates with his own life, Jon Hamm captivated audiences with his versatility and depth as Don Draper. Eventually, his Mad Men role turned into a pinnacle of success for Hamm, and he went on to portray his onscreen brilliance through projects like Fargo and more.
It’s a different way of going through life, and I don’t really wear it on my sleeve, but obviously Matt picked up on that, and it worked for Don Draper, for sure. There was something haunted in Don.
Hamm’s Don Draper from Matthew Weiner’s show | AMC
Don Draper is introduced as the quintessential 1960s Madison Avenue ad man who comes off as confident, suave, and impeccably composed. But surprisingly it’s an identity he painstakingly constructs to escape his humble origins, because beneath his facade lies Draper’s past shrouded in secrecy and trauma.
Living in a perpetual struggle with personal demons, Jon Hamm’s real-life tragedy thus resonated with Don Draper’s onscreen character and storyline, turning him into a realistic and iconic television character.
Mad Men is available on Prime Video.
The post A Personal Tragedy That’s Every Child’s Nightmare Led Jon Hamm to His Life-changing Role in Mad Men appeared first on FandomWire.
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