Mad Men – Season 4 Actor Biographies and Character Descriptions
July 30, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under Performing Arts News
JON HAMM – “Don”
Jon Hamm’s nuanced portrayal of the high-powered, philandering advertising executive, Don Draper has firmly established him as one of Hollywood’s most talented and versatile actors, and earned him numerous accolades, including the 2008 Golden Globe® Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama. Additionally, Hamm has been nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2008, 2009) and a Screen Actors Guild® Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (2008, 2009, 2010). In 2009 and 2010, he joined with the entire cast to win the Screen Actors Guild® Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series.
On the big screen, Hamm will next star opposite Ben Affleck and Rebecca Hall in The Town, which Affleck also directed. Additional upcoming films include roles in the indie feature Howl, about poet Allen Ginsberg, opposite James Franco, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels, and David Strathairn, and in Zack Snyder’s fantasy-thriller Sucker Punch. His previous film credits include Shrek Forever After, in which he voiced the character ‘Brogan,’ The Day the Earth Stood Still, Stolen, Ira & Abby, Kissing Jessica Stein and We Were Soldiers.
Hamm first came to audience’s attention in the NBC series “Providence.” Signed for a cameo role, he so impressed the producer’s that he ended up with an 18-episode run in the series. Additional television credits include the popular Lifetime television series “The Division,” as well as “What About Brian,” “The Unit,” “Numb3rs” and “CSI Miami,” among others. Hamm has also appeared on the Emmy-winning comedy, “30 Rock,” for which he received a 2009 Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, and has twice hosted “Saturday Night Live” to critical acclaim.
A native of St. Louis, MO, Hamm received his Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Missouri-Columbia and currently resides in Los Angeles.
What’s happening with Don Draper this year?
Don Draper’s marriage dissolved after his worst fear came to fruition: Betty discovering his secret past, causing her to reject him and ultimately seek a divorce. As he struggled with the dissolution of his marriage and family, Don also faced the disbandment of Sterling Cooper. As everything in his life that defined him was stripped away, Don rallied Roger, Bert and Lane to launch a new firm. With the birth of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, Don faces the process of redefining his relationships and his world.
Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall on auditions, performing and waiting for your moment
July 15, 2010 by Lance Carter
Filed under Performing Arts News
Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall, stars of the new Ben Affleck directed film, The Town, talk about the film, auditions and how they got their start.
W: Did you both have to audition for The Town?
Jon Hamm: I was on a list of people that the studio was considering. They go down the list, basically.
Rebecca Hall: I don’t think I was on a list. I auditioned. My agent flew me to New York because I couldn’t afford to pay the airfare, and then if I got it, I’d pay her back. I met Ben in some hotel room and we chatted for about two hours. I didn’t hear anything for about three months, and then I got the call.
W: Rebecca, your audition for Vicky Cristina Barcelona consisted of Woody Allen making sure you could do an American accent. The Town is set in Boston—is your accent Bostonian?
Hall: No. It’s general American, because I’m meant to be a yuppie from Marblehead who’s moved into a rough area. Her accent has little bits of Boston and little bits of “I’m tough.” I was determined to make her quite streetwise and savvy and strong. I was nervous about portraying the woman who gets subjected to violence and then becomes the love interest, victimized and fragile, of a protective man.
W: When did you both realize you wanted to perform?
Hall: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be an actor. It has just always been an inevitability on some level.
Hamm: I played Winnie-the-Pooh in first grade. I was an early adopter of standing up in front of people and looking like an idiot. In high school I was a middle linebacker and I played Judas in Godspell.
