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Jon Hamm

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This article is about the American actor. For the Canadian physician and politician, see John Hamm

.

Jon Hamm
Hamm in November 2008
Born
Jonathan Daniel Hamm
OccupationActor
Years active2000–present
PartnerJennifer Westfeldt (1997–present)

Jonathan Daniel "Jon" Hamm (born March 10, 1971) is an American actor whose work has been primarily in television roles. For much of the mid-1990s, he lived in Los Angeles as a struggling, unemployed actor. He appeared in multiple television series roles, including Providence, The Division, What About Brian, and Related. In 2000 he made his feature film debut in Clint Eastwood's space adventure Space Cowboys. The following year, Hamm appeared in the independent comedy Kissing Jessica Stein (2001) in a supporting role.

Hamm gained worldwide recognition for playing advertising executive Don Draper in AMC's drama series Mad Men, which premiered in July 2007. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award in the category for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2008. Aside from appearing in Mad Men, he starred in the 2008 science fiction remake The Day the Earth Stood Still and has completed work in the independent thriller The Boy in the Box set for a release in 2009.

Early life

Hamm was born on March 10, 1971 in St. Louis, Missouri to Deborah and Dan Hamm.[1] His parents divorced when he was two years old, and he lived with his mother until she was diagnosed with advanced cancer when he was 10.[2] Although doctors removed two-thirds of her colon, she died soon after and Hamm moved in with his father,[3] but after a few years his father fell ill and died when Hamm was 20.[3] He said that teachers and friends' parents filled in as parental figures.[3]

Hamm attended John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri, a private prep academy, where he was a member of the football, baseball, and swim teams.[3] When Hamm was 16, he was cast in a play, and enjoyed the experience.[3] Following graduation in 1989, he enrolled at the University of Texas, but dropped out during his sophomore year,[4] following the passing of his father. Hamm moved back home to attend the University of Missouri, where he studied English.[4] Hamm answered an advertisement from a theater company looking for players in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, auditioned, and was cast in the production.[3]

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Hamm returned to teach at his high school as a gesture of repayment for the school's support during his adolescent years.[3] He worked at the school as a faculty drama teacher.[5]

Career

Early work

Hamm moved to Los Angeles and struggled as an unemployed actor in the mid-1990s.[6] He was represented by the Hollywood talent agency, William Morris. Hamm settled into a house with four other struggling actors, received work as a waiter and started going to auditions. In 1998 William Morris dropped him as a client and Hamm continued working as a waiter.[3] While discussing being dropped by the agency, Hamm said:

You either suck that up and find another agent, or you go home and say you gave it a shot, but that's the end of that. The last thing I wanted to be out here was one of those actors who's 45 years old, with a tenuous grasp of their own reality, and not really working much. So I gave myself five years. I said, if I can't get it going by the time I'm 30, I'm in the wrong place. And as soon as I said that, it's like I started working right away."[3]

In 2000, after being cast in several unsuccessful television pilots, Hamm landed a role as romantic firefighter Burt Ridley on NBC's drama series Providence, that led to a nineteen episode stint.[7][8] His role in the series led him to quit his job waiting tables.[6] That same year he made his feature film debut in Clint Eastwood's space adventure Space Cowboys.[9] Space Cowboys received favorable reviews,[10] and was a box office success, earning $128 million worldwide.[11] The following year, Hamm appeared in a supporting role in the independent comedy Kissing Jessica Stein (2001).[12] He played Nate Basso, a Police Inspector, on Lifetime's television series The Division, in a recurring role that went from 2002 to 2004.[7][8] Hamm went on to feature in minor roles on the television series What About Brian, CSI: Miami, Related, Numb3rs, The Unit and The Sarah Silverman Program.[7][8]

Worldwide recognition

Hamm in 2008

Hamm received his break-through role in 2007 when he was cast as the protagonist character Don Draper in AMC's drama series Mad Men. In the series, set in the 1960s fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency, he plays a suave advertising executive with a shadowy past.[13] When Hamm read the script, he knew it would be good for his career. He ultimately thought he would not receive the part, admitting, "I read the script for Mad Men and I loved it. [...] I never thought they'd cast me-I mean, I thought they'd go with one of the five guys who look like me but are movie stars."[14] He also noted that he went through numerous auditions, and explained each time to the casting directors what he could bring to the character, if given the part.[3] Though, in another interview, he said: "I picked it up [the script] and thought, This title stinks, and it's on some cable channel that's never done anything".[15] But after reading it, he admitted it was the best script he had ever read.[15] The show debuted on July 19, 2007 and was watched by almost 1.4 million viewers.[16] Mad Men quickly developed a loyal audience, with the show and Hamm receiving strong reviews. Robert Bianco of USA Today was complimentary of Hamm, noting that his interpretation of Draper was a "starmaking performance".[17] The Boston Globe acknowledged that Hamm is a "brilliant lead".[18] For his work, he won a Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Actor in a Television Series Drama in 2008.[19] Also in 2008 he was nominated for both a Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor.[20] In 2009, Hamm was again nominated for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same categories.[19][21]

Hamm's next film role was in the 2008 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still, a remake of the 1951 film of the same name.[22] In the film he plays Dr. Michael Granier, a NASA official who investigates an alien messenger that appears in human form. When shooting began, Hamm revealed that he had found his technical dialogue difficult and had to film his lines repeatedly.[23] Although the film received negative reviews,[24] it was financially successful, earning $230 million worldwide at the box office.[25] Hamm's film projects include, the independent mystery thriller The Boy in the Box, a film about a small-town police chief works to uncover the truth behind the mummified remains of a boy found in a box,[26][27] and a supporting role in the independent drama Howl.[28][29] In the film, he will play defense attorney Jake Ehrlich.[28][29] It is also based on Allen Ginsberg's 1956 poem, Howl.[28][29]

Hamm hosted the sixth episode of the 34th season of Saturday Night Live (SNL) on October 25, 2008.[30] In the episode, he played various characters, including his Mad Men character in two sketches.[31] He also impersonated US President John F. Kennedy, as well as late British actor James Mason.[32] In February 2009, Hamm guest starred on the situation comedy show 30 Rock, playing a doctor who is a neighbor of Liz Lemon's (Tina Fey) and a new love interest for her.[33][34]

Personal life

Hamm with partner Jennifer Westfeldt at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, 2008

Since 1997, Hamm has been in a long-term relationship with actress and screenwriter, Jennifer Westfeldt.[2] They own a home in Los Angeles and the Upper West Side in New York.[2][12] In an interview discussion about his relationship with Westfeldt, Hamm said: "We may not have a piece of paper that says we’re husband and wife, but after 10 years, Jennifer is more than just a girlfriend. What we have is much deeper and we both know that. To me, people [should] get married when they’re ready to have kids, which I’m not ruling out."[35] Hamm, along with Westfeldt, have appeared in Gap related campaign advertisements.[36] In April 2009, Hamm and Westfeldt formed their own production company, Points West Pictures.[37][38]

Although his role as Don Draper requires him to smoke, Hamm gave up smoking when he was 24.[15][39] He admitted in an interview that while on set he does not smoke actual cigarettes, but herbal cigarettes that do not contain any tobacco or nicotine.[39][40]

Internationally viewed as a sex symbol, Hamm was named one of Salon.com's Sexiest Man Living in 2007,[41] and was named one of People magazines Sexiest Men Alive in 2008.[42] In November 2008, Entertainment Weekly named him one of their Entertainers of the Year.[43] Hamm is an avid golfer and tennis player.[44]

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Role Other notes
2000 Space Cowboys Young Pilot #2
2001 Kissing Jessica Stein Charles
2002 We Were Soldiers Capt. Matt Dillon
2006 Ira and Abby Ronnie
2007 The Ten Skydiving Guide Chris Knarl
2008 The Day the Earth Stood Still Dr. Michael Granier
2009 The Boy in the Box Tom Adkins Sr.
2010 Howl Jake Ehrlich

Television

Year Title Role Other notes
2000 Providence Burt Ridley
The Trouble with Normal Jackson
The Hughleys Buzz
2001 Early Bird Special Red-Headed Cop
2002 The Division Inspector Nate Basso
Gilmore Girls Peyton Sanders
2005 CSI: Miami Dr. Brent Kessler
Point Pleasant Dr. George Forrester
Charmed Jack Brody
2006 The Unit Wilson James
What About Brian Richard Povich
Numb3rs Richard Clast
Related Danny
2007 The Sarah Silverman Program Cable Guy
2007–present Mad Men Don Draper
2009 30 Rock Dr. Drew Baird

Awards and nominations

Emmy Awards

  • 2008 – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Mad Men (Nominated)

Golden Globe Awards

  • 2008 – Best Actor in a Television Series Drama for Mad Men (Won)
  • 2009 – Best Actor in a Television Series Drama for Mad Men (Nominated)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

  • 2008 – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Mad Men (Nominated)
  • 2008 – Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for Mad Men (Nominated)
  • 2009 – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Mad Men (Won)
  • 2009 – Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for Mad Men (Nominated)

Television Critics Association Awards

  • 2008 – Individual Achievement in Drama for Mad Men (Nominated)

(Source: IMDb.com)

References

  1. ^ Martin, Brett. "Breakout: Jon Hamm". GQ. men.style.com. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-02-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c Illey, Chrissy (2008-04-27). "The interview: Jon Hamm". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-26. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Armstrong, Stephen (2008-11-30). "Mad about Mad Men's Jon Hamm". The Times. entertainment.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b Martin, Brett. "Breakout: Jon Hamm". GQ. men.style.com. p. 4. Retrieved 2009-02-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Voss, Brandon (2008-09-09). "Big Gay Following: Jon Hamm". The Advocate. advocate.com. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-02-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b Snyder, Gabriel (July 2008). "Jon Hamm". W. wmagazine.com. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Jon Hamm Biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  8. ^ a b c Atkin, Hillary (2008-01-25). "'Mad' man Jon Hamm came out of nowhere". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2009-02-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Jon Hamm". The New York Times. nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Space Cowboys (2000): Reviews". Metacritic. metacritic.com. 2000-08-04. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Space Cowboys (2000)". Box Office Mojo. boxofficemojo.com. 2000-08-04. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b Adams, Patty (2008-08-03). "Why Everyone's Mad About Jon Hamm". New York Post. nypost.com. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Brady, James (2008-07-27). "In Step With... Jon Hamm". Parade. parade.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Rudd, Paul. "Jon Hamm". Interview. interviewmagazine.com. p. 3. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b c Snyder, Gabriel (July 2008). "Jon Hamm". W. wmagazine.com. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Petrecca, Laura (2007-08-05). "AMC uses nostalgia to draw marketers". USA Today. usatoday.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ Bianco, Robert (2007-07-19). "'Mad Men': You'll buy what it's selling". USA Today. usatoday.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (2007-12-29). "Surprises from cable's far corners". The Boston Globe. boston.com. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b "HFPA - Awards Search" (Web). Golden Globe Official Website. goldenglobes.org. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ "Jon Hamm Happy To Get "Mad" Again". CBS News. cbsnews.com. 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Rosen, Lisa (2009-01-07). "'Mad Men' rages into award season". Los Angeles Times. latimes.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Bentley, Rick (2008-12-12). "Jon Hamm isn't waiting for the Earth to stand still". The Dallas Morning News. dallasnews.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ The Day the Earth Stood Still (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 2009.
  24. ^ "Day the Earth Stood Still, The (2008): Reviews". Metacritic. metacritic.com. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)". Box Office Mojo. boxofficemojo.com. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Rhona Mitra in Indie 'Boy in the Box'". Entertainment Weekly. ew.com. 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "'Mad Men' star Jon Hamm's hairy situation". Daily News (New York). CNN. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2009-02-11. Apart from his co-starring role in The Day the Earth Stood Still, Hamm recently completed work on the murder mystery The Boy in the Box.
  28. ^ a b c Bloomer, Jeffrey (2009-03-27). "Jon Hamm joins James Franco in Howl". Paste. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  29. ^ a b c Eng, Joyce (2009-03-25). "Jon Hamm Ready to Howl". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  30. ^ Brown, Lane (2008-09-19). "Don Draper to Host 'Saturday Night Live'". New York. nymag.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ Bruno, Mike (2008-10-26). "Jon Hamm crashes 'SNL'". Entertainment Weekly. ew.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (2008-10-26). "SNL: Jon Hamm's handsome comedy acting school". The Star-Ledger. nj.com. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Armstrong, Jennifer (2009-01-21). "Tina Fey and Jon Hamm talk about coupling up on '30 Rock'". Entertainment Weekly. ew.com. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "Don Draper and Liz Lemon?: Hamm to guest on '30 Rock'". USA Today. Associated Press. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Adams, Patty (2008-08-03). "Why Everyone's Mad About Jon Hamm". New York Post. nypost.com. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-02-11. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ Elliott, Stuart (2008-11-12). "Holiday Campaigns Bring on the Humor to Reassure Consumers". The New York Times. nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-02-12. The celebrities in the Gap campaign include Jon Hamm of Mad Men, the TV series about advertising in the 1960s, with his girlfriend, the actress Jennifer Westfeldt {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Barshad, Amos (2009-04-27). "Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt Fight Censorship". New York. nymag.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ Pennington, Gail (2009-05-01). "Hamm comes home for COCA fundraiser". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. stltoday.com. Retrieved 2009-05-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  39. ^ a b Dodd, Johnny (2007-09-10). "Mad About Him". People. people.com. Retrieved 2009-02-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Byrne, Fiona (2008-09-04). "'Mad Men' Star Jon Hamm on Smoking Clove Cigarettes". New York. nymag.com. Retrieved 2009-02-12. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  41. ^ Walsh, Joan (2007-11-15). "Sexiest Man Living 2007". Salon.com. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  42. ^ "2008's Sexiest Men Alive - Jon Hamm". People. people.com. 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2009-02-13. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ Karpel, Ari (2008-11-14). "Jon Hamm: Entertainer of the Year". Entertainment Weekly. ew.com. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ Clark, Cindy (2007-09-26). "A second round for 'Mad Men' star Jon Hamm". USA Today. usatoday.com. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

Further reading


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