The Cast of Mad Men

Updated for Season 5

AMC's Mad Men is a television drama that depicts the glossy world of New York's Madison Ave. advertising agencies in the 1960's. The show is currently in it's long-awaited fifth season after a 17 month hiatus . The cast has remained pretty much the same since the premiere, with a few subtractions and a few additions. Lets take a look at the talented ensemble of actors who make up the core group of characters.

Don Draper is the series' main character. As creative director and partner of an advertising firm, he oversees a crew of employees and interacts with partners, clients and a family, all while struggling with the psychological effects of an undesirable past. Jon Hamm, once feared by series creators to be too handsome to play the complex Draper, has in fact made the suave, hard-drinking, chain-smoking, womanizing, high powered exec into an iconic figure and recognizable symbol for the program. The affable actor breaks into a smile easier than the intense man he portrays, but like Draper, Hamm lost both parents while he was still young. He began acting in high school and at his home state's Univ. of Missouri. Afterwards, he struggled and persevered in Hollywood for a decade, first with small tv parts, then with more extended roles in the series Providence and The Division and in films such as Kissing Jessica Stein and We Were Soldiers. Recent credits include The Day The Earth Stood Still, Stolen and The Town. Hamm is in a long-term relationship with actress and screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt

When marrying upper-class, educated and gorgeous Betty, Don Draper may have thought he was getting the perfect little trophy, like the era's tv housewives, willing to stand by her man no matter what he did, as long as he brought home the bacon. Wrong. Her cool, blonde Grace Kelly-ish ice queen looks belie the soul of a volcano. And like Don, she has major issues. Now divorced from him and remarried, Betty continues to exhibit signs of unstable behavior. Just ask poor daughter Sally. January Jones is very convincing in her most prominent role to date. Unlike her "spoiled Main Line brat" character, January grew up in the Midwest (South Dakota) and even worked at Diary Queen. Like Betty, though, Jones also worked as a model in New York. An long list of small acting roles and relationships with Ashton Kutcher and singer Josh Groban followed. Dating big names, along with a memorable part in American Wedding, raised her profile until Mad Men came calling. Jones was named for a character in a Jacqueline Susann novel, but yes, she was born in January! She took maternity leave to give birth to son Xander but returned to complete filming of Season 5.

Unlike her mellow younger brother, Sally Draper, daughter of Don and Betty, tends to get into more than her fair share of trouble, "acting out" in response to various stresses, including the death of her grandfather, the arrival of a new sibling, the break-up of her parents' marriage and perhaps a less than ideal relationship with her mother. Sally has been caught fighting with her brother and a classmate, butchering her own hair, smoking and "playing with herself" at a friend's house. This is an enviable, albeit at times controversial part for a 10-year-old actress. But Kiernan "Kiki" Shipka has experience portraying the tempestuous child, appearing in skits on MADtv and Jimmy Kimmel Live, as well as playing a virus bomb in the movie Carriers. For a more kid-like role, check out Chicago-born Kiernan in Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. With her good looks and ample acting ability, this is only the beginning of a promising entertainment career for Miss Shipka. But we fear for the future of Sally Draper!

WWII Navy vet Roger Sterling has some of the same habits as Don...smoking, drinking and philandering like a salty sailor on shore leave. But after two heart attacks and a divorce, he is trying to embrace change by being faithful to his new, young wife and becoming a founding partner of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, having taken the leap outside his comfort zone and leaving the firm his father started and for which he had worked most of his adult life. Boston native John Slattery fleshes out this character with handsome, silver- haired macho and cynical, sharp-tongued wit. TV fans may recognize him from Ed, Desperate Housewives, Sex and The City or Jack and Bobby. Movie credits include Mona Lisa Smile, Iron Man 2 and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights with MM co-star January Jones. Slattery is married to actress Talia Balsam, who plays Roger's ex-wife Mona.

Naive secretary turned respect-demanding copywriter Peggy Olson symbolizes 60s women's changing roles in the workplace and in American society. She is not so much consciously feminist but senses that she could go beyond the typical track of using a low-level office job as a means to finding a husband and sole supporter. Peggy nevertheless must now reconcile the desires of her personal life with her newfound and growing career ambitions. Elisabeth Moss began acting as a young child and brings a wealth of talent and experience to this important character. Among her extensive tv and film credits is a star turn in the remake of Escape to Witch Mountain, as well as a recurring part on the show Picket Fences. She is recognized for her role on another critically acclaimed series, playing First Daughter Zoey Bartlet on The West Wing. Moss is from Los Angeles and studied ballet at a number of prestigious schools. She is divorced from comedic actor Fred Armisen. In 2012, Elisabeth appears in the film On The Road, based on the Jack Kerouac novel.

Pete Campbell is a junior partner at SCDP and Head of Accounts. The young man from an upper-class New York family enjoyed an elite upbringing. His father squandered his inheritance but he married into some money, and he has high ambitions in the profession of which his parents disapproved, as well as a hefty sense of entitlement. Like Jon Hamm and January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser is from the Midwest (Minneapolis). He began his film career as a teen in mostly family fare such as the movie Alaska, though he did have an explicit love-making scene in the film Another Day In Paradise. Due to his boyish looks, he continued to play teen roles into his twenties, most notably when guest-starring as Conner in the series Angel. Named for Vincent Van Gogh, Vinny Kartheiser is said to live an ascetic or minimalist lifestyle, eschewing a car and most personal posessions, and apparently, at least for now, a significant other.

Brash bombshell Joan Holloway Harris, office manager extraordinaire, takes the middle path between Betty's housewife and Peggy's career woman. Despite enjoying and excelling at her job, she left to be the wife of an ( expected) rich doctor. However, after becoming maybe somewhat disillusioned with that scenario, the mad men are able to lure her back to work for the new firm. Lauded for her excellent portrayal of Joan and admired for her buxom beauty, Christina Hendricks has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. Raised in Tennessee, Idaho and Virginia, she reached Mad Men by way of a string of guest appearances and regular roles in series including Beggars and Choosers, The Court, Angel, ER, Firefly and Tru Calling. Movie roles are in the works for this natural blonde who has dyed her hair red since age 10. She is married to actor Geoffrey Arend.

Bert Cooper was the senior and founding partner at the old firm and became a co-founder of the new firm. Though not around on a daily basis, he is often there to lend his wisdom and experience. His collection of modern art and affinity for Japanese culture, going so far as to require the removal of shoes in his office, would make Cooper seem a bit off the wall for the early 60's. Robert Morse would know. He was born in 1931 and is the only main cast member who was around and remembers the period in which Mad Men is set. In those days, Morse was making quite a name for himself on Broadway, becoming one of the few actors to win Tony Awards for both musical and play roles. He made films, also. I first tied his name to his impish, goofy character when I saw him in Disney's The Boatniks in 1970. Bobby Morse's Mad Men role is considered a revival for a talented actor whose career has been varied and interesting, and even more eccentric than Bert Cooper. He is married to his second wife and has five children.

Lane Pryce, who first appears in Season Three, is the fiscally tight but effective financial officer whose conservative nature compelled him to stay the course despite professional and personal disappointments. When things reach a breaking point in his marriage and with the company, Lane sheds his cautious persona and joins the others to form Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Jared Harris grew up in London, the son of famed Irish actor Richard Harris, and for awhile, stepson of Rex Harrison. Yet he didn't catch the acting bug until he attended college at Duke University in North Carolina. Upon graduation, he honed his skills in London with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has acted in many independent films in roles such as Andy Warhol and John Lennon. Big-budget credits include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. TV audiences may remember his recurring roles on The Riches and Fringe. Harris is divorced from actress Emilia Fox.

Despite past office carousing, Harry Crane seems to have a good relationship with his wife and treats her as an equal. And though his push-over, non-confrontational attitude has led to past problems at work, he has gained confidence and taken on much more responsibilty as Head of Media at SCDP. Raised in Minnesota, Rich Sommer made his feature film debut in 2006's The Devil Wears Prada. He has made numerous commercials for companies such as Nextel, Sprint and Bud Light. He has guested on some of tv's most popular series, including The Office, Law & Order and Ugly Betty. He has extensive stage credits and has been a student, teacher and performer of improvisation. He is married with two children.

Thrown into direct competition with Pete Campbell, Ken Cosgrove triumphs to become Head of Accounts, is later passed over in favor of Pete to join Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, then ultimately brought aboard to take advantage of his account relationships, with the understanding that he answers to Pete. Aaron Staton grew up mostly in Jacksonville, Florida and is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. He made his Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! and has appeared in several films, including August Rush. He has also guested on the tv series 7th Heaven, Law & Order:SVU and Without A Trace. In 2011, Aaron starred as lead character Cole Phelps in the hit video game LA Noire. He is married to actress Connie Fletcher.

Who Else?

A scene-stealing and soon-to-be major character is Don's second wife, Megan, played by Quebec native Jessica Pare, formerly of the series Jack & Bobby. Roger Sterling also has a young bride, Jane (Peyton List, As The World Turns). Community's Alison Brie portray's Pete Campbell's supportive wife Trudy. Betty, having divorced Don, is now married to political aide Henry Francis (Christopher Stanley, NYPD Blue). A Dallas native and an alum of many tv series such as Evening Shade and Judging Amy, Jay R. Ferguson continues as SCDP Art Director Stan Rizzo.

Season 5 begins with a few new hires at the office and new people will certainly enter the personal lives of the main characters. Who will disappear and who will possibly be elevated to primary status on this award-winning ensemble? Stay tuned to find out!