Jon Hamm gave an iconic performance as Don Draper inMad Men, and some of the show’s best episodes provided a perfect showcase for the actor’s talents. Hamm’s turn as Don stands alongsideBryan Cranston’s portrayal of Walter Whiteand James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony Soprano as one of the greatest antihero performances in television history. He had to convincingly play a suave ‘60s company man in the mold of Cary Grant, which he handled effortlessly (seriously, it’s as if he was born to play that part), but he had to capture so much emotional depth under the surface, too.
Although he wouldn’t actually win an Emmy for playing Don until the second half of the final season, Hamm was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series forevery single season ofMad Men— and deservedly so. Hamm nailed every dimension of Don’s deeply complex characterization. He nailed the confidence of a slick salesman, the guilt of an unfaithful husband, the paranoia of being caught living under a stolen identity, and the weight of the world that Don carried around on his shoulders. These episodes are the best examples of how great his performance was.
10The New Girl
Season 2, Episode 5
Don finds himself in a tough spot when he and his latest mistress, Jimmy Barrett’s wife Bobbie, get into a car wreck in season 2’s “The New Girl.” Since they can’t tell either of their spouses about the accident without arousing suspicion, Don reluctantly calls Peggy to come and bail them out of jail. Hamm has to give a performance within a performance when Don makes up a story to explain his injuries. Plus, the episode is an interesting examination ofDon and Peggy’s complicated relationship, as Peggy has to look after Don’s secret lover for him.
9Tomorrowland
Season 4, Episode 13
In the season 4 finale, “Tomorrowland,” after Betty abruptly fires Carla, Don is forced to bring his secretary Megan on his trip to California to look after the kids. As he sees how great Megan is with Sally, Bobby, and Gene, Don quickly falls for her, and when they get back to New York, he proposes to her. It’s fascinating to see a new side of Don. He’s not just smitten with Megan; he’s actually falling in love. Hamm shared great chemistry with Jessica Paré that really sold Don and Megan’s whirlwind romance.
8The Jet Set
Season 2, Episode 11
Don takes a business trip to Los Angeles and falls in with a group of free-spirited hippies in season 2’s “The Jet Set.” After he collapses from heat exhaustion, the rest of the episode plays like a fever dream, and Hamm plays into the confusion and existential dread brilliantly. This strange psychological journey leads Don to an epiphany as he decides to stay in California and reconnect with Anna Draper. Don always feels like a lost soul, but it’s exemplified the most when he gets away from his usual crowd and goes to a new place.
7Far Away Places
Season 5, Episode 6
In season 5’s “Far Away Places,” Don and Megan spontaneously decide to take a road trip to Plattsburgh, but they don’t even make it to the hotel before they get into a bitter spat at a roadside diner. In the heat of the argument, Don abandons Megan at the diner and drives off without her. When he’s cooled off, he comes back to get her, but she’s gone. Don becomes worried sick as he can’t find her and day turns into night, and it’s surprisingly powerful to see Hamm play this usually stoic character in a state of panic.
6The Doorway
Season 6, Episodes 1 & 2
There are a couple of moments in the two-part season 6 premiere that encapsulate the brilliance of Hamm’s performance as Don. The episode begins with Don and Megan staying at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on an all-expenses-paid trip from Sheraton, a SCDP client that owns the hotel. At the hotel bar late at night, Don meets a bright-eyed young soldier named Dinkins, who’s about to get married. Hamm’s performance subtly shows that Don takes a shine to Dinkins because he reminds him of himself.
In the final scene of the first part, when Don reluctantly takes part in a professional photo shoot in the office, he realizes he still has Dinkins’ Zippo lighter — he stole a piece of another soldier’s identity. This realization is perfectly timed with the photographer saying, “I want you to be yourself.” Don is reminded that he’s not himself; he’s living a lie with a stolen identity, and it’s all captured in the look that Hamm gives.
5Person To Person
Season 7, Episode 14
Hamm earned his one and only Emmy for playing Don for his spectacular performance inMad Men’s series finale, “Person to Person.” Having become disillusioned with his new corporate overlords, Don has taken off on a road trip across the hotspots of Americana. He ends up at a wellness retreat in California, where he has a panic attack, an emotional breakdown, and, ultimately, an enlightened reawakening. Hamm plays a lot of these scenes without dialogue, like when he embraces the man who confesses to feeling unloved, and it’s always clear how Don is feeling from his face acting alone.
4Shut The Door. Have A Seat.
Season 3, Episode 13
Don enjoys an exciting new beginning in his professional life and a heartbreaking ending in his personal life in the season 3 finale, “Shut the Door. Have a Seat.” Don teams up with Roger, Bert, and Lane to start a new advertising firm, which sets up a promising future for his career. But back at home, Betty finalizes her decision to divorce Don. For the first three seasons ofMad Men, Don was torn between his commitment to his work and his responsibility to his family. In the season 3 finale, there’s a clear winner.
3The Wheel
Season 1, Episode 13
In the season 1 finale, “The Wheel,”Don delivers one of his most memorable pitches. Tasked with envisioning a campaign for Kodak’s new projector, he moves everyone in the room with a family-oriented pitch accompanied by a photo slideshow of special moments from his marriage to Betty and his kids’ early childhood. He’s even moved by his own pitch. He changes his mind about going to Thanksgiving with Betty and the kids and races home to join them. But he finds the house empty; they’ve already left. Don goes on an emotional rollercoaster in this episode, and Hamm nails it.
2In Care Of
Season 6, Episode 13
All throughout season 6, Don’s carefully cultivated facade started falling apart, revealing the broken man underneath. That arc comes to a head in the season finale, “In Care Of.” He spends a whole workday drinking at a bar and ends up locked in a drunk tank for punching a minister. Shortly thereafter, he self-destructs very publicly in an important pitch to Hershey’s, as he describes his tragic upbringing and tells the uncomfortable executives they don’t need an ad campaign. Hamm plays this overshare so authentically that you really feel the second-hand embarrassment.
1The Suitcase
Season 4, Episode 7
Hamm’s own favorite episode ofMad Menis the season 4 masterpiece “The Suitcase.” This episode puts a spotlight on Don and Peggy’s relationship as they stay late to work on a Samsonite campaign. Peggy confronts Don about being overworked and undervalued, and Don, after some resistance, agrees to go a little easier on her. “The Suitcase” captures the full range of Hamm’s performance. It has farcical comedy in his drunken brawl with Duck, it has touching drama in his heart-to-heart conversations with Peggy, and it has one ofMad Men’s saddest twists when Don receives news of Anna’s passing.
