AMC’s original series Mad Men debuted on July 19, 2007, and has been one of the hottest dramas on cable television ever since. In addition to great writing, attention to detail, and engrossing storylines, the success of the series can also be credited to great character development.
Each character on Mad Men has an interesting past, or is creating an interesting past as the series unfolds. Learn more about the history of each of the main characters.
Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm)
Born Richard (Dick) Whitman to a prostitute who died in childbirth, and raised by his father and his father’s wife. He had a younger brother, Adam. He enlisted in the Korean War in his 20s to escape his family and poor upbringing. He took on the identity of his commander, Donald Draper, after the real Draper died in an explosion.
Don moved to New York City and worked as a used car salesman and a copywriter for a fur company before coming to Sterling Cooper, where he became Creative Director and then partner.
Don is married to Betty Draper, and they have three children – Sally, Bobby, and Eugene. The series follows his many philandering escapes, specifically with Midge Daniels (a member of the Beat movement), Rachel Menken (a client), Bobbie Barrett (wife of TV personality hired by Sterling Cooper), and Suzanne Farrell, Sally’s teacher.
At the end of season three, Don is one of the members of Sterling Cooper to leave and start the new agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
Betty Draper (played by January Jones)
Elizabeth “Betty” Draper is Don’s wife, and tries to play the role of the perfect housewife. She was born Elizabeth Hofstadt, and grew up in a well-off family. Betty attended Bryn Mawr College, and after graduation, spent time modeling in Italy before moving to Manhattan to model.
Betty’s mother died shortly before the start of season one, and her father Gene died during season three. In the second episode of season one, she began seeing a psychiatrist. During season three, shortly after the death of her father, Betty gave birth a boy, whom she named Eugene after her father, despite Don’s objections.
In season three, Betty met Henry Francis, a political advisor, who becomes infatuated with Betty. She walks the line between resisting him and pursuing him. Eventually, after discovering the truth about Don’s past and that he lied to her, she leaves him, presumably with the intention of divorce.
Peggy Olson (played by Elizabeth Moss)
In the first episode of Mad Men, Margaret “Peggy” Olson is introduced as Don Draper’s new secretary, and the innocent new girl at Sterling Cooper. Joan Holloway, the Office Manager, takes her under her wing. During season one, Peggy has two trysts with co-worker Pete Campbell.
Throughout season one, Peggy is seen gaining weight, and also gaining more responsibility in the office. She is asked to write copy for an ad campaign aimed at women. She does well, and in the last episode of season one is promoted to Junior Copywriter.
In that same episode, she goes to the hospital with stomach pains, and delivers a baby boy, who was put up for adoption. Her family is Catholic and Peggy is often seen at church with her mother and sister. In the last episode of season two, Peggy tells Pete she had his baby and gave it up for adoption.
In season three, Peggy is seen moving ahead. She asks for, and receives, her own office. She moves from Brooklyn to Manhattan to be closer to work, and more independent from her family. She has a brief affair with Duck Phillips. At the end of season three, Peggy is one of the employees of Sterling Cooper asked to leave and join the new agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
Pete Campbell (played by Vincent Kartheiser)
Peter Campbell is an ambitious account executive at Sterling Cooper. Pete’s mother was from an elite New York family, although Pete’s father squandered their wealth, which was not discovered until after he died in a plane crash. Pete’s relationship with his father was strained, and he does not like his mother.
In season one, Pete marries Trudy Vogel, also of a wealthy family. Trudy and Pete have trouble conceiving and Pete refuses the idea of adopting, much to Trudy’s dismay. Throughout season two, there are many trials in their marriage, however by season three they seem much closer and happier.
At Sterling Cooper, Pete is very ambitious, even trying to sabotage Don when he discovers his true identity. That does not play out as Pete expected, and Don does not trust him. However, in season two, Pete becomes more loyal to Don.
In season three, after Sterling Cooper is taken over by British management, Pete is promoted to “co-head” of accounts, sharing the role with office rival Ken Cosgrove. At the end of season three, Pete is one of the employees of Sterling Cooper asked to leave and join the new agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
Maggie Wolff - Maggie has over seven years of experience in public relations and marketing in the fields of healthcare, performing arts, and professional ...
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