Jon Hamm's Biography
Jon Hamm's success story shows that determination can overcome any obstacle. After losing all his family by age 20 and spending time in therapy, he decided to turn his life around and left quiet St. Louis for bustling Los Angeles. Hollywood wasn't ready to embrace this ambitious guy with rugged good looks: Hamm looked older than his age, had a classic vibe, and couldn't catch his big break.For many years, he worked as a waiter and endured a series of unsuccessful auditions. Everything changed in 2007 with the release of the series "Mad Men." His classic Hollywood leading man look was perfect for the part. The bold yet incredibly charming Don Draper catapulted Hamm from struggling actor to star. Glossy magazines crowned him a sex symbol, critics showered him with awards including two Golden Globes and an Emmy, and directors came calling with new roles.
Childhood and Family
Jonathan Daniel Hamm was born on March 10, 1971, in St. Louis, Missouri. Hamm's heritage included German, English, and Irish roots. His father, Daniel, owned a trucking company where his mother, Deborah, worked as a secretary.In 1973, Jon's parents divorced. He stayed with his mother in a St. Louis suburb.
His father eventually went bankrupt and lost the business, which led to the divorce. Jon's mother raised him alone. Still, they had enough money for the future actor to attend private John Burroughs School.I had a very typical Midwestern, suburban childhood. I rode my bike to friends' houses and knew all the neighbors and everything that was happening in their homes.
Jon's mother was his biggest supporter. He first took the stage in the first grade, playing Winnie the Pooh in a school play. His mother lovingly sewed the costume.
In 1981, his mother was diagnosed with advanced abdominal cancer and soon passed away. Jon had to move in with his father, who'd become an alcoholic, and his grandmother, who wasn't thrilled about another mouth to feed.
To stay away from home as much as possible, Jon spent all his time at school, attended football and baseball practices, and joined the school swim team. His classmates' moms took him under their wing: they fed him, helped him out financially, and gave him a place to stay.
Jon continued to be interested in the stage: in 1977, he played the role of Judas in the school play "The Gospel." However, he did not consider acting as a future profession. "Acting is fun, but my grandfather always said it's never too late to become an engineer," Hamm would say.
In 1989, he graduated from high school. His baseball skills got him into the University of Texas with a substantial scholarship. But tragedy kept striking: in 1990, Jon's grandmother died, and a year later, his father passed away due to diabetes complications. The young man became an orphan.
He dropped out of college and spent some time in Missouri, trying to get into a local university. It was there that he auditioned for the adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and landed a small role in the musical "Assassins."
Early Roles
In 1992, Hamm headed to Los Angeles, where his longtime friend Paul Rudd had already relocated – you know him as Ant-Man from the Marvel films. Hollywood captivated Jon, but he wasn't confident about his chances. It took another three years for him to make the final move, with just $150 to his name – his entire savings.Life in Los Angeles was tough at first. Hamm went to every audition he could find and worked as a waiter in the evenings. This went on for seven years: auditions didn't lead to much success, but Jon became something of a legend in the service industry – he even had regulars who tipped well.
He had very minor roles in the series "The Trouble with Normal" and "The Hughleys." His agent, unable to land him work, eventually dropped him. By 2001, Hamm had made himself a promise: if he didn't land a significant role by his 30th birthday, he'd pack up and head home. "The last thing I wanted was to become one of those 45-year-old actors who've lost touch with reality and barely work," he said.
Just months before his 30th birthday, Jon landed an audition for "Providence." He'd play a bartender dressed as Zorro – a small but memorable part. When the main character fell for his character, it extended his run to 18 episodes. For Hamm, this felt like a breakthrough, though real stardom remained elusive.
The Rise of His Career
Jon Hamm's big break came in the mid-2000s when he met showrunner Matthew Weiner. The screenwriter was looking for someone to play lead character Don Draper in the 1960s-set series "Mad Men," and had already auditioned 80 actors. The moment Weiner saw Hamm, he knew he'd found his perfect leading man – Jon had that classic Hollywood look, and like his character, he was also an orphan."Mad Men" aired until 2015. The role earned Hamm two Golden Globes in 2008 and 2016 and an Emmy in 2014. He received over a dozen nominations for various film awards during those years.
Hamm kept an intense filming schedule during this period. Alongside "Mad Men," he accepted roles in other projects. In 2008, he appeared in the action movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" with Keanu Reeves, and in the series "Childrens Hospital." A year later, he scored his first leading role in the feature film "Stolen."
In 2010, Hamm played an FBI agent in Ben Affleck's crime drama "The Town." He was thrilled to break away from Don Draper's image, finally playing a genuinely good guy. He also voiced Brogan, the leader of the cannibals, in the animated film "Shrek Forever After."
In 2011, the actor starred in Zack Snyder's action film "Sucker Punch," and a year later, he appeared in the romantic comedy "Friends with Kids," which was written by his partner Jennifer Westfeldt.
In 2012, Jon played in the mini-series "A Young Doctor's Notebook," alongside Daniel Radcliffe. At the end of 2014, the actor appeared in the special episode "White Christmas" of the anthology series "Black Mirror."
By this point, Hamm was happily experimenting with different genres. In 2016, Jon starred in the comedy "Keeping Up with the Joneses" with Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, and Gal Gadot, and the following year in the science fiction "Marjorie Prime" and the political thriller "Beirut."
In 2018, Hamm was cast in the dramatic thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale," where he starred alongside Jeff Bridges, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Hemsworth. The following year, he appeared in the series "Good Omens," playing the archangel Gabriel.
Jon also continued voice acting. He lent his voice to characters in animated films such as "Big City Greens" (2018), "Bless the Harts" (2020), "Invincible" (2021), and "M.O.D.O.K." (2021).
In 2021, Hamm played in Steven Soderbergh's crime drama "No Sudden Move," which also featured Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, and Brendan Fraser. The following year, he acted in the comedy "Confess, Fletch." When the project ran into budget issues, Hamm voluntarily slashed 60% of his fee. He also appeared in the action film "Top Gun: Maverick," starring Tom Cruise.
The Personal Life of Jon Hamm
The charismatic Hamm has attracted plenty of female attention since his youth. In high school, he started a relationship with Sarah Clarke. She later became an actress—she played Bella Swan's mother in the "Twilight" saga.In 1997, after moving to Los Angeles, Jon met his colleague Jennifer Westfeldt at a party hosted by Paul Rudd. Hamm was instantly drawn to the sharp beauty who crushed everyone at board games. Initially though, she pegged him as just another arrogant jock.
When she needed someone to run lines with before auditions, their mutual friend Rudd suggested Jon. Working together quickly turned into a romance.
In those early years, Westfeldt carried the relationship: she acted, wrote scripts, and championed her partner through everything. Whenever she wrote a new script, she'd always include a role for Hamm. She also helped him land occasional theater work.
After "Mad Men" took off in 2007, their dynamic shifted—now Jon was the star. Tensions began building: despite their earlier agreement about not marrying or having kids, Westfeldt increasingly wanted to start a family. Hamm didn't feel the same way.
In 2015, after 18 years together, Westfeldt and Hamm separated. Soon after, rumors swirled about a possible romance with colleague Dakota Johnson, but nothing was confirmed. In 2020, Hamm's relationship with actress Anna Osceola went public. The couple met five years earlier, during the filming of the "Mad Men" finale.I love kids. I like other people's kids because at the end of the evening, you can give them back to their parents.
With his new partner, Hamm abandoned all his previous hang-ups about marriage. In February 2023, the couple celebrated their engagement, and in the summer, they had their wedding. He's even started considering having children.
Jon Hamm Now
In 2023, Jon snagged the lead role in the third season of "The Morning Show," starring alongside Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. His character had several intimate scenes with the "Friends" star. He also reprised his role as Archangel Gabriel in the second season of "Good Omens.""Fargo"'s fifth season premiered in November 2023. This season starred Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Jon Hamm. Hamm played a patriarchal, sadistic sheriff hunting down a woman who had dared to defy him years earlier.
"The creators wanted to explore what hides behind the façade of strength and control in such men. They stripped away the polished exterior to reveal something dark and compelling," Hamm said about his character.
A musical adaptation of the iconic 2000s film "Mean Girls" hit theaters in February 2024. Jon played the role of a high school coach.
Hamm also joined the voice cast of animated series "Grimsburg" and voiced a character in the sci-fi animation "Transformers: One," which releases in September 2024. He also landed the lead in the drama "Wilder and Me," playing actor William Holden.
Jon joined the sci-fi comedy "Alpha Gang" about aliens plotting to conquer Earth. The cast also includes Steven Yeun, Nicholas Hoult, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. The premiere is scheduled for 2024.
Interesting Facts
- In 1990, while at the University of Texas, Hamm was arrested for allegedly participating in hazing at the Sigma Nu fraternity. He was accused of setting a pledge's pants on fire and shoving the student's face into the dirt. The incident led to the fraternity's closure. Jon pleaded guilty and struck a deal with prosecutors that got him probation. All charges against him were dropped in 1995.
- Jon quit smoking at 24, but his "Mad Men" character was a heavy smoker. During filming, Hamm smoked herbal cigarettes with no tobacco or nicotine.
- During the first season of "Mad Men," the actor developed vitiligo.
- People magazine named Hamm "The Sexiest Man Alive" in 2007 and 2008.
- In 2015, Hamm's rep confirmed he'd completed treatment for alcoholism in rehab.
- In 2018, there was talk of casting Hamm as Batman in an upcoming DC film.
- Jon taught acting for two years at John Burroughs School, his alma mater. He also created a memorial scholarship at the school named after his mother for talented students.
- Hamm is a devoted fan of the St. Louis Blues hockey team. He appeared in two television commercials for the team.