Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm: A Brief Biography 

Jonathan Daniel Hamm, widely recognized as Jon Hamm, gained immense popularity for his portrayal of Don Draper in the critically acclaimed AMC television series, "Mad Men" (2007-2015). He made his debut in the space disaster drama film "Space Cowboys," where he portrayed the character of Young Pilot No. 2. Additionally, he gained early recognition by participating as a contestant in the dating show "The Big Date" in 1996. His filmography further includes notable roles in movies like "Bridesmaids," "The Town," and "Top Gun: Maverick." Hamm's impressive TV credits encompass acclaimed series like "30 Rock," "Parks and Recreation," and "Good Omens." Interestingly, his acting journey began with his portrayal of Winnie-the-Pooh in a first-grade production. Beyond his acting career, he exhibits his passion for the St. Louis Cardinals as a lifelong fan. In fact, the team even hired him to narrate their Official World Series film in 2011. Hamm's versatile talents extend to voice acting as well, with his portrayal of Herb Overkill in the 2015 animated film "Minions." In May 2023, Hamm lent his narrating skills to an advertisement supporting Democratic candidate Lucas Kunce in the upcoming 2024 United States Senate election in Hamm's home state. The ad aimed to highlight the alleged lack of courage of the incumbent candidate Josh Hawley. He will also star as Roy in the upcoming fifth season of the FX crime drama anthology series "Fargo" and appear in the film "Maggie Moore(s)" (2023) as Chief Jordan Sanders. Additionally, Hamm is set to portray Sentinel Prime in the film "Transformers One" and Coach Carr in "Mean Girls: The Musical."

Early Life

Jon Hamm, entered this world on March 10, 1971, in St. Louis, Missouri, within the United States. His birth bestowed upon him the real name Jonathan Daniel Hamm. As an American nationality, he possesses a diverse ethnic background, stemming from his German, English, and Irish heritage. Currently aged 52, he annually commemorates his birthday on March 10, falling under the zodiac sign of Pisces. Identifying as white, his religious affiliation aligns with Catholicism. Hamm occupies the position of the second child within his family lineage. His parents, Deborah Hamm (father) and Daniel Hamm (mother) played integral roles in his upbringing. Notably, his father owned a trucking company, while his mother served as a secretary. Unfortunately, his parents' marital union came to an end when Hamm was a mere two years old. As a result of his father's prior union, Jon has two half-sisters. Consequently, he resided with his mother until the tragic loss of her life to colon cancer when he reached the tender age of 10. His father also sadly died when he was 20.

Regarding Jon Hamm's educational background, he received his education at John Burroughs School, a prestigious private institution located in Ladue. During his time there, he actively participated in various sports teams, including football, baseball, and swimming. Upon graduating in 1989, Hamm initially enrolled at the University of Texas. During his tenure, he became a member of the Upsilon chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity. However, it is worth noting that Hamm's third year at the university involved an unfortunate incident, as he was arrested for his involvement in a violent hazing incident. Subsequently, Hamm decided to transfer to the University of Missouri to continue his education. It was during this period that he stumbled upon an advertisement from a theater company searching for actors to be part of a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Hamm auditioned and secured a role in the production, marking his introduction to the world of theater. This initial success paved the way for further acting opportunities, including portraying the character Leon Czolgosz in the production of "Assassins."

Jon Hamm Career (Movies and TV Shows)

• Jon Hamm's journey in acting began at an early age when he portrayed Winnie-the-Pooh during his first-grade years. However, it wasn't until he was 16 that he landed his first significant role as Judas in the play "Godspell," though he didn't initially take acting seriously. As time went on, Hamm's career progressed, and he made appearances in various projects. 
• He joined Kemper's Netflix series, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," and shared a house with four aspiring actors while working as a waiter and attending auditions. Hamm also showcased his talent in theater productions, such as playing Flavius in a rendition of Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens" with the Sacred Fools Theater Company.
• Despite his representation by the prestigious William Morris Agency, Hamm faced challenges finding acting opportunities due to appearing older than his actual age. After three years without securing any acting work, the agency dropped him as a client. Hamm persevered, continuing to work as a waiter and briefly exploring set design for a softcore pornography film. However, his determination paid off when he landed the role of romantic firefighter Burt Ridley in NBC's drama series "Providence" in 2000. This marked his debut in feature films with a single line in Clint Eastwood's adventure movie "Space Cowboys."
• Subsequently, his career gained momentum with notable roles in projects such as the independent comedy "Kissing Jessica Stein" (2001) and the war film "We Were Soldiers" (2002). His recurring role as police inspector Nate Basso on Lifetime's television series "The Division" from 2002 to 2004 further solidified his career trajectory. Hamm continued to make appearances in various television series like "What About Brian," "CSI: Miami," "Related," "Numb3rs," "The Unit," and "The Sarah Silverman Program."
• However, Hamm's breakthrough came in 2007 when he was selected from a pool of over 80 candidates to portray the protagonist, Don Draper, in AMC's acclaimed drama series "Mad Men." This marked a turning point in his career, propelling him to widespread recognition and critical acclaim. In subsequent years, Hamm ventured into film, starring in projects such as the sci-fi film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (2008) and earning his first leading role in the thriller "Stolen" (2009). He continued to expand his filmography with movies like "Million Dollar Arm" (2014), "Keeping Up with the Joneses" (2016), and "Beirut" (2018), as well as lending his voice to films like "Shrek Forever After" (2010), "Minions" (2015), and series like "Legion" (2018).
• His diverse acting repertoire also includes his portrayal of Craig Norman in the drama film "Aardvark" (2017) and the character Gabriel in the Amazon Prime Video miniseries "Good Omens" (2019). In 2020, he made an appearance in the series "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Hamm's recent projects include his role in "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022) and his collaboration with Greg Mottola and "Mad Men" co-star John Slattery in "Confess, Fletch" (2022). 
• He will also star as Roy in the upcoming fifth season of the FX crime drama anthology series "Fargo" and appear in the film "Maggie Moore(s)" (2023) as Chief Jordan Sanders. Additionally, Hamm is set to portray Sentinel Prime in the film "Transformers One" and Coach Carr in "Mean Girls: The Musical."
• Beyond acting, Hamm participated in the MLB Legend and Celebrity All-Star Softball game in 2012 as a member of the National League, representing the Cardinals and even hitting a home run during the game. He also narrated a video titled "The Saint Louis Browns: The Team That Baseball Forgot" in 2018, presented by the Saint Louis Browns Historical Society.

Awards and Achievements

• National Board of Review Awards for his work in "The Town"
• Satellite Awards for his work in "Mad Men"
• Television Critics Association Awards for his work in "Mad Men"

Jon Hamm's Personal Life: Wife, Girlfriend & Dating

Jon Hamm, an unmarried individual, recently got engaged in February 2023 to actress Anna Osceola after a two-year courtship. Interestingly, Osceola had a brief appearance as a flower child receptionist in the 2015 series finale of "Mad Men," where Hamm's character stayed at a California coastal retreat. Prior to his current relationship, Hamm was involved in a long-term partnership with actress and screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt from 1997 to 2015. In 2008, he spoke about their relationship, emphasizing its depth and stating that while they weren't legally married, their connection surpassed mere romantic involvement. Although they didn't have a formal marriage, they operated their own production company called "Points West Pictures" during that period. As for Hamm's sexual orientation, he identifies as straight.

Violent Altercation

During his time as a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity at the University of Texas, Hamm was arrested in November 1990 for his involvement in a violent hazing incident. His actions included setting a pledge's jeans on fire, forcing his face into the ground, and striking him with a paddle near his right kidney. Additionally, he led the pledge around the fraternity house while gripping the pledge's testicles with a hammer claw. As a result of this incident, the fraternity was closed down. The pledge required medical attention and ultimately withdrew from the university. Hamm entered into a plea agreement and successfully completed probation as part of a deferred adjudication, which allowed him to avoid a criminal conviction. The charges against him were dismissed in August 1995 following the completion of his probation.

Furthermore, at the age of 24, Jon made the decision to quit smoking; however, his portrayal of Don Draper on the show "Mad Men" necessitated his character to smoke. To accommodate this, Hamm opted for herbal cigarettes that were free of tobacco and nicotine instead of real cigarettes. Additionally, in March 2015, it was confirmed by his representative that Hamm had sought in-patient treatment for alcoholism. Furthermore, Hamm revealed that he developed vitiligo, a condition causing loss of skin pigmentation, during his time filming "Mad Men."

How much is Jon Hamm's net worth as of 2023?

Jon Hamm's net worth in 2023 amounts to $45 million. He achieved substantial earnings from his role on the show, receiving a notable salary of up to $275,000 per episode, resulting in a total of approximately $4 million for a single season. In 2010, Hamm was selected by Mercedes-Benz to become the new voiceover for their commercials, taking over from actor Richard Thomas. His voice-over work expanded to other advertisements as well, including a 2013 American Airlines commercial titled "Change is in the Air." Hamm also appeared in an Apple TV+ ad called "Everyone but Jon Hamm" in January 2022, which highlighted the streaming service's impressive lineup of A-list actors and actresses participating in original productions. Additionally, Hamm was featured in a series of TV commercials for Progressive Insurance in 2022, portraying a character with an on-and-off relationship with spokesperson Flo. It's worth noting that his acting career serves as his primary source of income.

How tall is Jon Hamm?

Jon Hamm possesses a consistently well-toned and athletic physique, successfully maintaining his fitness and well-being into his 40s. With his fair complexion, dark brown hair, and striking green eyes, he stands tall at 6ft. 1 inch, weighing approximately 92kg. His impressive body measurements include a chest size of 43 inches, biceps measuring 14 inches, and a waist size of 36 inches.