Jon Hamm Discusses Mad Men, Early Career, and Advice for Actors

Early Life and High School

• 💡 Jon Hamm attended John Burroughs High School in St. Louis, Missouri, which encouraged students to try everything, including arts, sports, and academics.
• ⚾ He excelled in football and baseball and even wore his 10th-grade baseball shirt during the interview, noting it was a Champion brand.
• 🎭 After graduating college in 1993, Hamm returned to his high school in 1994-95 to teach eighth-grade acting, working under a teacher who inspired his professional acting career.

Journey to Acting Success

• 🚀 Hamm moved to Los Angeles in 1995, and it took him three years to land his first job despite auditioning for everything.
• ⚠️ Before Mad Men, he was fired from a pilot and subsequently tested for seven other pilots in one season, failing to secure any of them.
• 📺 His last job before Mad Men was a pilot called Related, where he was initially kept on after his love interest was fired, only to be released from his option on the very last day.

Insights on Fame and Career

• ✨ Mad Men's success coincided with the rise of the iPhone and social media (Twitter, Instagram), creating a new "blogging recap culture" and actively engaged fan base.
• 🧠 Hamm believes achieving fame and success at an older age (36-37 for Mad Men) provided him with coping mechanisms to handle the attention.
• 👏 He emphasizes the importance of appreciating success and acknowledging one's hard work, rather than always downplaying achievements.

Advice for Aspiring Actors

• 📚 Hamm highlights that acting schools often fail to teach the "business of acting," including managing expectations, time, and the practicalities of auditioning.
• 🎯 He stresses the critical importance of being prepared before arriving on set, stating that there's no time to "work through your stuff" once filming begins.
• ✅ Professionalism means delivering when "action" is called, as directors need actors who can perform without extensive process or delay.

Memorable Roles and Experiences

• 🎬 Hamm recounted his experience working on the film "Bad Times at the El Royale" with Jeff Bridges, calling it one of his best set experiences.
• ✈️ He confirmed his role in "Top Gun: Maverick," describing it as a "pinch me moment" and praising Tom Cruise as "the best in the biz."
• 🎤 For 13 years, Hamm has been the voice of Mercedes-Benz, a long-standing commercial gig that has outlasted several CEOs and CMOs.

Future Plans and Personal Life

• 🌍 Hamm is excited about an upcoming two-week trip to the Alps for his birthday, exploring Switzerland, France, and Italy.
• ⚾ He maintains a friendly Cardinals-Dodgers rivalry with Jason, one of the podcast hosts.