Actor: Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm played Don Draper across seven seasons of Mad Men, winning an Emmy on his eighth nomination, and the character’s combination of competence and self-destruction defined a decade of prestige television.

He was almost unknown at thirty-six when cast, having been dropped by an agency for lack of work. Bridesmaids, Baby Driver and 30 Rock revealed a comic capacity, and Fargo gave him a late television villain. He taught high school drama before acting.