Jon Hamm Reveals Don Draper’s Fate After ‘Mad Men’ in New Interview

Jon Hamm has a clear vision of what happened to Don Draper after the final credits of Mad Men rolled. During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Hamm discussed the lasting impact of the AMC series and his take on the main character’s journey following his cliffside epiphany in the finale.

In the series finale, Don emerges from a group therapy session, stripped of his advertising persona, and reconnects with his creative roots by crafting the iconic Hilltop Coca-Cola ad. Hamm offered both a humorous and serious perspective on Don’s next steps.

“Lung cancer. I mean, for sure,” Hamm joked before adding, “I think he goes back. He is a successful advertising executive and I think he finds happiness and peace. I think he connects with his children.”

The conversation between Hamm and Poehler extended beyond the show’s conclusion. Hamm also reflected on the intense audition process for the role of Don Draper. After multiple auditions, creator Matt Weiner invited him to meet the team, but Hamm was never officially told he had landed the part. It wasn’t until an unusual toast at the end of the day that he discovered the news.

“We go and we have drinks and we’re having a drink and I’m with Matt [Weiner] and Scott Hornbacher, the two producers, and the three executives and kind of holding my drink and I’m like, ‘What, what are we – what is this? What are we doing? Is this—this is a prank? This is the most elaborate, meanest prank.’”

Hamm continued, describing the awkward moment when the truth was finally revealed:

“And so we’re having drinks and they’re like, ‘Here’s to the show.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, here’s to the show.’ And I drink the drink, and we go, and we get into the elevator. They still haven’t said anything. And the lady who’s in charge finally turns to me. She goes, ‘You know you got the job, right?’ I go, ‘Oh my god, no, I didn’t. This would have been way more fun earlier when we were having drinks to toast.’”

The entire Mad Men series is available to stream on HBO Max. Fans can watch Hamm’s full interview on the Good Hang podcast.