Don Draper is the protagonist of Mad Men (2007-2015), an AMC television series created by Matthew Weiner. He is the creative director (later partner) at the Sterling Cooper advertising agency on Madison Avenue in 1960s New York. His real name is Dick Whitman — he stole the identity of his commanding officer, Don Draper, during the Korean War. Played by Jon Hamm, the character is considered one of the most complex antihero protagonists in television history. Mad Men won 16 Emmy Awards.

What Is Don Draper's Real Identity?

Don Draper was born Dick Whitman, the son of a prostitute who died in childbirth and an abusive, alcoholic farmer. During the Korean War, the real Don Draper was killed in an accident. Dick Whitman switched dog tags with the dead man, assumed his identity, and used it to build a new life. He never revealed his true identity to his first wife Betty or his colleagues. The tension between Dick Whitman and Don Draper — the poor boy and the powerful man — is the central conflict of the series.

What Is the Carousel Scene?

The Carousel pitch (Season 1, Episode 13) is widely considered the greatest scene in Mad Men and one of the finest in television history. Draper pitches Kodak's slide projector by narrating his own family photographs, calling the device a time machine that goes backwards and forwards and takes us to a place where we ache to go again. The scene is emotionally devastating because the audience knows that Draper's family life is falling apart, making the pitch simultaneously a masterful piece of advertising and a confession of loss.

What Is Mad Men About?

Mad Men follows the personal and professional lives of advertising executives on Madison Avenue during the 1960s. The show explores themes of identity, American consumerism, gender roles, race, and the social changes of the decade. It is set against historical events including the Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War, the moon landing, and the civil rights movement.

Can You Talk to Don Draper?

Don Draper is available as an AI companion on HoloDream. He will sell you something you do not need. The pitch will be perfect.