Jon Hamm, the acclaimed actor known for his role as Don Draper in the iconic AMC series “Mad Men,” was celebrated on Friday night as the 2025 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. This prestigious theater group, which has a rich history dating back to 1844 and is considered one of the oldest theatrical organizations still in operation, organized a roast to honor Hamm. Following this humorous event, he was set to attend a performance of the group’s 176th production, titled “101 Damnations.”
Upon receiving the Pudding Pot award, Hamm expressed his surprise at the turnout, jokingly asking the audience if they thought he had passed away. “This is such a wonderful honor,” he remarked, reflecting on the significance of the moment.
Before Hamm received the award, he was roasted by two members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, who humorously poked fun at his height, his lack of an Academy Award, and suggested that past winners had better looks than him. In a playful contest, Hamm competed against a person wearing a Paul Rudd mask, who was a previous year’s winner. Additionally, he engaged in a trivia contest that featured deli meat, with the jesters humorously claiming the meat had won an Academy Award for production design in 2017.
One of the highlights of the night involved Hamm reenacting his “Mad Men” character. He delivered pitch lines that included selling car insurance to a baby driver and a pen to a woman who, after landing her dream job, found herself promptly dismissed. In his playful pitch for a lifetime bath time experience with Harry Potter, he quipped to an enthusiastic audience member, “Hi, do you love Daniel Radcliffe? How about Harry Potter? I would say let’s sit in a tub together but that sounds like, A, terrifying, and B, marginally illegal.”
In a press conference that followed the event, Hamm acknowledged that Lorne Michaels, the creator of “Saturday Night Live,” played a critical role in helping him discover his comedic side. He described his role as Don Draper as both challenging and enjoyable, yet he cast doubt on the future of his character Monty Miller from “Landman,” humorously remarking that the situation usually doesn’t bode well if one is surrounded by crying loved ones in a hospital, with machines registering flat lines.
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals presents these awards to individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of entertainment. While Hamm is predominantly recognized for his work in “Mad Men,” his career is extensive, having earned Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his role as Sheriff Roy Tillman in the FX series “Fargo.” He has also starred in various films such as “Bad Times at the El Royale” and has hosted “Saturday Night Live” on three occasions.
Recently, past Man of the Year winners include Barry Keoghan (2024), Bob Odenkirk (2023), and Jason Bateman (2022). Furthermore, the theater group has announced that Cynthia Erivo, star of “Wicked,” is set to be honored as the Woman of the Year, with her award presentation scheduled for February 6.
