Don Draper

Don Draper, born Richard Whitman, is a fictional character and the protagonist of the AMC television series Mad Men (2007–2015). Portrayed by Jon Hamm, Draper is the charismatic yet enigmatic creative director at the fictional Manhattan advertising firm Sterling Cooper. Throughout the series, he grapples with personal problems such as identity and social alienation, stemming from his difficult past. Draper's story unfolds against the backdrop of the social, political, and economic events of the 1960s. The character of Don Draper draws inspiration from Draper Daniels, a creative director at Leo Burnett, and Bill Backer, an advertising executive at McCann Erickson.