Jon Hamm

Jonathan Daniel “Jon” Hamm (born March 10, 1971) is an American actor whose work has been primarily in television roles. For much of the mid-1990s, he lived in Los Angeles as a struggling, unemployed actor. He appeared in multiple television series roles, including Providence, The Division, What About Brian, and Related. In 2000 he made his feature film debut in Clint Eastwood’s space adventure Space Cowboys. The following year, Hamm appeared in the independent comedy Kissing Jessica Stein (2001) in a supporting role.

Hamm gained worldwide recognition for playing advertising executive Don Draper in AMC’s drama series Mad Men, which premiered in July 2007. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award in the category for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2008. Aside from appearing in Mad Men, he was featured in the 2008 science fiction remake The Day the Earth Stood Still and had his first leading role in the independent thriller Stolen (2010).

Trivia:

Became interested in acting in the first grade, when he was handpicked to play Winnie the Pooh. Received a scholarship to study acting at the University of Missouri.

Worked as a day care teacher during college, and before moving to Hollywood, was a high school teacher.

Is an avid golfer, as well as a big football fan.

Role models are Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliot and Greg Kinnear.

His mother died when he was 10; his father followed 10 years later.

Long-term partner is Jennifer Westfeldt, the actress and co-writer of Kissing Jessica Stein (2001). They live in Los Angeles.

Went to high school (John Burroughs School in St. Louis) with Sarah Clarke.

Taught drama at John Burroughs High School in St. Louis, Missouri.

Very close friends with Paul Rudd.

Peter Sarsgaard

John Peter Sarsgaard (born March 7, 1971) is an American film and stage actor. He landed his first feature role in the movie Dead Man Walking in 1995. He then appeared in the independent films Another Day in Paradise (1995) and Desert Blue (1996). In 1998, Sarsgaard received a substantial role in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998), playing Raoul, the son of Athos. Sarsgaard later achieved critical recognition when he was cast in Boys Don’t Cry (1999) as John Lotter. He landed his first leading role in the 2001 film The Center of the World. The following year, he played supporting roles in Empire, The Salton Sea, and K-19: The Widowmaker.

For his portrayal of Charles Lane in Shattered Glass, Sarsgaard won the Online Film Critics Society Award in the category for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the 2004 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sarsgaard has appeared in an eclectic range of films, including the 2004 comedy Garden State, the biographical film Kinsey (2004), the drama The Dying Gaul (2005) and big-budget films such as Flightplan (2005), Jarhead (2005), and Orphan (2009).

Sarsgaard has also appeared in Off-Broadway productions including Kingdom of Earth, Laura Dennis, and Burn This. In September 2008, he made his Broadway debut as Boris Alexeyevich Trigorin in The Seagull. Sarsgaard appeared in the off-Broadway production of Uncle Vanya in January 2009. Sarsgaard has been in a relationship with actress Maggie Gyllenhaal since 2002. In 2006, the two became engaged and Gyllenhaal gave birth to their daughter, Ramona, on October 3, 2006. On May 2, 2009 Sarsgaard and Gyllenhaal were married in Italy.

Trivia:

He attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he co-founded a comedy improvisation group called Mama’s Pot Roast.

Formerly dated model/actress Shalom Harlow (2001).

His baby face; his soft, strangely ominous voice; and often bizarre, unstable characters have led to him being compared to John Malkovich, who played his father in The Man in the Iron Mask (1998/I).

In Garden State (2004), Peter’s character collects Desert Storm trading cards. In Jarhead (2005), Peter’s character fights in Desert Storm.

Like Edward Norton and Broadway actress Kimmilee Bryant, he studied with legendary acting coach Terry Schreiber at the T.Schreiber Studio in New York.

Childhood hero was Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett.

Engaged to Maggie Gyllenhaal [April 2006]

Peter and his fiancée, Maggie Gyllenhaal, became the parents of a girl, named Ramona, on October 3, 2006 in New York City.

He attended the Actors’ Studio Program at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Admits to having a lifelong fear of flying.

Son-in-law of Stephen Gyllenhaal and Naomi Foner.

Brother-in-law of Jake Gyllenhaal.