Jon Hamm Celebrated as Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Man of the Year

Jon Hamm, the actor who gained prominence portraying ad executive Don Draper in the AMC series “Mad Men,” and more recently featured in “Fargo” and “Landman,” was celebrated on Friday night as Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2025 Man of the Year.

Founded in 1844 and reputed to be the third-oldest theater group still in operation, Hasty Pudding Theatricals announced that Hamm would be awarded the Pudding Pot during a festive roast. Following this, he would join in on a performance of their 176th show, “101 Damnations.”

“I can’t believe so many people have come out,” Hamm remarked after receiving his Pudding Pot. “Did you all really think I was gone? This is an incredible honor.”

Before receiving the Pudding Pot, Hamm was roasted by two members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, who jested about his height, teased him for not having an Academy Award, and indicated that several past recipients were more attractive.

To emphasize their humor, they had him compete against someone wearing a Paul Rudd mask, reminiscent of the 2018 award recipient. Hamm also engaged in a trivia challenge involving a piece of deli meat, humorously referenced as the winner of the 2017 Academy Award for production design.

However, the highlight was making Hamm channel his “Mad Men” persona, Don Draper, to pitch various absurd products. These included car insurance for a baby driver and a pen aimed at a woman who just landed her dream job before being fired, along with a lifetime voucher for bath time with Harry Potter.

“Hey, do you love Daniel Radcliffe? How about Harry Potter?” Draper asked an enthusiastic woman on stage. “I’d suggest we sit in a tub together, but that seems, A, terrifying, and B, slightly illegal.”

At a subsequent press conference, Hamm thanked “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels for bringing out his comedic side and mentioned that Don Draper was the most difficult yet enjoyable role he has ever taken on. He also expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of his character Monty Miller from “Landman” making a comeback.

“Typically, when surrounded by your loved ones on a hospital bed with tears and machinery flatlining, it’s not a good sign,” he quipped.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals honors individuals who have made remarkable and lasting contributions to the entertainment sector.

While Hamm is best recognized for his role in “Mad Men,” his acting career is extensive. He has earned Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his portrayal of Sheriff Roy Tillman in FX’s “Fargo,” starred in films like “Bad Times at the El Royale,” and has hosted “Saturday Night Live” three times.

Recent recipients of the Man of the Year award include Barry Keoghan in the previous year, Bob Odenkirk in 2023, and Jason Bateman in 2022.

Cynthia Erivo, star of “Wicked,” has been selected as Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ Woman of the Year and will receive her award on February 6.