Ask Mike: The Real Don Draper
Hey Guys,
“Mad Men,” AMC’s hit TV show about the world of Madison Avenue advertising in the 1960s, has returned for its fourth season. As a fan of the swanky show, I’ve often wondered if the drama’s characters were based on real life people. As it turns out, the show’s main man, the dapper Don Draper, was indeed inspired by a real guy.
Chicago Magazine explains that Don Draper is (at least partially) inspired by a real life ad-man named Draper Daniels, who worked on Madison Avenue in the 1950s and ’60s. The article, written by Draper’s wife Myra Janco Daniels, describes a man who was not only “one of the top idea men in the business,” but also “a bit of a maverick.” Not unlike the character portrayed by Jon Hamm every Sunday night.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Daniels was responsible for the famous (and controversial) Marlboro Man ad campaign, as well as many others. Also, like his TV version, the real Draper drank, smoked, he was a very creative guy. But while there are a lot of similarities between the two (not the least of which is the name), there are also plenty of differences… at least according to Mrs. Daniels.
She describes her late husband as “disgustingly honest, very respectful, soft-spoken creative genius” who made a “fabulous partner, both business and personal.” We don’t think anyone would describe the TV version as being either honest or respectful. Another big difference, according to Mrs. Daniels: The real version wasn’t chauvinistic toward women. “He helped more women get up the ladder than anyone,” says Mrs. Daniels.
Of course, all this is coming from one source. While I doubt that nobody knew Draper Daniels better than his wife, she’s not exactly an unbiased biographer. After all, she worked in advertising, too.
What are some of your favorite television characters? Do any of them have real life inspirations? Please leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading,
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I really, really, really appreciate you Mike! Thanks for writing about “Mad Men”. This is one of my most favorite shows on television (along with “True Blood”) I don’t know why I am such a fan of the 60′s, but there was something special about the men and women, the dress, furniture, life-style and sexiness of that era. I am sure Jackie Kennedy had a lot to do with how women dressed and created their homes and comforted their families.
I have to caution myself however, over some parts of the show because while I realize the perspective from which this show is written, I understand that the time period lent itself to smokers, drinkers, litterers (trash), men who were completely chauvinistic, treating women like their underlings, and the total ignoring of blacks in the workplace, other than ‘elevator men’, custodians, and the like. In spite of these truths, the show is still very good. I remember the spin of 45′ records and my great collection that I took to parties, the dresses that my mother and aunts used to wear, the cold cream they used on their faces, the “Royal Secret” perfume that radiated through their long line bras and girdles- those items which kept women firm, in control and shapely. Those were the days!
I love this show, and I am so happy that it really took off these last two seasons the way it has! It’s wonderfully written and the attention to detail is outstanding. I wish I could time travel and enjoy a day in 1960′s New York for a day!
thanks for the article, Mike.
So insightful. I knew that the show “Mad Men” wasn’t at all about angry men or anything like that but that it was based on Madison Avenue, hence the “Mad”ison, but I didn’t know Draper was a real human. I love Don Draper and I watch all the episodes time to time.
family matters i think had a funny character named Urkel.