Jon Hamm: ‘Mad Men’ Smoking Habit & Health Impact
Explore the surprising behind-the-scenes reality of “Mad Men” through Jon Hamm and John Slattery’s revelations at the ATX TV Festival. Discover the challenges the actors faced, including smoking copious amounts of fake cigarettes and consuming onion water. Hamm, who played Don Draper, details his experience and the show’s lasting impact, shedding light on the potential health impact of those countless “cigarettes” – even if nicotine-free. News Directory 3 exclusively reports on their anecdotes and the show’s enduring legacy. Uncover details about the show’s impact in this insightful piece. Discover what’s next …
‘mad Men’ Stars Reminisce About Smoking and Onion Water on Set
Jon Hamm and John Slattery, stars of the acclaimed AMC series “Mad Men,” shared memories of their time on the show at the ATX TV Festival in Austin. Ten years after the series finale, the actors discussed the show’s legacy with moderator Noah Hawley, reflecting on its impact and the unique challenges of portraying 1960s advertising executives.
One recurring theme was the prevalence of smoking on set. Hamm noted the sheer volume of cigarettes his character smoked, even if they were fake. “In the pilot alone, I smoked 75 cigarettes,” Hamm said. “They are fake cigarettes, but that just means that there’s no nicotine in them. It doesn’t mean you’re not burning something.”
Slattery added that the fake cigarettes were made of rose petals and marshmallow, which wasn’t as pleasant as it sounds. To compound matters,the actors often had to drink onion water as a stand-in for vodka martinis. “pop another pearl onion in your glass of water, and then smoke 26 more fake cigarettes and it’s 9:30 in the morning!” Slattery quipped.
Hamm recalled advising younger actors against smoking real cigarettes for authenticity. “They were like, ‘We’re gonna smoke real cigarettes. We really want to, feel it and do it,’” Hamm said. “And I was like, ‘let me no how that goes.’ And within three days, they were yellow and sallow. This is a terrible idea.”
The actors also spoke about the show’s impact on their lives. Hamm, who was 35 when he started on “Mad Men,” said the show marked a transitional period. Slattery described the experience as a “parallel life,” emphasizing the close relationships formed with the cast and crew.
Hamm expressed gratitude for the show’s enduring popularity. “To be sitting here at this incredible festival talking about something you did a decade ago, and have this many people show up just to hear it is tremendous,” he said.
“Oh, it was not. Yeah,I think somebody did a count,and in the pilot alone,I spoke 75 cigarettes… They are fake cigarettes,but that just means that there’s no nicotine in them. It doesn’t mean you’re not burning something.”
— Jon Hamm
“It felt like a parallel life. There were about six months a year we would do this, and then we would go away… it was such a gift. I think, to pretty much a person, we clocked that right away.”
— John Slattery
What’s next
both Hamm and Slattery are continuing their acting careers, with fans eagerly anticipating their future projects.The enduring appeal of “Mad Men” ensures that discussions about the show, its characters, and its behind-the-scenes anecdotes will continue for years to come.