Don Draper
Don Draper is the series' central figure, a creative director at Sterling Cooper known for his advertising talent and complex personal life. His journey reflects the era's shifting cultural norms and corporate pressures.
Roger Sterling
Roger Sterling is a senior partner whose charm and wartime background shape his approach to business. His character highlights the personal networks and old-boy dynamics that influenced mid-century advertising.
Peggy Olson
Peggy Olson begins as Don Draper's secretary and rises to a copywriter, showing the limited yet evolving opportunities for women in the workplace. Her growth traces the changing expectations for professional women during the 1960s.
Joan Harris
Joan Harris serves as the firm's office manager, using her social intelligence and organizational skills to maintain operations. Her role underscores the behind-the-scenes influence of administrative professionals in a male-dominated industry. Mad Men on AMC
