Mad Men is a drama television series.
Jonathan Daniel Hamm ( born March 10 , 1971 ) is an American actor , director , and television producer best known for playing advertising executive Don Draper for the AMC television drama series , Mad Men ( 2007 -- 2015 ) . Mad Men is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television . The show was also the first basic cable series to receive the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series , winning in each of its first four seasons .