Vincent Kartheiser

Lore & Background

Kartheiser's character, Pete Campbell, was a junior partner at the advertising agency Sterling Cooper, later part of SCDP and eventually McCann Erickson. The actor's portrayal captured the character's constant struggle for recognition and his old-money background. Kartheiser's performance was a key element of the show's exploration of class and ambition in 1960s New York. Along with the rest of the cast, he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2009 and 2010.

Reader's Guide

Vincent Kartheiser played Pete Campbell across all seven seasons of Mad Men. His character's journey from a brash junior account man to a more seasoned executive was a central thread of the series. Kartheiser's performance earned him acclaim, and he was part of the ensemble that won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2009 and 2010. The role remains his most recognized work.

Did You Know?

• Vincent Kartheiser dropped out of high school at age 15 because he 'wanted to make money.'
• He played Connor, the son of the title character, on the supernatural drama series Angel in 2002.
• Kartheiser was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as William Bradford in Saints & Strangers.
• He married his Mad Men co-star Alexis Bledel in June 2014; they have one son, born in 2015.
• Kartheiser filed for divorce from Bledel on August 10, 2022, and the divorce was finalized on August 30.