Roger Sterling
The cynical, whiskey-soaked heart of a fading advertising empire.
Roger H. Sterling Jr. is a fictional character on the AMC television series Mad Men, portrayed by John Slattery. He formerly worked for Sterling Cooper, an advertising agency his father co-founded in 1923, before becoming a founding partner at the new firm of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce in late 1963. A US Navy veteran of World War II who served in the Pacific theater, including the Battle of Okinawa, Sterling is a notorious womanizer and a heavy smoker and drinker until two heart attacks in the same year force him to slow down. He retains considerable affection from both Sterling Cooper employees and his family.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Mad Men
- Portrayed by
- John Slattery
- Creator
- Matthew Weiner
- First
- "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (1.01)
- Last
- "Person to Person" (7.14)
- Full name
- Roger H. Sterling Jr.
- Occupation
- Founding Partner of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce
- Family
- Roger Sterling Sr. (deceased father); Mimsie Sterling (deceased mother)
Lore & Background
He is instrumental in navigating the firm through mergers, buyouts, and the eventual merger with Cutler, Gleason and Chaough, which formed Sterling Cooper & Partners. His relationship with Joan Holloway evolves from a professional dynamic into a profound, albeit complicated, friendship that anchors him during his personal crises.
Reader's Guide
Roger Sterling enters the series as a wealthy, somewhat idle partner who relies on his family name and charm. Over time, however, he becomes a crucial stabilizing force for the agency. His personal life is marked by multiple marriages and a complex relationship with his children, reflecting the era's shifting family dynamics. His transition from a Sterling Cooper partner to an independent consultant marks his acceptance of change.
Did You Know?
- Roger's first wife, Mona, is played by John Slattery's real-life spouse, Talia Balsam.
- Roger's daughter Margaret's wedding was inadvertently scheduled for November 23, 1963, the day after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
- After taking LSD with his second wife Jane, Roger finally came to terms with the fact that their marriage was over.
More in Themes & Cultural Context
Elsewhere in Mad Men
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