I Do Like Green Eggs and Jon Hamm
by Olga Symeonoglou
Senior Staff Writer
Jon Hamm, John Burroughs class of 1989, recently won a Golden Globe for his performance as Don Draper on the AMC show Mad Men. Hamm has appeared in episodes of popular television shows such as CSI: Miami, Gilmore Girls, and Providence. He played Captain Matt Dillon in We Were Soldiers (2002), a movie about the Vietnam War, with Mel Gibson and Keri Russell. Hamm also appeared in Kissing Jessica Stein with Jennifer Westfeldt in 2001. In addition, he played a role in Space Cowboys (2000), directed by Clint Eastwood. The Day the Earth Stood Still, a movie starring Hamm as well as Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, is currently awaiting release. After speaking to Mr. Salomon, director of theater at John Burroughs, and communicating with Hamm, it is evident that his encounters with celebrities have done nothing to diminish his character or to take away his modesty. Salomon praised his "incredible charisma," both during his time at Burroughs and in his life presently.
Before his career as an actor, Hamm spent his 7th-12th grade years at John Burroughs, where he acted, played football and baseball, and was on the swim team. "I was an inaugural member of the JBS men's swim team. We were called "The Lemmings." We thought that was hilarious. I haven't spoken to Leslie since I was on faculty at JBS she was an amazing educator and coach to me." When I asked Hamm about his impressive list of extracurricular activities, however, he merely said, "we were a motivated class." Coach Kerr and Coach Small both lit up when I asked them if they had any memories of him "Oh, Jon! He was a wonderful athlete". Kerr commented that he was a "strong swimmer", and showed me a photograph that she placed on the bulletin board by the pool after she learned he had won a Golden Globe for his performance on Mad Men.
As well as being on that bulletin board, Hamm also is reserved a place on the one in Mr. Salomon's office. A very good friend of Hamm's, Salomon had incredibly kind things to say about him. He commented that "he's on the bulletin board forever". In response to a question about his favorite memories from Burroughs, Hamm replied that there were too many to recount, but that one of his greatest was "our senior production of "Godspell" in 1989 (directed by Mr. Salomon) starring myself, Sarah Clarke, Sara Switzer, Heater Goldenhersh, and Amy Barrett, all of whom ended up, in one way or another, in the entertainment industry." (Sarah Clarke starred in the television series 24). Salomon remarked that Hamm was one of the first people he ever saw who wore a baseball hat all the time, saying that they were "the backwards hat guys". During the Burroughs production of Godspell Hamm referred to, two deaths occurred in families of cast members. "He was the fountain of strength for everybody," Salomon said. Aside from his incredible personality, Salomon admired "how interested he was in the whole process" of acting: the sets, the rehearsals, "the theater family thing".
After graduating from Burroughs in 1989, Hamm attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned a degree in English. He then interned at John Burroughs, teaching 8th grade acting from 1994-1995, when he appeared in the performance "Stage Door" with Mr. Pierson. Both before and after his internship at Burroughs, he worked as a waiter in Saint Louis. He then got in his car and drove to L.A. where he also worked as a waiter for a number of years. Although there were many opportunities to do so, Salomon said, "he never took bad work. He might've had one line, but it was a Clint Eastwood movie." When I asked him about this Hamm mentioned "crappy jobs over the years, but if Wayne's referring to my acting working then yes, I have been relatively lucky to be involved with relatively high-profile and high-quality projects throughout my career. Lucky."
One of the main themes addressed again and again by Salomon as he told Hamm's story as he knew it, is that being an actor means being careful, disciplined, and patient, "like being a sculptor". The opportunity came for Hamm to become extremely successful when he landed a role in Mad Men. "You have to be ready for that moment, and he was ready," Salomon said.
I asked Hamm if any of the things he learned at Burroughs have helped his career, and he replied: I can't tell you how important I think the comprehensive and expansive education, as well as the instilling of a genuine love and respect for learning that JBS instilled in me has been in my later, adult, professional life. I have made lifelong friends, learned myriad lessons (both in and out of class) and, most importantly, acquired a passionate pursuit of knowledge and artistic appreciation that has served me in many aspects of my adult life."
Jon Hamm is an actor whom I truly believe deserves every compliment he receives; in my e-mails with him, you would never think he is a celebrity because of his modesty. Salomon said, "he was always happy to be working, always surprised at what success has brought him, so instead of being indulgent he's just surprised! The work is what's gratifying." He has a genuine appreciation for the success he has experienced, and the way he deals with this success is casual yet sophisticated. His advice to current Burroughs students with regard to our future: build a strong foundation and you can weather any difficulty.