TV Hotties
‘Mad Men’s 9 Sexiest Men, Ranked
Mad Men is a show you can have endless debates about. From the most insane moment (the lawn mower incident) to the best episode (“The Suitcase”), the AMC series has always been a hotbed for opinions.
Speaking of hot, Swooon has decided to look back at the men of Mad Men and figure out which one is the sexiest of them all. For this ranking, our list only includes the actual “mad men” at the office — sorry, Henry Francis (Christopher Stanley).
There are expected faces — looking at you, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — and a couple of unexpected ones who’ve made it quite far in the ranking. But who ultimately wins Swooon’s account for Mad Men’s sexiest man?
Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
9. Harry Crane
Ugh, Harry Crane (Rich Sommer). There’s a lot not to like about Harry Crane. He’s unfaithful to his wife (though, most of the men on this list are), he gets Sal (Bryan Batt) fired, and tries to convince Megan Draper (Jessica Paré) to sleep with him for her career. Worst of all, he is more worried about business than humanity when Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated. As anyone on Hinge knows, “not political” is an immediate swipe left.
—Leah Williams
8. Pete Campbell
Look, Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) is so many shades of annoying, but that’s what makes him so endearing and low-key hot. The man knows how to hustle. Even though he tries to blackmail Don for a job at one point (but later protects him), we have to admire how relentless he is. At the end of the day, Pete is a sad boy looking for validation. The man is flawed, but he’s fixable, which makes him significantly more attractive. Trudy Campbell (Alison Brie), we believe in you! And let’s not forget that Pete is the funniest guy at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and it’s not even close. (“The king ordered it!” is an all-timer.)
—Avery Thompson
7. Sal Romano
With his Old Hollywood good looks, who wouldn’t want to be with Sal? And he calls his mom regularly? Swoon! While his wife, Kitty (Sarah Drew), is devastated to realize Sal is gay while watching him wax poetic about Ann-Margret’s performance in Bye, Bye, Birdie, we here at Swooon wouldn’t mind a lavender marriage with Salvatore Romano. God forbid a man queen out with his wife!
—Leah Williams
6. Michael Ginsberg
Poor, sweet Ginsberg. Eccentric and chaotic, Michael Ginsberg does not have much romantic experience and lives with his father. Still, he’s played by the adorable Ben Feldman, which earns him a spot on our list. In our opinion, he’s at his cutest in Season 6, with his longer hair and little mustache. Maybe a severed nipple isn’t the worst romantic gesture in the world…
—Leah Williams
5. Bob Benson
James Wolk in those tiny shorts? We’re in. Bob Benson is a huge mystery, automatically making him hotter than he already is. We’re not going to cast judgment on him for making up his resume and his name — hello, Don Draper did the same thing. He’s not higher on our list because we didn’t get enough of him on the show, and we sure wish we had.
—Avery Thompson
4. Ken Cosgrove
Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton) is so underrated, and here’s why: The guy knows work-life balance. He’s got other interests, like writing! Yes, Mr. Cosgrove is passionate about his writing career, which earns him several points on our Mad Men Hotness Scale. (You know Ken can write a hell of a love letter.) The guy is put through the wringer in later seasons and even loses his eye on a work trip. But you know what? He’s the sexiest guy with an eye patch. Let’s just hope Ken ultimately quit Dow Chemicals and goes on to win a Pulitzer for writing.
—Avery Thompson
3. Don Draper
This will probably cause a stir, and we’re not saying Don Draper isn’t one of the hottest TV characters ever. He is! We just have to look at the full picture here. Most of the men of Mad Men are walking red flags, and that certainly includes Don. The man does not believe in fidelity, and that’s a dealbreaker to most. He’s a brilliant and charming man (every time he smokes, I want a cigarette), but it’s going to take a miracle to tame Mr. Draper. If you like a challenge, Don is for you.
Here’s another thing about Don Draper: He’s too hot. I’m just not sure I’m comfortable standing next to a man who simply makes me feel ugly because he’s so beautiful. I said what I said.
—Avery Thompson
2. Roger Sterling
Silver fox! Roger Sterling (John Slattery) is cheeky, handsome, and fun. In a show full of cads, Roger might be our favorite. On paper, he’s aggressive and infuriating, yet Slattery imbues such charm that you can’t help but completely understand all the flight attendants and cocktail waitresses who fall for his animal magnetism. When he turns it on, he’s the sexiest man in any room.
—Leah Williams
1. Stan Rizzo
You were probably thinking Don Draper had this one without question, huh? Wrong! Stan Rizzo (Jay R. Ferguson) takes the top prize here.
As soon as Stan debuts his grizzly look with that longer hair and beard, it’s game over. The clean-shaven men of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce need to take a hint. But this is not just about how good Stan looks physically. There’s a reason his last name is Rizzo — the man has chaRIZZma. He’s funny, confident, and good at his job. Three big checkmarks there!
He’s also a yearner, and for that, he’s in a league all his own. Stan pretty much falls in love with Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) the moment he meets her, and their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers journey is chef’s kiss. We’re protective of our girl Peggy, and Stan is the only guy worthy of her love. Stan is forever THAT man.
—Avery Thompson
