How Rich Sommer Really Felt About His Mad Men Character
Harry Crane was hardly the moral heart of Mad Men's first season, but he wasn't a total sleazeball, either. So, what does Rich Sommer think about his decline?
Rich Sommer, who portrayed Harry Crane on the television series Mad Men, has provided insight into his character's transformation from a polite and respectful man in the show's first season to a significantly more unpleasant individual in later seasons. Sommer wrote an essay for Slate in 2012, when Harry's negative behavior was at its peak, explaining his character's evolution.
Sommer maintained that Harry didn't fundamentally change; instead, his growing status within the agency allowed him to express more of his inherent jerk-like tendencies. He cited examples of Harry's increasing selfishness and sleaze, including his treatment of his wife and his attempts to manipulate women for personal gain. Sommer also noted that Harry's newfound wealth and power made him feel untouchable, enabling him to act with a level of disregard previously unheard of on the show.
Sommer acknowledged the complexity of Harry's character, praising the show's writers for avoiding the trap of making him a one-dimensional villain. He also mentioned that creator Matthew Weiner tended to view Harry more charitably than fans might expect, recognizing that Harry was not purely a one-note villain, but rather a man wrestling with his own flaws and desires.
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