Jon Hamm and Taraji P. Henson are two of the toughest actors in Hollywood. The two put in years of work in smaller roles before making a big splash on TV shows like For Mad and Empire. And similar life markers are not the only thing they have in common.
Jon Hamm was involved for years before coming to ‘Mad Men’
Before his big break as advertising officer Don Draper entered For Mad, Hamm was a Los Angeles – based actor trying to work his way up the Hollywood ladder. He even appeared on the date show The Big Date.
During the late 90s and early 00s, Hamm appeared in a number of walking roles in many beloved shows. Forward Ally McBeal, had an incredible career as a good-looking bar man. He had guest spots Gilmore’s daughters and CSI: Miami, and it was on Charmed and Numbers3rs in the months before a For Mad debut.
Taraji P. Henson worked several jobs before becoming an actor
Henson similarly spent years working in smaller positions before getting a major break. She had small guest roles on shows such as ER, Sister, Sister, and Saved by the bell: The new class. She had her first major film role with Snoop Dogg and Tyrese Gibson in 2001 Baby boy, and played against her future Empire Terrence Howard in 2005 Hustle & Flow.
Before becoming an actress, however, Henson worked several other jobs to put food on the table. “I put myself through college,” Henson said Vanity Fair in 2009. “I was working at the Pentagon early in the day, the middle of the day I went to school full time, and at night I was a dancer dancing on this little dinner trip with him called the Spirit of Washington. ”
Henson’s tour days are some of her most fond memories. She even shared a throwback photo of him Instagram herself singing on the dinner vessel one night. “#TBT to when she used to be a singing / dancing server on the Spirit of Washington dinner cruise, ”said Henson. She was even laughing at her heavy confession at the time: “I used to be heavy-handed with the brooches.”
Interestingly enough, Hamm also worked as a waitress while rumored for early positions in his career.
Jon Hamm and Taraji P. Henson worked together early in their careers
Unsurprisingly, two Hollywood-based actors, Hamm and Henson, began crossing tracks almost two decades ago. In 2002, they both joined the police procedures team The Department and remained as main characters for the final three seasons of the show.
Hamm plays a fast-thinking Nate Basso police officer, while Henson plays an officer named Raina Washington. Before the final season of the show, Basso and Washington became partners, working together to fight crime wherever it occurs.
Both Hamm and Henson went on to prestigious careers, and even both won Golden Globes in 2016 – Hamm for For Mad, Henson for Empire. And when Hamm won an Emmy for his iconic career the previous year, Henson couldn’t help but express his joy in Instagram role.
“Sooooooooooo happy for my friend and first TV cop partner on it The Department, Jon Hamm !!!!! Who remembers that !!!!! ” Henson said, “Everything is fine in the world!”
