Top 10 'Mad Men' Characters

Since 2007, Mad Men has entertained viewers with tons of drama, humor, and a historical depiction of the 1960s. The series has reached critical acclaim and remains one of the most popular shows on AMC. At the heart of the show's success lies the cast of characters who have offered a unique perspective on the era.

The members of Sterling Cooper & Partners along have been through a lot over the years. The cast has lived through some of the biggest moments in this country's history while trying to keep their business and personal lives in order.

With the final episodes on their way, this list will look back at the characters who've defined the series and analyze their impact on the show. While not every character on Mad Men is easy to like, they all bring different levels of intrigue.

What makes the characters on the show so special is that each is different and complex in their own way. None of them are perfect and they often make choices the viewer may disagree with, but their flaws are what makes them human and allows an audience to connect.

As a warning, this list wil contain a few spoilers from the first six and a half seasons. With all that said, it's time to count down the best characters from Mad Men.

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Lane Pryce

Lane Pryce didn't come around until the third season but had a lasting impact on a lot of characters. Initially sent to trim some of Sterling-Cooper's expenses, Pryce would become one of the founders of the agency's rebranding as Sterling-Cooper-Draper-Pryce. Watching the Englishman struggle to adapt to living in New York City provided a number of compelling moments in the series. Unfortunately, the pressure would prove to bee too much and led to the character's unexpected death.

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Sally Draper

At a young age, Sally Draper has seen a lot growing up. The oldest child of advertising genius Don Draper, Sally has experienced the ever-changing world around her during the complex period of the 1960s. Fans have watched Sally grow from a small girl to a young lady and her growth through all the changes has been fun to watch.

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Pete Campbell

If you asked a group of Mad Men fans who their favorite character is, you probably wouldn't get many people choosing Pete Campbell. He's selfish, irritating, and, like most men during his time, doesn't have a lot of respect for women. Despite his number of flaws, Pete manages to have his moments of vulnerability. Over the seasons, Pete has become more tolerable to not only his co-workers but viewers as well. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's pretty good at getting accounts to sign with the agency.

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Megan Draper

Megan went from being Don Draper's secretary to his second wife in the blink of an eye. The sudden marriage of the two started a new arc in the show after Don's life was spiraling out of control because of his divorce. Despite having some talent in advertising, Megan's dream of becoming an actress would lead her to Hollywood. She's also one of the few characters in the show to understand Don's complicated past.

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Bert Cooper

Bert Cooper co-founded Sterling-Cooper many years ago and serves as the show's eccentric elderly figure. He loves the company more than anyone and provides moments of comic relief along with sound advice. He's one of the show's most colorful characters, which made his untimely passing at the end of last season so sad.

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Betty Francis

Although she's re-married, Betty will always be remembered as Don Draper's first wife. A former model turned housewife, Betty seemed to have everything in order as she spent years caring for her husband and children. It would take revelations of Don's affairs and his past to convince Betty that it was time to end their marriage. Betty has made a number of unpopular decisions throughout the show and can be criticized for blaming others for her own problems. As the series has gone on, Betty has grown more independent in her thinking and it'll be interesting to see how her relationships unfold.

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Peggy Olsen

No other character on Mad Men has risen through the ranks like Peggy. After a brief stint as Don's secretary, Peggy evolved to become one of the best creative minds at Sterling Cooper & Partners. In a business ruled by men, Peggy has stood out to make a name for herself. Although her frustrations sometimes get the best of her and she's made her fair share of questionable choices, Peggy has found success without stooping below her standards. She will always be connected to Don for not only being his former secretary but his protege and one of his few friends.

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Joan Harris

There's only a few characters on Mad Men who have been through as much as Joan. Despite years of service, it would take a few seasons before Joan would get the respect she deserved from her peers. Joan has proven that she's not only attractive but has a good mind for business and has proven her loyalty time and time again. Joan is a near-perfect encapsulation of the issues women faced in the 1960s.

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Roger Sterling

Roger Sterling is a spoiled, selfish, perverted old man and also one of the show's most entertaining characters. When he's not drinking in the early hours of the morning or having wild sex parties, Roger gets to enjoy running a company who's share he inherited from his father. Although he may rub some people the wrong way, Roger has slowly become more self-aware over time and has realized the consequences of his actions. His wit and humor is one of the bright spots of his character and provided some of the show's funniest lines. With only a few episodes remaining, there's no telling where Roger will end up.

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Don Draper

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone to see Don Draper at the top of this list. The main man himself has been one of the most compelling characters on television for years. After stealing another man's identity, Don went from being the son of a teenage prostitute and a town drunk to the Creative Director at one of the top advertising agencies in New York City. In spite of his accomplishments, Don rarely appears happy or satisfied and often indulges in drinking, smoking, and sex to fill the void. His love of alcohol, cigarettes, and women has lead to his downfall several times but he always manages to bounce back. Although he's far from a perfect gentleman, Don has shown that he has a heart and continues to evolve emotionally. Viewers will be waiting in anticipation to see what will become of Don as the show reaches its end.