Q&A - Vincent Kartheiser (Pete Campbell)
The actor who plays Sterling Cooper's Co-Head of Accounts talks about keeping expectations in check and issues a warning to his future tailor.
Q: Pete's complexity never ceases to amaze. Are you still discovering new things about him?
A: Lots of the stuff about Pete Campbell comes to me from Matthew [Weiner]. He told me at the beginning of the season some of the transitions the character would be going through. I try not have expectations for the character, or assume to know what's going to happen, or how he's going to react. It's hard to be surprised because I'm not expecting anything.
Q: Pete is a guy some people love to hate.
A: Well, I don't know if I consider him the bad guy. Among the people in the office, I don't think he's considered the bad guy; he's considered a nuisance. I don't know that anyone feels threatened by him. If you think of the bad guys, you might think of someone coming in to fire everyone. So for them, it's PPL. For the audience -- I don't know... I try not to assume what the audience is thinking either. I've met people who dislike the character; I've met people who like the character.
Q: What have been your favorite Pete moments this season?
A: Pete's moments with Joan in [Episode 8]. I just loved doing that scene. I never really worked with Christina Hendricks. We're both hiding something from a whole group of people in our lives; there's a conversation happening underneath the actual conversation. I've never really had more than a couple of lines with Christina so that was great for me to do. I also like working with Aaron Staton. He's got that character down and he brings such energy and such light. It's a show that doesn't have a lot of characters that are optimistic or happy.
Q: Before Season 3 began, you said there would be more singing and dancing. You weren't kidding.
A: That was great. I had a lot of fun doing [the Charleston]. Everyone on the show is an actor; we're not afraid to perform. No matter who it is, if they'd given Jon Hamm or anybody else the task to learn that dance, it would have been a joy for them to do it. When creatives and writers and directors push the people around them, it's how these great moments are made.
Q: Have you noticed the writers using personal quirks for your character?
A: Of course. The writers on the show are blessed observationalists who spend a lot of their time around us, and very aware of things they can pull from us. They'll write little things here and there for us that work in our favor. But also, they have stories of their own they want to tell. It's not like they're sitting in a room going, "OK who are all of these actors? What can they do and let's just do that."
Q: People are obsessed with the look of the series. Has working on this show changed your personal style?
A: It has in the sense that when I do put on a suit, I know how it should fit. I know about collars, sleeves, and how to tie a bow-tie... things I didn't know about at all three years ago. When I go to a tailor, that tailor better know what's up -- because I do. But I've literally been wearing the same pair of jeans for the past five days. I'm still that guy.
Vincent, you are one great actor (among many on MM)...just when I start to like you and say to myself, "Awwww, Pete's not so bad after all....", you go and pull one of your underhanded, lousy, typical "Pete" stunts and it's back to, "That low life....how can anyone get that low?"
Never change! Thanks for all the delicious entertainment, may it be so for many many years to come!
V.K. You are my favorite actor. You were amazing in "Souvenir" Really my major reason to watch the show.
I appreciate Vincent's proper use of semicolons; it is a lost art.
Vincent, you're wonderful! I don't know how anyone could just plain hate Pete. He's too human and interesting. Thank you!!
Whether one loves or hates Pete is besides the point in my book. Pete is a complex character and that's what makes him interesting. If he were all good or all bad, then he would become predictable and, therefore, boring.
Like all humans, he has his good moments and bad. He displays pride, shame, joy and sorrow. Kartheiser has really made Pete come to life.
Whether one loves or hates Pete is besides the point in my book. Pete is a complex character and that's what makes him interesting. If he were all good or all bad, then he would become predictable and, therefore, boring.
Like all humans, he has his good moments and bad. He displays pride, shame, joy and sorrow. Kartheiser has really made Pete come to life.
He's Awesome.
I must disagree: Pete's not that complex. He's just another younger son with a grand family name and reputation without the monetary fortune to back it up. Overall, Pete's a weasel. His entire motivation seems to be to lust after what he can't have (Peggy, even the sluttish German au pair next door; his joint account managerial position as SC) -- ignoring what he does have. But if you note, his affairs have all been with gullible, wide-eyed young girls, eager to please. There's a reason why Joan wouldn't give Pete the time of day.
All in all Pete's a fun character to watch with his good and bad flaws
Dear Producers,
You outdid yourselves on historical accuracy in Ep. 9: Henry Francis's return address on his note to Betty is Whippoorwill Road in Chappaqua NY. I grew up in Chappaqua in the Mad Men 60s. Whippoorwill indeed exists and the town address -- Chappaqua 14, New York -- is accurate too. Well done!
Matthew Weiner: did we know each other at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua? Go, Quakers!
Drea Besch
I think Pete's far from being a flat character. The model of a man of his time is fairly flat and limited and he tries to portray this at the office and at home too, but he has this well of humanity; both beautiful and ugly, always threatening to bubble over and unmask him. He's smarmy, but sometimes conflicted about it. Not boring and Vincent plays him so well.
Pete is by far the most interesting character on the show. I don't know why but, he's been my favorite ever since the very first episode. I think he's even more interesting than Don.
I'm a great admirer of Pete's "chicken throwing" skills, and hope we'll see more of this talent in the future. Great hand/eye coordination, Pete!
Pete Campbell is the quintessential "man you love to hate." I love watching the show when Pete is highlighted. I may be saying, "Oh, you SLIMEBALL!" when watching Pete in action, but I say it with a smile on my face. What fun would "Dallas" have been without J.R. Ewing?
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Alison Brie and Vincent doing the Charleston earlier this season. For me, it was as if the show was suspended and everyone came out of character. Vincent and Alison stopped being Phil and Trudy; they became themselves displaying their amazing talents. It was a joy to watch.