Mad Men‘s Vincent Kartheiser blows us away every week with his nuanced portrayal of the villainous-but-surprisingly-sympathetic Pete Campbell. Thankfully, that wounded smarminess is all an act, as evidenced by Kartheiser’s charms in a recent Vanity Fair article where he expresses dorky love for Marlon Brando and shares on-set stories about working with Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss.
The actor says he loves that Pete isn’t just a simple villain and talks about the character’s vague yet unquestionable feelings for Peggy. ”There is no kind of black or white with any of these characters,” he says in the article. ”People are all motivated by hundreds of different things, most of them subconscious. Is Pete in love with Peggy? How in love with her is he? Why is he in love with her? Is it really just his ego?”
Oh, and those ballet lessons that got Kartheiser beat up as a kid? Well, they certainly paid off with that Charleston routine in last week’s episode.
Isn’t it great when the real-life person behind the sleaze-you-love-to-hate turns out to be so likable? Do you think Pete Campbell the meatiest character on Mad Men? What’s your favorite Pete Campbell moment?
Favorite Pete Campbell moment? “It’s a chip’n dip!”
Vincent K. is consistently incredible. I’m so conflicted over whether I want him to fail or succeed, to suffer the consequences of his idiocy or reap the rewards of his foresight.
Hell’s bells, Trudy!
*Throws chicken out the window*
Vincent is my parents’ godson, and I have known him since he was born. He’s a good guy, and I am happy for his success. He’s come a long way since the Guthrie!
Pete is the bomb.
I love Pete especially for his villain tendencies. tossing the chicken out the window was awesome. my fave scene is Peggy telling him she had his baby. Weasely Pete.
Ditto to Nick’s comment!!! VK is a gem. Do I root for Pete or do I want him to fail – BOTH!
I’ve been a fan of Kartheiser’s for a while, since “Angel.” Granted, Connor was irritating at first, but once Vincent whipped out “well-adjusted Connor” I started to appreciate him as an actor for his charm and talent. And I was blown away by Pete Campbell. Consistently one of my favorite characters to watch. I laugh at his utter incosequentiality, yet admire his determination and vulnerability (no one does fractured ego quite like him). Lot’s of luck to you, sir.
I guess I’m just not getting all of the subtext, but I don’t see Pete as a villain. Conflicted, sure, but I hope he gets the happy ending more than Don. If there is a real “villain,” I would say Roger or Duck, and even then, it is so conflicted, there are days I root for them (well, Roger, cause Duck is a tool!).
Kartheiser will always be a *snap* Flat Critter to me.
you’re not the only one.
that movie is my favorite movie of all time.
up you’re ziggy with a wah wah brush
My favorite moment was the final shot of Pete sitting alone in his office holding the gun he traded the chip ‘n’ dip set for. Loved it.
Connor has come a long way…
I like the scenes where he squared of against his mother, after his father died.
I love when Pete told Peggy his true feelings for her in the last episode of season 2. He was so genuine in that scene. I hope they end up together!
I love the scene where Pete shares his bizzare erotic hunting fantasy with Peggy. Pete’s long hard battle against a world determined to emasculate him never ceases to amuse me.
I loved VK when I saw him years ago in ‘Another Day in Paradise’, playing a thieving drugged up street kid. So pleased to see him again! He’s made something very special out of his Pete performance.