Rich Sommer

Rich Sommer is an American actor best known for his portrayal of the ambitious advertising executive Harry Crane on the critically acclaimed AMC period drama series Mad Men. His nuanced performance across the show's seven seasons earned him widespread recognition and established him as a versatile character actor. Sommer has since built a diverse career spanning film, television, and theater, often appearing in both comedic and dramatic roles in projects such as The Devil Wears Prada, GLOW, and The Office.

Early life and education

Rich Sommer was born in Toledo, Ohio, and spent part of his childhood in Middleton, Wisconsin. He developed an early interest in performance, participating in theater during his time at Middleton High School. Sommer pursued higher education at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts. While in college, he was actively involved with the comedy troupe Theatre of the Relatively Talentless and performed at the renowned Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis.

Career

Sommer began his professional acting career in the early 2000s, initially securing guest roles on television series such as Law & Order and The West Wing. His breakout role came in 2007 when he was cast as Harry Crane on Matthew Weiner's Mad Men, a part he played until the series concluded in 2015, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Concurrently, he appeared in notable films like David Frankel's The Devil Wears Prada as a colleague of Anne Hathaway's character. Following Mad Men, Sommer demonstrated his range with a recurring role as the supportive husband Mark Eagan on the Netflix series GLOW and a memorable guest stint on The Office. His film work includes roles in Jason Reitman's The Front Runner, the independent feature Hello, My Name Is Doris, and the science fiction film The Last Days of American Crime. On stage, he has performed in Off-Broadway productions in New York City.

Personal life

Sommer married actress Virginia Donohoe in 2009, and the couple resides in Los Angeles with their two children. An avid board game enthusiast, he has participated in and hosted various gaming events and podcasts, including appearances on the web series TableTop hosted by Wil Wheaton. Sommer is also a supporter of several charitable organizations and has been involved with fundraising efforts for The Trevor Project and other causes.

Filmography

A selected list of Sommer's acting credits includes the film The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the television series Mad Men (2007–2015), the series GLOW (2017–2019), and the film The Front Runner (2018). Other notable television appearances encompass episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Blacklist, and Love. His voice acting work includes roles in the animated series Central Park and video games such as Firewatch.

Awards and nominations

For his work on Mad Men, Sommer, as part of the ensemble, won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2009 and received further nominations in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014. The cast also earned a nomination for a Critics' Choice Television Award. His performance in the independent film The Giant was recognized with awards at the Austin Film Festival and the Oxford Film Festival.

Category:American male television actors Category:American film actors Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from Toledo, Ohio Category:University of Minnesota alumni