Jared Harris took a massive gamble on Mad Men, keeping a career-altering secret that most actors wouldn’t dare. Without telling his agent, he made a bold move that came at a huge personal cost, but for Harris, it was all about serving the story.
While many would fight for job security, he embraced the risk, proving his commitment to the craft. In Hollywood, that kind of dedication is rare.
Jared Harris kept his Mad Men exit a secret, even from his own agent
Jared Harris pulled off something most actors wouldn’t even consider: he kept his Mad Men exit a secret from his own agent.
During a Canneseries Live masterclass, Harris revealed how showrunner Matthew Weiner broke the news over a midday whiskey. He alluded (via Variety),
As soon as Matt is offering you a huge slab of whiskey in the middle of the day, I knew something was wrong…But when he told me how he was going to do it, I literally fell off my chair laughing because I knew how clever it was.
That’s when Weiner apologized and told him Lane Pryce was being written off. But Harris didn’t just accept his fate — he made a deal.
He negotiated time off to promote Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows but agreed to skip pilot season so no one would suspect his departure. Harris admitted,
I understood it was important for my profile in the business to be part of the London press junket…I told my wife about being killed off, but I didn’t tell my agent or manager. They only found out when the episode aired.
Even after Lane’s tragic exit, Harris wasn’t done negotiating. Before leaving, he asked Weiner for a shot at directing an episode. Weiner agreed, leading Harris to shadow a director in season 6 before finally helming Time & Life in season 7.
His behind-the-scenes impact didn’t stop there. On The Crown, Harris helped shape the emotional depth between King George VI and Princess Margaret, improvising a pivotal singing scene with Vanessa Kirby. And on Chernobyl, he dove so deep into his role that he could explain how a nuclear reactor works.
Harris’s career is a masterclass in strategy — on-screen and off.
Jared Harris reveals why Richard Harris chose Dumbledore over Gandalf
Richard Harris nearly wielded Gandalf’s staff before settling into Dumbledore’s robes. According to his son, Jared Harris, the late actor was offered both wizarding roles at the same time but turned down The Lord of the Rings. Why? Jared told The Times,
Dad was offered Gandalf and Dumbledore at the same time, but he didn’t want to spend all that time in New Zealand [where the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed].
Richard ultimately brought his mischievous comic touch to Harry Potter, but after his passing in 2002, Michael Gambon took over. Interestingly, Ian McKellen was also offered Dumbledore but refused, citing Richard’s past criticism of him.
Now, as the Harry Potter TV reboot searches for a new headmaster, Jared thinks Mark Rylance would be wonderful. The series, announced in 2023, has drawn mixed reactions, with some calling it unnecessary.
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