The rantings of one of those ‘Mad Men’

“Mad Men’s” Vincent Kartheiser, 28, is a total clown and a deep thinker, often in the same minute. During our chat, the Minnesota native, who’s lived in Hollywood for the last 10 years, told ridiculous fibs involving a secret affair with Mel Gibson (wait till US magazine reads that!), Justin Timberlake rocking it at clubs with a peg leg (don’t ask) and showing up to the “Mad Men” auditions in drag (nope, more like a suit). Kartheiser also talked about his “Mad Men” (AMC, Thursdays at 10 p.m.) character, the sometimes smarmy, sometimes sweet, sometimes vicious advertising accounts manager Pete Campbell.

Question: How do you explain Pete Campbell to people?

Kartheiser: It’s like apologizing for a touchy cousin. He’s got something to prove. He’s unaware sometimes and he speaks before he thinks. . . . I think he’s a very modern man.

Q: What do you mean by modern man?

Kartheiser: He’s more of what a man has become. He’s emasculated, desperate and insecure. He represents the modern male more than the Humphrey Bogart type who never cries and who fought in WWII.

Q: How do you make Pete likable?

Kartheiser: I just play it according to his motivations in that unique moment. I don’t think people have much sympathy for Pete, but in real life, we are all bastards sometimes. Maybe you aren’t around fellow workers, but you might be on the road to the next car. I think Pete Campbell makes people look at themselves.

Q: What’s your take on Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) and Pete’s relationship?

Kartheiser: All relationships teeter back and forth on who has the power, but when there’s such a socially obvious difference right from the start, it’s really hard. How do you have a relationship with someone who looks up to you or admires you? Immediately it’s all Pete’s fault. If Pete has sex with Peggy and he never calls her again, it’s all on him to instigate it or end it. It’s a lot of pressure for him. He’s interested in her, but he’s also married, so he feels shame and guilt. It speaks about the male mind in any generation.

Q: I notice you wear a lot of blue. Why’s that?

Kartheiser: They’re trying as hard as they can to bring as many moments of good looks to my character as possible. But it’s hard standing next to the very illustriously handsome Jon Hamm. There’s only so much a guy can do.

margaret.wappler@latimes.com

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