Michael Gladis
A character actor best known for bringing the ambitious, frustrated ad man Paul Kinsey to vivid life on the acclaimed series 'Mad Men'.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American actor·Birthday: August 30·Generation X
Biography
Michael Gladis stepped into the meticulously crafted world of 'Mad Men' and immediately made Paul Kinsey a memorable figure. As the pretentious, Ivy League-educated copywriter at Sterling Cooper, Gladis portrayed a man perpetually wrestling with the gap between his intellectual self-image and his professional reality. With a beard and a pipe, Kinsey was the show's emblem of 1960s bohemian affectation clashing with corporate conformity. Gladis played him with a perfect blend of arrogance and pathos, making his character's stumbles and occasional moments of clarity deeply human. While 'Mad Men' remains his signature role, Gladis has built a steady career filled with sharp character work on television shows like 'The Blacklist,' 'Elementary,' and 'The Following.' He approaches each part with a thoughtful intensity, whether playing a beleaguered father or a sinister operative, proving his range extends far beyond the Madison Avenue offices where he first made his mark.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Michael was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Michael Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Michael's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the recurring character Paul Kinsey across the first three seasons of the landmark television series 'Mad Men'.
- Appeared as a series regular on the TNT drama 'Murder in the First' (2014-2016).
- Has guest-starred on numerous major network shows, including 'The Blacklist,' 'Elementary,' and 'Castle.'
- Performed in stage productions in New York City, including off-Broadway and regional theater.
Did You Know?
He is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
Before acting full-time, he worked as a bartender in New York City.
He is an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox.
He provided voice work for several characters in the popular video game 'BioShock Infinite.'
“I'm not just a copywriter; I'm a man of letters in a world of hucksters.”
