Sally Draper

Sally Draper

Sally Beth Draper (Kiernan Shipka) is Don and Betty Draper's oldest child. The series' third episode, "Marriage of Figaro," depicts a party for her 6th birthday in May 1960. She becomes a more central character in the Seasons 3 and 4 (according to the time line of the series, she would turn nine years old in season 3 and 11 in season 4); from Season 4, she is promoted to a starring role. The death of her grandfather, Gene Hofstadt, affected Sally significantly and deepened the rift between her and her mother. When her youngest brother is named after their dead grandfather and given his room, Sally becomes convinced that the baby is her grandfather's reincarnation and becomes terrified of him, but is eventually calmed down by her father. Sally is adventurous, and she has been seen throughout the series making cocktails for her father, smoking one of her mother's cigarettes, asking Don's co-workers about sex, sneaking sips of their alcoholic beverages, being taught how to drive by her grandfather, and masturbating while at a friend's house. Her behavioral problems lead Betty to have her see a child psychiatrist in Season 4. Sally appears to be closer to her father than her mother, and in the Season 4 episode "The Beautiful Girls", she unexpectedly shows up at Don's office, because she wants to live with him instead of Betty and Henry Francis. Don sometimes affectionately calls Sally "Salamander." She develops a friendship with slightly older neighbor boy Glen, who is about 12 or 13, in Season 4. This infuriates Betty because, in prior years, Betty and Glen reached out and comforted each other when they were both feeling sad, lonely, and neglected. Betty forbids Sally to see Glen, and proves to be very volatile whenever Sally sees him. Sally continues to surreptitiously communicate with Glen, calling him frequently at his boarding school.