The Tragic Demise of Lane Pryce: Exploring Season 5's Eerie Foreshadowing

Summary

Lane Pryce's death in Mad Men was foreshadowed in the show's fifth season, when he made a risky decision to forge Don Draper's signature on a check.

Lane's suicide stemmed from feelings of humiliation and betrayal upon Bert Cooper's discovery of his embezzlement. It was a tragic and startling event within the series. Jared Harris, the actor who portrayed Lane Pryce, felt a mix of sadness and gratitude for the impactful storyline his character was entrusted with. The portrayal of Lane's death was perceived as a vengeful act and a subtly hostile communication to his ex-colleagues.

The death of Lane Pryce in Mad Men was a heartbreaking moment, but there were subtle hints of it in the early days of season 5. Lane joined Sterling Cooper as the financial chief after the company was acquired by the British film company, Putnam, Powell & Lowe. Eventually, he left PPL to form a new agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, with Don Draper, Roger Sterling, Bert Cooper, and Pete Campbell. However, Lane didn't experience the same financial success as the other partners. His financial difficulties ultimately led to his decision to take his own life. In Christmas 1967, Lane found himself in a tough spot financially. Despite the agency being financially stable, he planned to award himself a bonus to cover his taxes. However, the other partners decided to cancel all bonuses and give the funds to Joan Harris, who had become a junior partner. Feeling desperate, Lane forged Don Draper's signature on a $7,500 check that he issued to himself. He saw it as a temporary loan that he intended to repay. Unfortunately, the consequences of his actions caught up with him.

The Reason Lane Killed Himself

It Involved Lane Being Humiliated

The reason behind Lane Pryce's decision to take his own life boils down to the revelation of his momentary lapse in judgment. After stumbling upon the check signed by Don Draper in SCDP's financial records, Bert Cooper confronted Don, suspecting him of secretly giving Pryce a bonus. It was then that Draper swiftly recognized Lane's embezzlement of company funds, causing Lane to become another casualty of Draper's terminations at Mad Men. To spare Lane from legal consequences, Don granted him a weekend to concoct a "graceful exit," keeping Lane's wrongdoing to himself. However, the subsequent humiliation inflicted upon Lane by the discovery of his wife Rebecca's purchase of a new Jaguar served as a devastating blow.

How Season 5 Foreshadowed Lane's Fate

Lane's decision to end his life ultimately ended in failure when his attempt to asphyxiate himself with carbon monoxide was thwarted by a malfunctioning Jaguar. Undeterred, Lane proceeded to the offices of SCDP, where he composed a standard resignation letter and tragically hanged himself in his office. The following day, his lifeless body was discovered by Joan, Pete, Harry Crane, and Ken Cosgrove, leaving everyone in shock and disbelief. Lane's untimely demise was a distressing tragedy, especially considering the fondness fans held for his character. Interestingly, the beginning of Mad Men's fifth season provided a foreshadowing glimpse into Mr. Pryce's heartbreaking fate.

A Quote From Lane Subtlely Hinted At His Death

Although Lane Pryce's death in Mad Men was shocking, there were subtle hints leading up to it. In an episode called "A Little Kiss," during the show's fifth season premiere, Lane discovered a wallet in a taxi and made an effort to return it to its owner. Intrigued by a picture of an attractive woman in the wallet, Lane desired to arrange a meeting to give back the item. He spoke with the woman on the phone, inviting her to the SCDP office to retrieve her wallet, humorously remarking, "Well, I'll be here for the rest of my life." Tragically, Lane's choice to end his life in the office adds to the poignant nature of his death. Despite his pride in his work at the ad agency, it ultimately extracted a heavy toll, leading to his demise.

What Jared Harris Said About Lane's Death

The Actor Was Sad To Leave Mad Men

The demise of Lane Pryce on Mad Men season 5 was a revelation to actor Jared Harris, as he wasn't aware of his character's fate until the table read for episode 10. Show creator Matthew Weiner had been steadily building up to this momentous event. In an interview with EW, Harris recounted the moment he received the news.

"[Matthew] invited me to his office, which immediately raised concerns. He then offered me a very expensive brandy, further confirming my suspicions that this meeting was not going to end well," Harris recalls. "He began by saying, 'I have something I need to discuss with you.' My gut reaction was, 'Uh oh. This can't be good.' He replied, 'No, it's not. I'm truly sorry.'"

Although Harris admitted feeling a sense of sadness when leaving the series, he appreciated the powerful storyline that led to Lane's ultimate demise. He shared that "from an acting standpoint, it was more advantageous for me to exit with a bang rather than a whimper." It is worth noting that Harris has had an outstanding career following Mad Men, with notable roles in acclaimed productions such as Chernobyl, The Foundation, and The Crown. Reflecting on Lane's decision to hang himself in his former colleagues' offices, Harris perceived it as an act of revenge.

"It displayed a vindictive nature, fueled by his deep-seated anger. His actions served as a passive-aggressive manifestation of his rage. By choosing to do it there, it was a blatant act of defiance towards the office, its employees, and specifically, Don. Adding to the passive nature of his act, the accompanying letter contained a boilerplate suicide note, devoid of any explanations or reasons."

Harris further revealed that the makeup artists deliberately kept Lane's corpse hidden from the rest of the cast. This tactic aimed to capture their authentic reactions when they saw it for the first time on camera. He also acknowledged that, despite the somber mood on set during his character's hanging, he personally found amusement in the dark humor present in his final episode. Particularly, Harris found great humor in Lane's initial failed suicide attempt, where he tries to end his life using his new car's carbon monoxide, only to discover that the car wouldn't start. Harris confessed, "I couldn't help but burst into laughter. I simply couldn't contain myself, falling off the chair with laughter."