White Lotus Star Lukas Gage Opens Up on Why He Was Fired From Mad Men: ‘I Told Everyone’

White Lotus star Lukas Gage is looking back on a tough early-career moment when he was unexpectedly fired from the hit AMC drama Mad Men — all because of a shirtless scene that revealed a large tattoo and clashed with the show’s 1950s setting.

During a recent appearance on Live With Kelly and Mark on October 9, 2025, Gage shared the story behind the setback that could have derailed his career but ultimately taught him an important lesson. The actor, now 30, said he was cast in the show’s final season as a 15-year-old character in a scene opposite Kiernan Shipka — but things quickly changed once he arrived on set.

Why Lukas Gage Was Fired From Mad Men

“I was cast on the last season of Mad Men,” Gage recalled, explaining how the job, one of his first major TV roles, was taken away almost as quickly as it came. “I walk on set, I see Kiernan Shipka, who’s now one of my best friends, and [the crew sees] this giant tattoo on the whole side of my body while I’m going to be shirtless, playing a 15-year-old in the ’50s.”

The tattoo created a major continuity problem for the period drama, which prided itself on historical accuracy. Host Kelly Ripa asked whether the crew could have covered it with makeup, but Gage confirmed that wasn’t an option. “It wasn’t going to work, they could just recast it real quick,” he said.

What made the situation even more difficult for the young actor was how excited he had been about the role. “It was one of the first jobs I got,” he admitted. “I bragged to everyone about it, and then they said, ‘You’re going home.’”

While being let go stung, Gage now sees it as a turning point. “If I didn’t book that job, I wouldn’t have booked the next couple [things],” he added, reflecting on how the experience motivated him to keep going.

From ‘Tattoo Boy’ to Breakout Star

Gage said the crew jokingly nicknamed him “tattoo boy” after the incident. Despite the humiliation, he kept pursuing roles and eventually ran into Mad Men star Jon Hamm the following year while working as a caterer at the Emmys. “He remembered me and gave me a hug,” Gage shared. “And he said, ‘Everyone has to get fired once in their career.’”

In a separate interview with The Guardian, Gage revealed that his agents were furious at the time. “I had these agents saying to me: ‘How could you ruin this? How could you mess this up?’” he said. “I don’t think that was the greatest thing for a teenager to hear when they’ve just lost something that big.”

But that early setback did not stop Gage’s momentum. He went on to star in acclaimed projects like Assassination Nation, Road House, and Smile 2. His breakout moment came with HBO’s The White Lotus, where his memorable performance became a cultural talking point. He later took a lead role in Netflix’s You and continues to expand his acting range.

A Lesson in Resilience and Career Growth

Looking back, Gage considers the Mad Men firing a valuable lesson in resilience. The incident, though embarrassing, pushed him to grow and ultimately contributed to his success. It also taught him the unpredictability of Hollywood — and how even a seemingly small detail like a tattoo can change the course of a job.

Now, with a flourishing career and a memoir titled I Wrote This for Attention set to release on October 14, Gage is sharing these experiences openly to inspire others. His story highlights how setbacks, even painful ones, can pave the way for greater opportunities.

Lukas Gage’s journey from a fired teenage actor on Mad Men to a breakout star on The White Lotus shows how resilience, self-belief, and perseverance can turn early disappointments into defining successes.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Why was Lukas Gage fired from Mad Men?

He was fired because a large tattoo on his body was visible during a shirtless scene set in the 1950s, making it historically inaccurate for the show.

Q2: How did Lukas Gage react to being fired?

He was embarrassed after telling everyone about the role but later saw the incident as a turning point in his career and a lesson in resilience.

Q3: What did Jon Hamm tell Lukas Gage after the incident?

Hamm told him, “Everyone has to get fired once in their career,” offering encouragement after the setback.

Q4: What projects is Lukas Gage known for now?

Gage is known for roles in The White Lotus, You, Assassination Nation, and Smile 2.

Q5: When is Lukas Gage’s memoir releasing?

His memoir, I Wrote This for Attention, is scheduled for release on October 14, 2025.