Mad Men star Jon Hamm took part in a violent student initiation that led to criminal charges.

The Emmy-nominated actor had not previously been publicly linked to a lawsuit filed by a member of a fraternal social organisation at the University of Texas, who said he was severely beaten, dragged by a hammer and had his trousers set on fire. In the 1991 lawsuit, Mark Sanders said Hamm participated “till the very end”.

Criminal records show Hamm, now 44, was charged with hazing – the US term for incidents of ritual humiliation or bullying – and received deferred adjudication, which under Texas law means he had to successfully complete probation but was never convicted.

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