List of actors who played Santa Claus facts for kids

Did you know that many different actors have played Santa Claus in movies and TV shows? This list is all about those talented people! We're looking at actors who actually played Santa, not just characters who dressed up as him. For example, if Homer Simpson dressed as Santa, the actor who voices Homer wouldn't be on this list.

Santa Claus is a beloved character around the world. He brings joy and gifts, especially during Christmas. Over the years, many actors have brought this jolly character to life on screen, each adding their own special touch.

Famous Actors Who Played Santa

Many well-known actors have put on the red suit and white beard to become Santa. Here are some of them:

• Tim Allen played Santa in a popular movie series called The Santa Clause. He starred in three films:
  • The Santa Clause (1994)
  • The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
  • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

• Ed Asner was a busy Santa! He voiced Santa in animated shows and played him in live-action movies:
  • The Story of Santa Claus (1996, voice)
  • Elf (2003)
  • Christmas on the Bayou (2013)
  • Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas (2014, voice)

• Richard Attenborough played Santa in the 1994 movie Miracle on 34th Street. This film is a remake of a classic Christmas story.

• Alec Baldwin lent his voice to Santa in the animated film Rise of the Guardians (2012).

• Brian Blessed is known for his big voice! He voiced Santa in several animated TV shows:
  • The Amazing World of Gumball, episode Christmas (2012)
  • Sooty, episode Pranks and Presents (2013)
  • Danger Mouse, episode The Snowman Cometh (2015)

• Jim Broadbent played Santa in two movies and even a Christmas advert:
  • Arthur Christmas (2011, voice)
  • Get Santa (2015)
  • Aldi Christmas Launch Advert (2020)

• Sebastian Cabot was Santa in the 1973 TV movie Miracle on 34th Street.

• Art Carney played Santa in a classic episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Night of the Meek" (1960). He also appeared as Santa in:
  • The Great Santa Claus Switch (1970)
  • The Night They Saved Christmas (1984)

• James Cosmo played Santa in the magical movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). He also appeared in The Santa Incident (2010).

• Charles Durning was Santa in many Christmas films:
  • It Nearly Wasn't Christmas (1989)
  • Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)
  • Elmo Saves Christmas (1996)
  • Mr. St. Nick (2002)
  • A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004)

• Paul Frees was a famous voice actor who voiced Santa in several animated specials:
  • Frosty the Snowman (1969)
  • The First Easter Rabbit (1976)
  • Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
  • Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)

• Nick Frost played Santa in the Doctor Who episode "Last Christmas" (2014).

• Paul Giamatti was Santa in the movie Fred Claus (2007).

• Mel Gibson took on the role of Santa in the action-comedy Fatman (2020).

• John Goodman voiced Santa in several animated shows and even played him in a live-action film:
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998)
  • Futurama (1999)
  • The Year Without a Santa Claus (2006, live-action)
  • It's a Spongebob Christmas! (2012)

• Edmund Gwenn played Santa in the classic 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street. He won an Academy Award for his role!

• Tom Hanks voiced Santa in the animated movie The Polar Express (2004). He voiced several characters in the film!

• David Huddleston was Santa in the movie Santa Claus: The Movie (1985).

• Kevin James played Santa in Elmo's Christmas Countdown (2007).

• Anna Kendrick played Santa's daughter, Noelle, who eventually takes over the family business in the film Noelle (2019).

• Leslie Nielsen played Santa in All I Want For Christmas (1991) and Santa Who? (2000).

• Mickey Rooney was a very famous voice for Santa in many animated Christmas specials:
  • Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)
  • The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
  • Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
  • The Happy Elf (2005)
  • A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008)

• Kurt Russell played a cool, modern Santa in The Christmas Chronicles (2018) and its sequel The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020).

• William Shatner voiced Santa in Eek! The Cat (1993) and Gotta Catch Santa Claus (2008).

• Hal Smith was a busy actor who played Santa in both live-action and voice roles:
  • The Flintstones, episode Christmas Flintstone (1964)
  • The Brady Bunch (1969, live-action)
  • Santa and the Three Bears (1970)
  • A Christmas Story (1972)
  • A Flintstone Christmas (1977, live-action)
  • Casper's First Christmas (1979)
  • Yogi's First Christmas (1980)
  • Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (1990)
  • Bonkers (1993)
  • The Town Santa Forgot (1993)

• George Wendt played Santa in Santa Baby (2006) and voiced him in Santa Buddies (2009).

Other Actors Who Played Santa

Many other actors have also had the honor of playing Santa Claus. Here is a list of some of them:

See also

• Santa Claus in film