Presiding over it all is the most perennial of holiday figures, the one and only Santa Claus, who, unsurprisingly, has been portrayed by countless actors over the years (and will soon even be tackled by Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Behold, for your festive perusal, some of the most beloved, cherished and out-there onscreen renditions of dear old Saint Nick.
Most wholesome – Edmund Gwenn in ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947)Edmund Gwenn in 1947's "Miracle on 34th Street."
Most curmudgeonly – Paul Giamatti in ‘Fred Claus’Paul Giamatti in "Fred Claus."
Most dangerous – David Harbour in ‘Violent Night’David Harbour and John Leguizamo in "Violent Night."
Persons:
CNN —, Santa Claus, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Saint Nick, Edmund Gwenn, Kris Kringle, Gwenn, Oscar, Richard Attenborough, ‘ Rudolph, Red, Rudolph the Red, Ed Ivory, Jack Skellington –, Ed Asner, Will Ferrell, Asner, Buddy, – Paul Giamatti, Fred Claus ’ Paul Giamatti, Fred Claus, Claus, Father Christmas, Fred, Vince Vaughn, Nastiest, Billy Bob Thornton, Everett, Thornton, David, David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Allen Fraser, –, Raymond Briggs’s
Organizations:
CNN, Fox, NBC, Warner Bros, Universal Pictures
Locations:
‘, Halloweentown