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Summary
Ed Asner’smost well - known performance as Santa Claus is in the Christmas classicElf , but in reality , the lionise player has roleplay multiple iteration of Kris Kringle both before and afterElfcame out in 2003 . While not the only one to have play Santa Claus more than once , Asner played the case eight meter - which is among the most times an actor has played Santa . Interestingly enough , he did n’t make for Santa Claus entirely in films ; he also limn Santa Claus in animated film , television show , and Christmas specials .
It seemed Asner was quite safe in his functioning as Santa Claus , as he played not only the Christmas iconbut also dissimilar versions of him . While he has play the Santa Claus everyone knows and have intercourse multiple time , he ’s also play unlike iterations of him . Whether it be a Mall Santa or someone who represent like Santa Claus , or an action champion who just happens to take the moniker of Santa Claus , Asner could play them . His standout performances may have been why he was asked to play Santa repeatedly .
Since Elf was release in 2003 it ’s become a Christmas classic . 16 years is a long time . Here ’s a look at what each main cast extremity has been up !
8The Ellen Show
Mall Santa, “Ellen’s First Christmess”
Asner appears as a Mall Santa only for a instant at the tail ending of the Christmas installment of the abruptly - lived Ellen DeGeneres sitcomThe Ellen Show . Asner appeared as an human activity of rooter service , as he and Mary Tyler Moore made guest appearance along with Cloris Leachman to reunite the cast from the pop 1970s sitcomThe Mary Tyler Moore Show . That does n’t hold much relevance in 2023 like it did in 2001 . Adding to that , Asner does n’t do much besides flirt jestingly with Moore after she mistakes him for someone else , but seeing the sure-enough castmates reunite made for a fun reunion yet .
7Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas
Santa Claus, 2014 NBC Christmas Special
coincidently , Asner was the onlymember of theElfcastfrom the original plastic film to come back for an animated special over ten twelvemonth after the original film was made in 2014 , where he repeat his role as Santa Claus . Essentially , Asner play the same rendition of Santa Claus that he did inElf , yet with significantly less projection screen - time . The only obvious differences are thatAsner ’s Santa Clausplays more of a fatherlike function , and he sing - albeit very shortly .
The in effect Elf citation are so in effect that they can be used every 24-hour interval of the twelvemonth but they ’re always peculiarly fun to say around the holiday season .
6Olive, the Other Reindeer
Santa Claus, 1999 Fox Animated Comedy Musical
Asner ’s Santa Claus does n’t appear until the motion-picture show ’s third act , but he does his part in his performance . apparently downtrodden by negative letters , Santa baffle his spirit back after Olive tell him that the missive are fake in a conspiracy by the Postman to deflower Christmas . Asner ’s Santa Claus learns to commit Olive to the point where he trust primarily her to guide them home after deliver presents on Christmas night . Due to his low comportment , Asner ’s contribution to the movie ’s quality was limited .
5Christmas on the Bayou
Papa Noel, 2013 Lifetime Film
Asner does n’t play the traditional Santa Claus in this film but does well in a rather unused take on the case . He plays Papa Noel , a man living alone who befriend Zack after save him from drown . Along the way , he convinces Zack he ’s Santa Claus in the few scenes they share together through magical means . However , besides show off his magical powers , he also had some news of wiseness for Zack , such as explaining why he did n’t get what he asked for Christmas the former years . He shows he ’s Santa Claus by taking a fatherly role that Zack previously did n’t have after his parents divorced .
It ’s an original take on the quality whose appearance cause sentiency in a Christmas pic that takes place in a warm location than most . Asner ’s purpose is n’t very bragging , but he ’s charming in the few scenes he ’s in . He serve Zack understand that Christmas is about nominate others felicitous , and he does his part in help those who live in the Bayou have a Merry Christmas in the end .
4Highway to Heaven
Harold, “The Last Assignment”
InHighway to Heaven’s"The Last Assignment " episode , Ed Asner channels Jolly Old Saint Nick as an angel who dress up as Santa Claus . He plays Harold , an angel who has been on a probationary period on Earth for the last 200 age because he keeps cave in the normal as an angel by using his powers to instantly help the great unwashed . While Haroldbreaks the rules for baronial cause , he soon realizes that his good actions unknowingly lead to bad things find because of him .
Asner play a very redolent character of Santa Claus in that he likes to give , particularly to less golden the great unwashed . Still , since the show is about faith , he soon realizes the problem with automatically giving people exactly what they want . The episode smartly shows the pro and yard bird of recklessly giving to people who are desperate , and Asner ’s execution as the well - meaning but pattern - breaking Harold assist the message stick by the landing .
3The Story of Santa Claus
Nicholas “Santa” Claus, 1996 Direct-To-Video Animated Film
Because it delve into Santa Claus ' backstory , this is one of the few movies conspicuously featuring Santa Claus as its principal character . While the direction is n’t only on Santa Claus , it explains his motivations , how he got to the North Pole , how he build his alliance with the elves , and how he render presents twelvemonth after year . Asner voices the well - meaning Nicholas , who starts out as a struggle toymaker who likes to give his toy away instead of selling them . Asner nails his compassionate nature and optimism despite the odds working against him .
Asner easily pull off the novice Santa Claus who finally squeeze his role in a middling innocent story about how he became who he was . As an added bonus , the picture even explains how Santa have into toymaking in the first place , which not many stories about Santa have ever turn over into . By the clock time he wins in the closing , it makes for a heartwarming children ’s moving-picture show .
2The Regular Show
Santa Claus, “The Christmas Special”
Asner ’s Santa Claus is n’t have much in this episode besides the start and end . However , because it is so out of correct field and so cagy , it ’s one of Asner ’s best portraiture of the character . Because Asner played other , more traditional versions of Santa , it makes it all the funnier when he play an action hoagy who bring down all expectations as Santa Claus since he ’s not fat nor jolly . Because an invention with an extremely low frequency go awry , Santa has tasked the main characters with destroying it before the elf can put down everything about Christmas . Santa play a sinewy legal action poor boy is funny enough , and the plot is as humorous as it is original . Asner ’s performance as Santa Claus , while subverting expectation , is astonishingly effective .
The best Regular Show episodes vitrine why it ’s one of the best cartoon from Cartoon web in the last several ten .
1Elf
Santa Claus, Feature-Length Film
Elfis considered one of Will Ferrell ’s most rewatchable moving-picture show and among the undecomposed Santa Claus movies ever made , with Asner have a key role in what makes it so special . Despite being only in part of the moving-picture show , Asner establish his Santa performance his own , all while keep the essence of the part . He has a few suspect line while add some original textile to Santa . When he reunites with Buddy , he lets Buddy know that just because he does n’t have an brownie ’s genetic make-up does n’t mean he is n’t one . If that ’s not enough , he separate Buddy that he ’s more of an elf than anyone he ’s known .
Asner also maintains Saint Nick ’s jolly shipway without being over - the - top . He fathom like someone who ’s been on the job for years but still stays excited about Christmas , no matter what . Asner play Santa before was in all probability why he was an well-off choice , while also being why many consider of him when they think of cinematic Santa Clauses . His screentime was n’t too big , but Asner ’s credible demeanor as a live - action Santa Claushelped makeElfinto the Christmas classic it is .
