‘Red One’ Star J.K. Simmons Made Children Cry When Playing a Mall Santa Before Dwayne Johnson Action Movie

'Red One' Star J.K. Simmons Made Children Cry When Playing a Mall Santa Before Dwayne Johnson Action Movie

As a long-time admirer of J.K. Simmons’ exceptional acting prowess, I can’t help but be captivated by his latest revelation about his Santa Claus past. It seems that even before he graced our screens as Spider-Man’s relentless antagonist or voiced the beloved Klaus, he had a rather less jolly experience as a mall Santa.


Previously, it was unveiled that before taking on a more robust version of Santa Claus in this year’s Christmas film, the popular actor had portrayed Saint Nick years ago – at a shopping mall. The well-known actor, known for his iconic roles such as Spider-Man’s J. Jonah Jameson in various Marvel movies, has donned the red suit and white beard on screen before, and this collaboration with Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans is not his first Santa Claus appearance.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that you might recognize me from the voice acting I did for the one-time-a-year worker in the enchanting animated film “Klaus”. However, in an intriguing conversation with Entertainment Weekly, I disclosed a deeper bond I’ve had with Santa Claus, which goes back to my days as a mall Santa. While I may not have been the perfect fit for that pristine role, the experience left an indelible mark on me.

In an unexpected turn of events, I found myself being offered the role as the mall Santa Claus – a position that left me questioning the logic behind it. To put it mildly, this job turned out to be one of the most challenging experiences I’ve ever had.

J.K. Simmons’ Santa Was Not One That Delivered Good Cheer

Despite numerous families having decades’ worth of pictures featuring smiling kids with Santa, it appears that Simmons found his Santa fell short of the ideal portrayal needed to deliver a top-notch experience for the children. In other words, he felt his Santa didn’t quite measure up to the traditional image we often associate with Christmas joy.

Approximately one-third of the kids were petrified by this odorous man in a peculiar costume, sporting an oversized beard. He was the type who would charge $10 for a Polaroid photo or similar. This was more for the parents, as they desired that experience and the picture that came with it. Sadly, numerous parents had photos of their traumatized children seated on my knee. It was not an enjoyable experience. I’ve spent the last 44 years trying to suppress that memory.

Nevertheless, Red One provided him with an opportunity to rectify that mistake by presenting a Santa that he could be proud of. Despite some critics feeling unimpressed by the boisterous, brash, and festive nature of the action movie, it appears that Simmons managed to regain his standing simply by assuming the role. He summarized:

“I have returned to where I started, now given the opportunity to portray a truly delightful Santa Claus. Thank you all for entrusting me with this role.

The film “Red One” is nearly as non-traditional as Simmons’ early portrayals of Santa Claus, and for some critics, it has fallen short with its action reminiscent of Marvel movies and the typical brash style of Dwayne Johnson. However, the allure of J.K. Simmons as a muscular Santa is compelling enough that even though the movie had a lackluster box office performance, its upcoming release on Amazon Prime Video is likely to be a triumphant success.

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2024-11-23 19:35