Red One’s J.K. Simmons Was A Mall Santa Years Before Playing St. Nick On The Big Screen, And His Description Of The Gig Is Wild: ‘I Was Smoking Like Two Packs A Day’

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As a gamer with a penchant for Hollywood trivia, I can’t help but appreciate the fascinating journey of J.K. Simmons from a smoking mall Santa to the iconic St. Nick in Amazon’s upcoming movie, Red One. His candid recollections about his brief stint as a mall Santa are both hilarious and heartwarming, painting a picture far removed from the warm and fuzzy image we usually associate with Christmas movies.

J.K. Simmons, known for his long-standing presence in Hollywood, has enthralled viewers with iconic roles from “Whiplash” to “Spider-Man”. However, his transformation into the cherished Santa Claus character in Amazon’s 2024 film, “Red One“, began in an unexpected location: a local shopping mall. Before slipping into Santa’s cinematic boots or lending his voice to the classic character in the popular streaming series “Klaus” (streamable with a Netflix subscription), Simmons had a less than festive experience as a real-life mall Santa. To put it simply, the holiday cheer was nowhere to be found during that time.

In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, the man portraying J. Jonah Jameson shared some honest thoughts on his short-lived stint as Santa Claus during his younger days, and his account of it was anything but jolly. Reminiscing about the experience, the actor humorously described it in an utterly non-Santa-esque manner.

In a surprising turn of events, I found myself in the peculiar role of a mall Santa Claus, a position that left me questioning its origin and my own qualifications for it. To put it mildly, this job turned out to be an ordeal beyond description.

The Oscar-winning actor didn’t hold back in describing the nightmare that was donning the red suit and white beard for holiday crowds. His detailed recollection paints a picture of a job far from the warm and fuzzy image we associate with the best Christmas movies and is more at home in the best Christmas horror movies. He continued:

A significant number of kids, approximately one-third, found this strongly odorous man in peculiar attire and a massive beard quite frightening. He was the type who would charge around ten dollars for Polaroid photos or similar items, catering to parents who desired that specific experience and the resulting photo. Regrettably, many parents ended up with photographs of their children looking terrified while seated on my lap. It was an unpleasant situation, one I’ve struggled to forget for the past 44 years.

Fans have grown fond of Simmons’ straightforward candor, a trait he doesn’t hesitate to showcase by joking about himself or acknowledging his less polished past. It’s intriguing to envision this future Santa performer maintaining the holiday cheer while taking breaks for smoking discreetly behind the Christmas card setup at the North Pole.

Previously known Justice League actor is set to play Santa in Red One, alongside Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. This role represents a complete circle of events for him, as he seems eager to make amends for past mistakes. In the same interview, the seasoned Oz actor (streamable with a Max subscription) expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to present Santa in a more respectful light this time: the actor from Oz.

This is my redemption. I’ve come full circle, and I’ve been entrusted with embodying a really wonderful version of Santa Claus. So thank you to everybody for that.

From traumatizing toddlers with his “smoker breath” to winning over the box office as jolly (and a much healthier) Ole St. Nick, Simmons has truly come a long way. While Red One won the weekend box office, it has a rough road ahead. It would seem audiences have been enjoying the holiday action-comedy, but critics have been relatively mixed about the movie’s shortcomings. As much fun as it is to see Simmons at the sleigh’s helm, holding the reigns with those unbelievably buff arms, it’s unlikely the movie will make enough money to justify its reported 250 million dollar budget. That’s a lot of (cookie) dough for one-holiday flick.

It’s safe to say that Simmons has left his mall Santa days in the past. But you can still see him in red, white, black, and beard in theaters now or whenever Red One lands on streaming sometime after its theatrical run. You’ll need an Amazon Prime Subscription to check it out.

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2024-11-18 21:08