Tom Hanks Played 7 People in "The Polar Express," Including Santa Claus

The man who lives on top of the train is a complex character who tests the Hero Boy's faith in Santa Claus while also saving him and the other riders — including the Conductor — from mayhem whenever possible. Curiously, he flits in and out of the film, only appearing fully for the Hero Boy to see, implying that he's a ghost eternally tied to the Polar Express.