It's Been 28 Years Since "The Santa Clause" Came Out — See the Cast Then and Now

Published on 11/21/2022 at 4:10 PM

It's been 28 years since Tim Allen first slipped on the Santa suit in "The Santa Clause" and captivated audiences with his performance as Scott Calvin, a divorced toy-company executive who is forced to take on the duties of Kris Kringle after he accidentally kills the previous one in "The Santa Clause." Allen's character starts out as a cocky, distant dad who — despite trying his best — can't get Christmas Eve right for his adorable son, Charlie, played by Eric Lloyd.

Things for the troubled father-son duo change drastically, however, when they must work together to save Christmas. The two are magically transported to The North Pole and are burdened with the impossible task of making people believe in the magic of Christmas. This task comes much to the dismay of Scott's ex and Charlie's mother, Laura.

The heartwarming story — that was followed by "The Santa Clause 2" and "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause" in 2002 and 2006, respectively — continues, once again, in "The Santa Clauses," which premiered on Disney+ on Nov. 16. "The Santa Clauses" follows Scott as he searches for his replacement after nearly three decades as Santa Claus.

Luckily for fans, many of the original cast reprise their roles in the series, so scroll the gallery to see the cast of "The Santa Clauses" then and now.

Tim Allen as Scott Calvin Then

Scott is known for his snarky remarks but ends up softening up as he takes on the role of Santa Claus and grows closer to Charlie.

Tim Allen Now

Allen will once again suit up as Santa as he prepares to retire after three decades as the king of Christmas. "After nearly three decades of being Santa Claus, Scott Calvin's magic begins to falter," the official series synopsis reads. "As he struggles to keep up with the demands of the job, Scott discovers a new clause that forces him to re-think his role as Santa and as a father."

Allen's been busy since he first took on the role of Santa in 1994. He went on to continue playing Tim the Tool Man Taylor on "Home Improvement" until 1999 and had success in "Last Man Standing" from 2011 to 2021 and as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story franchise, among other things.

Allen is father to Elizabeth Allen Dick and Katherine Allen. Elizabeth, who is 13-years-old, will star in "The Santa Clauses" as his onscreen daughter, Sandra.

Eric Lloyd as Charlie Calvin Then

Charlie was instantly a fan favorite in "The Santa Clause" because of his innocence and determination to get people to believe in Christmas.

Eric Lloyd Now

Following "The Santa Clause," Lloyd not only continued his acting career but also dabbled in the world of music, where he is a vocalist and guitarist for a band called Radiomason. He also currently works as a film and music producer, audio engineer, and studio builder and designer for his company, Lloyd Production Studios. Lloyd returns as Charlie in "The Santa Clauses."

David Krumholtz as Bernard the Elf Then

One of the most beloved characters in the entire Santa Clause franchise is the adorable head elf, Bernard, who doesn't take no for an answer. Despite being a bit cold in demeanor at times, he has a soft spot for Charlie.

David Krumholtz Now

Krumholtz will reprise his role of Bernard in the upcoming series, but has also been busy starring as Hermann in "Leopoldstadt" on Broadway. Since his first stint in the original "The Santa Clause," he went on to star in dozens of TV shows and films and is also a vocalist in the band Honolulu Starbright.

In 2010, the actor wed Vanessa Britting. Together, the couple share 5-year-old son Jonas and 8-year-old daughter Pemma Mae.

Elizabeth Mitchell as Carol Then

Mitchell first appeared in "The Santa Clause 2" as Carol, aka Mrs. Clause. She went on to return for the third film and will be back again in the Disney+ series.

Elizabeth Mitchell Now

Mitchell's onscreen success goes way beyond Mrs. Clause. She's starred in shows such as "Outer Banks" and "Lost," movies like "The Purge: Election Year," and many, many more. She is also mom to son Christopher Joseph Soldevilla Jr., whom she shares with ex Chris Soldevilla.