Doug Eberhart

Santa Doug Eberhart has been portraying Santa Claus for 47 years. He started his acting career in Massillon, Ohio at Washington High School and began as Santa when he was 14 years old. His mother Sandy made his first Santa suit out of an XL men's pajama pattern. Doug began by doing "Santa gigs" for friends and neighbors and worked his way into doing home visits. Being a large football player, (offensive center) Doug continued his passion for playing Old Saint Nick through his college years at Princeton University where he graduated in 1985.

Upon graduation, Santa Doug moved to Charlotte, NC and continued his portrayal up until this day. He has entertained over 20,000 children and adults. He is a member of IBRBS, Santa USA and prefers to use a designer beard due to his work in the medical field. Being a Designer Bearded Santa has not slowed down Santa Doug's business. He has been Santa Claus for TV commercials, The Carolina Panthers, Department stores, Grocery Chains, numerous corporate parties and hundreds of home visits.

Santa Doug has gone to numerous Santa schools and classes including the C.W. Howard school. He fills his schedule with about 75 gigs per season. Santa Doug is known for wearing numerous Santa outfits that are beyond the traditional. Many of his outfits are based on vintage postcards and drawings. You can see some of his collection at rentasanta.com under the photo section, his personal website.

In May of 2018, Santa Doug started Prosantashop.com which specializes in products for the PROFESSIONAL Santa. Products include custom made Santa Suits, shirts, vests, waistcoats, belts, buckles, bells, santa bling etc. You can reach him at [email protected]

In June of 2019 he founded with Santa Stephen B. Price, Charlotte Area Christmas performers, a group of local Santas, Mrs. Clauses and Christmas performers.

Phillip L. Wenz

If ever there was a man born to be Santa Claus, it is Phillip L. Wenz. As a four-year-old child, he donned his first Santa outfit. By the time he was fourteen, he was in his first parade and at the ripe old age of twenty-three, he became the year-round Santa Claus for the iconic Santa's Village Theme Park in Dundee, Illinois. It is an association he has now had for over 35 years. He is the longest tenured Santa in the park's sixty-five plus-year history and is one of the very few true full-time year around professional Santas in history. He appears in costume at the park and at special events over 200-plus days a year. (Note: He retired from the park at the end of December 2024 at the age of sixty-two.)

Wenz has appeared in over 65 Christmas Parades including the nationally televised parades in Chicago, Illinois and Houston, Texas. He has been Santa on numerous TV shows, billboards, commercials, and magazine covers, along with appearing at some of the nation's largest corporate and civic holiday events, including emceeing the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies in both Chicago and Houston. As Santa he has been given the title of "Chicago's Very Own" by WGN-TV, awarded the 1994 Brass Ring Award for Best Theme Park Commercial by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), and received the "Hats Off 2 Houston" award from KPRC-TV in Houston. In 2012 he was presented the "Spirit of St. Nicholas" award from the St. Nicholas Institute in Detroit, Michigan.

His resume also includes work in Santa Claus, Indiana at the historic Candy Castle, consulting on Christmas programs, and being a published author. He is considered a leading authority and historian on the Santa Claus legend, history, and folklore. Wenz is, bar none, one of the most experienced Santas ever and is the creator of the Santa Claus Oath, which is widely accepted by nearly every Santa portrayer across the globe.

In December 2010, Wenz was bestowed with the highest honor a Santa Claus can receive, enshrinement as a charter member into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame in Santa Claus, Indiana. Of the original fourteen honorees, including the first department store Santa and several men born in the 19th century, Wenz was the first living Santa to be inducted. He was also recognized by his peers from the Santa Claus Community in March 2013 by receiving the first ever "Legendary Santa Claus" award.

Phillip L. Wenz retired from all performing as the character completely in January 2025, but he continues to work and engage with his business partners and connections including the Christmas Entertainers Community.

Charles Crook

I'm Charles Crook I've been in entertainment over 35yrs, with exciting credits such as Working for Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Radio City, Hit Entertainment, Lych Productions, Premier Cruise lines, and even Macy's Thanksgiving day parade! Doing a multitude of characters both in and out of costumes. I'm always looking for new exciting adventures to dive into!