Welcome to the Official Site of the Santa Claus Documentary, They Wore the Red Suit.

The Cast

Professional Santa Phillip L. Wenz has been Santa at Santa's Village in Dundee, IL for 23 years, the longest continuous fulltime career of any living Santa. The overall length of his career is second only to Jim Yellig, the 38 year Santa of Santa Claus Land, IN. Phil has been instrumental in research and providing access to historical film footage, stills and documentation of the great Santas of history. He’s also serving as consultant for the independent in-progress feature, Nicholas of Myra, the story of St. Nicholas. As founder of The Santa Claus Oath Foundation and one of the original 14 charter members of the Santa Claus Hall of Fame, his knowledge of the Santa legend and vocation is unmatched, as is his dedication to the vocation.

Michael Rielly first appeared as Santa Claus in a school play in 1971 at the age of 8 and has been a historically correct, Golden Age Traditional Santa Claus ever since. Michael is also a third generation Santa. His grandfather, James (Jim) D. Rielly, was Santa Claus for 62 years and was well-known throughout the Northeastern United States was inducted into the Santa Claus Hall of Fame in 2011. Michael serves on the Santa Claus Oath Foundation and is an adviser Santa-America. In 2007, he founded the Santa Claus community, ClausNet — the largest community and resource for men and women dedicated to the faithful portrayal of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and all others who devote their time to bringing the magic of Christmas to children and adults throughout the world!

Tim Connaghan is a “24-7-365 Santa.” Known as "Santa Hollywood" and President of The Kringle Group, LLC, which includes the largest annual Professional Santa School in the world: International University of Santa Claus, (IUSC). His knowledge and Santa Surveys have led to appearances on the Neil Cavuto Show, CNN, NBC, ABC’s Nightline, Bloomberg News, Fox News and PBS, and interviews in Time, the Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, and Los Angeles Times. Tim also runs www.SantaCares.US to assist non-profit schools, organizations and most importantly, Military Units and Hospitals in finding Santas for holiday visits, including Santas for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve “Toys for Tots” community campaigns.

Santa Bob Elkin has been entertaining children and collecting smiles since 1983, starting his career as “Waki the Wizard” an award winning Shrine Clown, with over 45 awards for costume, make up, skits and balloon sculpturing. Bob completed the International University of Santa Claus school and has received a Master of Santa Claus Degree. In 2005 Santa Bob became a volunteer for SANTA-AMERICA, the national organization with the mission of providing Santa visits 365 days a year to children and families in Hospice care, children with chronic pediatric illnesses, children suffering from post-traumatic stress, children and families with the Wounded Warrior Batttalions, and Children suffering with Autism.

David Troutman is one of Western NY's premier Santas and has been portraying Santa Claus in Buffalo, NY and the entire Western New York area for over 25 years. David has appeared at the Boulevard Mall in Amherst, NY, Breakfast with Santa in Rochester, Cheektowaga, West Seneca and, Wales NY, School visits in Holland NY and Cheektowaga NY, corporate parties and of course, numerous home visits in and around Buffalo, NY.A five-time graduate of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan. Santa David firmly believes in the principles of the Santa Claus Oath and strives to live by those principles in his personal life.

Many more bios of our cast are still being added. We won't leave anyone out. There's a bunch!