National Santa’s Biography

TIMOTHY CONNAGHAN

Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas to All Concert

aka “NATIONAL SANTA” and “SANTA HOLLYWOOD”

In case you were wondering who the world’s busiest and most active Santa is, look no further than Santa Tim Connaghan!

Celebrating 54–years of wearing the Red Suit, Santa Tim was hand-picked by Hollywood’s Original Honorary Mayor, Johnny Grant, to be Santa for the Hollywood Christmas Parade, honoring the parade’s official charity, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. 2023 will be his twentieth year appearing in the parade.

Additionally, he volunteers year-round for the United States Marine Corps Reserve as the “National Santa” for “Toys for Tots.”

From appearing with Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden and her CBS special, to being seen by millions on Dr. Phil, The Today Show, Tonight Show, The Doctors, Mad-TV, Deal or No Deal, Ricki Lake and Ryan Seacrest Shows, he has acted in movies and television shows, including: “Castle,” “It’s Complicated,” “Southland,” “Suburgatory,” “Cinema Verité,”  and “the Mentalist. ”

Plus appearing in commercials, advertising and promotions for ABC, Abbott Labratories, Amazon,  American Express, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Coca-Cola, CBS/Viacom/Nickelodeon, Cool-Whip, Dannon, Dave and Busters, David Letterman, Disney, Federal Realty, Hallmark, Hershey’s, Hertz, Honey Baked Ham, I-Hop,  In ‘n Out Burgers, J.C. Penney, KIIS-FM, Kraft Foods, Macy’s, Mariah Carey, McDonalds, Microsoft, Mikimoto Pearls, NBC, Nabisco, Nickelodeon, Old Navy, Oreo’s, Planters Nuts, Radio City Music Hall, Target, Sears/K-Mart, Planter’s, Regent Beverly Wilshire, Ritz Crackers, Sam’s Club, Southwest Airlines, Swiss-Com, Tiffany’s, Von’s Corporation, Wal-Mart, White Castle, and more, plus numerous appearances on stage, in television and Film.

A major figure at spectacular tree lightings, major events, and celebrity parties, millions of children and their families have been delighted with appearances from Santa Tim.

These include The Kodak/Dolby Theater, The Grove in Los Angeles, Hollywood and Highland, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Capitol Records, Hallmark, The Grand Ole Opry, NYSE Ceremonies with Toys for Tots, Los Angeles Country Club, The Salvation Army, The St. Regis Resort and Spa, Arnold Palmer Resorts, K-Mart, The USO, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, Reese Witherspoon, Candy Spelling, Joel Silver, Marvin and Barbara Davis and Steven Spielberg.

He has also been featured in many documentary and news shows including History Channel, National Geographic, Travel Channel and the USA Network.  

Santa Tim’s annual release of Santa Statistics and his position in the Santa community are well known and have led to appearances on the Neil Cavuto Show, CNN, NBC, ABC’s Nightline, Bloomberg News, Fox News and PBS,

His interviews have been featured in Time, the Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, Los Angeles Times, and via hundreds of stories in many local, regional, national and international media.

Through his School4Santas, officially known as the International University of Santa Claus, (IUSC), he has awarded diplomas to over 4,700 Santas and Mrs. Claus.  The school is recognized as the largest annual Professional Santa School in the world and is based on his book: “Behind the Red Suit – The Business of Santa Claus.”  Alumni of the School are recognized as members of the “Red Suit Society.”

In recent years the school has been presented on select Princess Cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe, and featured on various television shows including The Travel Channel which featured the School on Princess Cruise as part of a Holiday special. 

Many honors have been presented to Santa Tim, but the most prestigious is his induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame at Santa Claus, Indiana in December of 2011.  He is currently one of only 38 individuals who have received this award from the Santa Claus Oath Foundation. Past inductees include Edmund Gwenn from Miracle on 34th Street, Mickey

Santa Tim is an accomplished performer, comedian, public speaker, producer and consultant, and author of “Santas Tips to Surviving the Holidays, “a guide to Holiday Organizing and having a “Stress-Free Christmas,” with advice and handy hints on how to enjoy and get the most out to the holiday season.   He has also written many newspaper and magazine articles on preparing for the holidays.

In the role of ‘Kris Kringle,’ he speaks on “The Origins of Santa Claus,” “The Symbols of Christmas,” “Fifteen things you did not know about a Mall Santa,” “How to get a Head Start on Christmas.” and his latest book, “Santas Tips to Surviving the Holidays.”  

For three years he led the world’s largest Santa association, AORBS, the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, and hosted the first modern day convention for Santas.

In 2006, and ten years later in 2016, he produced the “Discover Santa” Conventions which to this day are still the largest gathering of Santas anywhere in the world, with over 1,000 in attendance.

When he has a few moments of free time, he is working on two books, “Memories of Santa,” a collection of Santa experiences from our favorite celebrities and heroes, and “Santa Remembers,” an autobiography with stories and experiences from his over 55 years as a Santa.

When not volunteering for Toys for Tots, and teaching, he works the Christmas Season appearing and performing in New York, and California.  The rest of the year, he lives in South Carolina with his wife Barbara and close to his daughter Morgan, her husband Jonathan and grand children, Madden and Dempsey.

He can be reached for consultations, appearances and presentations on his Sleigh Phone, voice or text, at: (631) 871-4901 or by email: Santa@NationalSanta.com  

Last Update – October 22, 2023