Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Johnson.
Hi Jimmy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I came to Central Florida about 12 years ago after living in Burbank, California, for nearly 17 years. I had worked in the entertainment industry for most of my life following my service in the Marine Corps. This included several years as personal security for celebrities and bands, including Guns n Roses, Paul McCartney, and Michael McDonald. From there, I went into live music management and staging until moving to the Orlando area. At that time, I was send me retired but had always dreamed of being a theme park actor. Sounds silly, but they had been a dream with mine for many years. In 2012 I got a chance for that dream to come true when out of the blue. I was cast to be Santa Claus in the Macy’s holiday parade at Universal Studios Orlando. After that, I spent 6 years with Universal Studios before moving on to the now sadly closed-down Holy Land experience. The holy Land was a wonderful theme park. It employed some of the best performers in all of Florida. And had one of the most excited and focused visitors in the theme park market. At Holy Land I was playing characters like Caiaphas and others win. The park went through a big change after the death of Jan Crouch. After that I originated the role of Peter in a production of” God With Us.” Now, one thing you have to remember is that the holy land had a 2000-seat main central auditorium with state-of-the-art technical equipment and effects. As the lead in the show, we were getting standing ovations every single day. Then, one day, out of the blue, a company from Alaska called me and offered me to be the director and the lead performer at a place called Liarsville, located in Skagway, Alaska. Who in their right mind would leave a successful 2000-seat modern venue with standing ovations every day for a tiny 300-seat venue in Skagway, Alaska? Me, that’s who. One afternoon, after a performance at the holy Land, believe it or not, I felt like there was a voice that spoke to me and said,” This is as good as it gets. Time to move on to the next challenge.” From there, I gave a 3-week notice to leave the show and spent that next summer in Skagway, Alaska, performing six shows a day for 300 people a show… And absolutely loved it. When I returned, I found that the holy Land had felt I betrayed them and did not want me back. I worried that I had ruined my career as a theme park actor and would have to find a regular job. After 3 weeks of worrying, my phone began to ring. I was cast as Captain EJ Smith in the Titanic Diner Show and can be seen throughout Central Florida, in commercials, and sometimes on TV as the better Santa Claueloved Santa Claus. Although I no longer perform in theme parks, I am blessed to have become probably the most sought-afs in Florida. I am the official Santa Claus for the city of Orlando as well as for some of the greatest photographers in Central Florida, including Rachel Sullivan and Jenny Harper. Throughout November and December, my days are filled with home visits, business appearances, hospital visits, and the occasional parade. My summers have continued in Alaska. My next stop in Alaska was a show that I wrote and produced called “Legends and Lies Alaska,” which I performed in for 2 years and is still running in Skagway today. I’ve also worked for Holland America and other cruise lines, sharing the history and stories of Alaska, the Yukon Gold Rush, and the Great North. This summer, my talents take me to Sitka, Alaska, the original Russian capital of the Alaskan territory. But as always, I will return in November to sport the red suit and bring as many smiles as I can to the children of Central Florida.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has the spin a smooth road? That’s actually a hilarious question. Can anybody ever say that they’ve achieved anything without struggle? Working in Orlando has always been a struggle to pay bills. Orlando Entertainment is not known for making people wealthy or comfortable, but it is full of talented individuals who love to entertain. I have been fortunate enough to be able to pay my bills here in entertainment for over a decade now. Being a popular Santa Claus makes you a target for haters and some crazy people out there. In 2023 I nearly lost my wife to a medical accident which made living up to my commitments for that year very difficult. But now, thank God, she is on the mend, and my duties continue to focus on entertainment.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am essentially a jack of all trades. First and foremost, I am a performer, but I am also a director, a writer, and a storyteller.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Playing one of the most loved and well-known characters in the world requires a performer to do so in a way that is honest to a child’s heart. Santa is not a tired old man in a red suit. Santa Claus a. Gregarious blue-collar man with a huge heart, a huge sense of humor, and a huge amount of innocence. And, of course, you have to love what you do.
Pricing:
- $350 per hour for Santa Claus
- $700 on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve
- Union rates for media.
- All other rates negotiable.
Image Credits
Rachel Sullivan
Jenny Harper
SeaWorld Orlando
