25 Movie Talents We Lost In 2016

Character actor David Huddleston rose to prominence during the 1970s and 1980s in co-starring roles in films like Mel Brooks’ comedy Blazing Saddles, moon landing conspiracy thriller Capricorn One and the Burt Reynolds fronted action-comedy sequel Smokey and the Bandit II.

A prolific television actor too, Huddleston has appeared in shows including The Wonder Years, Star Trek: The Next Generation and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and played the titular role in the Coen Brothers 1998 cult comedy film The Big Lebowski.

If you’re an ‘80s kid though, you’ll probably remember him best playing Santa Claus himself in the classic Christmas film Santa Claus: The Movie alongside the late Dudley Moore.