It Nearly Wasn't Christmas 35 years old

Feeling unneeded, a disillusioned Santa Claus (Charles Durning) quits Christmas. Through the selflessness of a little girl looking to reunite her parents for Christmas (and the help of his bumbling chief elf, Philpot (Bruce Vilanch), Santa and the child travel across America and Santa discovers that people really do need him and care about other people.

Credits

Charles Durning as Santa

Bruce Vilanch as Philpot

Wayne Osmond as Jeff Baxter

Risa Schiffman as Jennifer Baxter

Beverly Rowland as Mrs. Claus

Annette Marin as Laura Baxter

It Nearly Wasn't Christmas Cast

Name	Character
Charles Durning He was 66, 89 years old when he died	as Santa
Bruce Vilanch He was 41, now 76 years old	as Philpot
Wayne Osmond He was 38, now 73 years old	as Jeff Baxter
Risa Schiffman	as Jennifer Baxter
Beverly Rowland	as Mrs. Claus
Annette Marin	as Laura Baxter

It Nearly Wasn't Christmas Crew

Name	Department
Burt Brinckerhoff as Director. He was 53 (now 88) years old	Directing

It Nearly Wasn't Christmas (35 years)

Release day: Friday, December 01, 1989
Runtime: 100 minutes