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    1. Celebrity

    40 Stars You Probably Forgot Were in Christmas Movies

    There was more than one Culkin brother in Home Alone?!

    Charlotte Chilton's avatar
    By Charlotte Chilton
    Published 10 December 2019 In Features

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    Christmas eve, Smile, Christmas, Hat,
    (Image credit: Walt Disney Productions/New Line Distribution)
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    Christmas movies are a rare genre in that, even when they're corny and bad, they're still good. And people often watch their favorites *at least* once a year. That's probably why many Hollywood stars clamor to snag a role in anything holiday-related, including these A-list celebs you might have forgotten about.

    John Krasinski in The Holiday
    (Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

    John Krasinski in The Holiday

    A year after breaking out as Jim on The Office, John Krasinski appeared in The Holiday as one of Amanda's (Cameron Diaz) overworked employees who can't believe she's taking a vacation.

    Rita Wilson in Mixed Nuts
    (Image credit: Archive Photos)

    Rita Wilson in Mixed Nuts

    In this crazy chaotic comedy that focuses on Christmas Eve at Steve Martin's character's suicide prevention hotline, we'd be lost without Rita Wilson's antics as Catherine.

    Kieran Culkin in Home Alone
    (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

    Kieran Culkin in Home Alone

    Although it's his older brother who stars in this holiday classic, Kieran Culkin appears in Home Alone as one of the many children in the house who are fighting over pizza and Pepsi. 

    Eugene Levy in Serendipity
    (Image credit: Miramax Films)

    Eugene Levy in Serendipity

    They say when destiny has a sense of humor you get serendipity. The fate of two people hoping to connect was all in Eugene Levy's hands when he played a very important salesman in this Christmas love story.

    Peter Billingsley in Elf
    (Image credit: New Line Distribution)

    Peter Billingsley in Elf

    Christmas movie worlds collided when fans realized that Peter Billingsley, a.k.a. Ralphie from A Christmas Story, played an elf at the North Pole in Elf.

    Billy Bob Thornton in Love Actually
    (Image credit: Universal)

    Billy Bob Thornton in Love Actually

    You're not meant to like the smooth-talking, entitled President of the United States in Love Actually, but you can appreciate Billy Bob Thornton for choosing the iconic role. 

    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way
    (Image credit: Copyright = 20th Century Fox)

    Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way

    Let us not forget that The Terminator...we mean, Arnold Schwarzenegger...was the star of a Christmas movie back in 1996. He played a businessman on a quest for a sold out toy on Christmas Eve. Yes, it's worth a watch.

    Christina Hendricks in Bad Santa 2
    (Image credit: Jan Thijs/Santamax Distribution)

    Christina Hendricks in Bad Santa 2

    Christina Hendrix joined the holiday debauchery that was Bad Santa 2, playing the head of a charity organization. It was as raunchy as you would expect.

    Jessica Biel in I'll Be Home For Christmas
    (Image credit: Walt Disney Productions)

    Jessica Biel in I'll Be Home For Christmas

    Jessica Biel was at the height of her 7th Heaven fame when she played Jonathan Taylor Thomas's love interest in I'll Be Home for Christmas. It is peak '90s and as amazing as it sounds.

    Kristin Chenoweth in Deck the Halls
    (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

    Kristin Chenoweth in Deck the Halls

    The singer/actress took her pipes off Broadway to grace us as Danny Devito's wife, Tia Hall, in Deck the Halls. We say, the more Chenoweth, the better. (More on Kristin Davis later.)

    Sarah Jessica Parker in The Family Stone
    (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

    Sarah Jessica Parker in The Family Stone

    What would the holidays be without a little familial strife? Sarah Jessica Parker joined an all-star cast in The Family Stone to make us feel better about our own dysfunctional family.

    Beverly D'Angelo in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    (Image credit: Warner Bros)

    Beverly D'Angelo in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

    Whether she's playing Barb on Entourage or Stella Rose in Netflix's Insatiable, D'Angelo will always be Ellen Griswold in our hearts. 

    Paul Rudd in 200 Cigarettes
    (Image credit: Dogstar Films)

    Paul Rudd in 200 Cigarettes

    This dark comedy, which centers around a group of 20-somethings on New Year's Eve in New York City, is now a cult classic. Rudd steals the show as the heartbroken Kevin.

    Ed Burns in The Holiday
    (Image credit: Columbia Pictures)

    Ed Burns in The Holiday

    He's not in the film for long (Cameron Diaz's character breaks up with him in the opening scene of the movie), but he's important, because it's Ed Burns' character that sets the entire plot of The Holiday in motion.

    Dan Aykroyd in Christmas With the Kranks
    (Image credit: Zade Rosenthal/ Revolution Studios)

    Dan Aykroyd in Christmas With the Kranks

    Dan Aykroyd plays an uptight neighbor competing against Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis throughout the holiday season in Christmas With the Kranks. Classic.

    Neil Patrick Harris in A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas
    (Image credit: Darren Michaels/ New Line Productions)

    Neil Patrick Harris in A Very Harold & Kumar 3-D Christmas

    Why wouldn't Neil Patrick Harris perform a song and dance number while wearing a top hat and holding a giant candy cane in A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas?

    Taylor Momsen in How the Grinch Stole Christmas
    (Image credit: Universal)

    Taylor Momsen in How the Grinch Stole Christmas

    Before she roamed the Upper East Side on Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen was the adorable Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 

    Peter Gallagher in While You Were Sleeping
    (Image credit: Hollywood Pictures)

    Peter Gallagher in While You Were Sleeping

    Okay, so he's in a coma for most of the movie, but Peter Gallagher was dreamy enough to cause Sandra Bullock to lie about an engagement, so we have to give him some credit.

    Liev Schreiber in Mixed Nuts
    (Image credit: Archive Photos)

    Liev Schreiber in Mixed Nuts

    Before he played the tough guy on Ray Donovan, Liev Schreiber's first movie role was as Chris in Nora Ephron's Mixed Nuts.  

    Jonathan Taylor Thomas in I'll Be Home For Christmas
    (Image credit: Walt Disney Productions)

    Jonathan Taylor Thomas in I'll Be Home For Christmas

    Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the biggest heartthrobs of the '90s, so his role as cool-guy Jake in I'll Be Home For Christmas had tweens everywhere swooning when it premiered. 

    William Frawley in Lemon Drop Kid
    (Image credit: Archive Photos)

    William Frawley in Lemon Drop Kid

    You're probably familiar with William Frawley as Fred on I Love Lucy, but before his days on TV, the actor starred opposite Bob Hope in the gangster Christmas movie, Lemon Drop Kid. 

    Martin Short in The Santa Clause 3
    (Image credit: Walt Disney Productions)

    Martin Short in The Santa Clause 3

    Martin Short rolled into the North Pole as Jack Frost in The Santa Clause 3—and brought some mischief along with him.

    John Corbett in Serendipity
    (Image credit: Miramax Films)

    John Corbett in Serendipity

    Why is it that John Corbett's characters never win at love? In 2001, Corbett starred as Kate Beckinsale's character's boyfriend in Serendipity, but it didn't pan out well for him.

    LL Cool J in The Last Holiday
    (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

    LL Cool J in The Last Holiday

    The rapper turned actor took his crush on Queen Latifah's character in The Last Holiday to the next level when he trekked all the way to the Alps for her—now that's holiday love.

    Whitney Houston in The Preacher's Wife
    (Image credit: Fotos International)

    Whitney Houston in The Preacher's Wife

    Legendary singer Whitney Houston returned to the big screen after her 1992 debut in The Bodyguard with a Christmas film. Houston stole the show alongside Denzel Washington in the remake of the 1947 film, The Bishop's Wife. 

    Anna Faris in Just Friends
    (Image credit: Inferno Distribution)

    Anna Faris in Just Friends

    We've all made the mistake of bringing the wrong person home for the holidays. Anna Faris is the epitome of this in Just Friends, in which she played Ryan Reynolds's character's crazy pop star girlfriend. 

    Dylan McDermott in Miracle on 34th St (1994)
    (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

    Dylan McDermott in Miracle on 34th St (1994)

    Dylan McDermott spread the Christmas cheer as he wooed Dorey Walker and her 6-year-old daughter Susan, and served as Kris Kringle's defense attorney.

    Bill Murray in Scrooged
    (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

    Bill Murray in Scrooged

    Only Bill Murray could deliver a hilarious modern day version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and have it be completely ridiculous and brilliant at the same time.

    Tom Hanks in The Polar Express
    (Image credit: Warner Bros)

    Tom Hanks in The Polar Express

    Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks was tapped to voice the conductor when Warner Brothers decided to bring the classic holiday book The Polar Express to life in 2004. 

    Reese Witherspoon in Four Christmases
    (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Reese Witherspoon in Four Christmases

    Reese Witherspoon shows us just how exhausting the holidays can be in Four Christmases, during which her and her partner, Vince Vaughn, visit both of their divorced parents on Christmas Day.

    Jon Favreau in Elf
    (Image credit: New Line Cinema)

    Jon Favreau in Elf

    Jon Favreau made a cameo as Buddy the Elf's pediatrician in Elf—oh and he directed the whole thing too. No big deal.

    Joseph Cross in Jack Frost
    (Image credit: Warner Bros)

    Joseph Cross in Jack Frost

    At the beginning of his acting career, Joseph Cross (Milk, Lincoln, Running With Scissors) was the star of Jack Frost—the Christmas film about a father who comes back from the dead as a snowman to make things right with his family.

    Catherine O'Hara in Home Alone
    (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

    Catherine O'Hara in Home Alone

    Catherine O'Hara spends most of this classic film either blissfully unaware or freaking out over her missing son in Home Alone. Her role is nothing short of iconic.

    Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles
    (Image credit: Netflix)

    Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles

    Kurt Russell took on the role of Father Christmas in the Netflix movie, The Christmas Chronicles—which was so popular a sequel is expected to be released in 2020. 

    Michelle Monaghan in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
    (Image credit: Silver Pictures)

    Michelle Monaghan in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

    Despite Michelle Monaghan's festive get-up, the dark comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which takes place during Christmastime in Los Angeles, is anything but traditional.

    Molly Ringwald in Wishin' and Hopin'
    (Image credit: Synthetic Cinema International)

    Molly Ringwald in Wishin' and Hopin'

    Molly Ringwald goes back to school, this time as the teacher, in Wishin' and Hopin'. 

    Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th St
    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th St

    The original Miracle on 34th St starred the precocious Natalie Wood as Susan Walker. 

    Julie Andrews in Eloise at Christmastime
    (Image credit: Arnaldo Magnani)

    Julie Andrews in Eloise at Christmastime

    Julie Andrews returned to her roots of playing a nanny (you know, like she did in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins?!) in Eloise at Christmastime.

    Kristin Davis in Three Days
    (Image credit: Saban Entertainment)

    Kristin Davis in Three Days

    Kristin Davis worked on something a little more wholesome on the side while starring on Sex and the City. In 2001, the actress played an angel who helps save a marriage during the holidays in Three Days.

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