J. B. Adams

J.B. Adams (born September 29, 1954) is an American character stage and film actor, director, and singer. He has credits in film, television and, most notably, musical theatre. Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he attended Oklahoma City University, where he studied voice, piano, opera, and musical theatre, after which he became a New York City-based Broadway actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Broadway productions of Beauty and the Beast (as Maurice, the father), Annie (as Rooster/Drake/Bert Healy/FDR), Parade (as Luther Rosser), Me and My Girl (as Sir Jasper), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (as Grandpa Potts), and Elf: The Musical (as Santa). He played the role of Morris Farnsworth in the film Far From Heaven, as well as originating the same role in the Off-Broadway musical adaptation (2013). On TV and the web, he has played Santa for Verizon FiOS and has had guest starring roles on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Michael J. Fox Show.