---
name: "Donovan Scott"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/donovan-scott"
fi1m_id: "donovan-scott"
imdb_id: "nm0779073"
tmdb_id: 57350
wikidata_id: "Q730050"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 September 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 55
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-04T18:35:16.394974+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Donovan Scott

## Identity

Donovan Scott

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/donovan-scott
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** donovan-scott
- **IMDb ID:** nm0779073
- **TMDB ID:** 57350
- **Wikidata ID:** Q730050
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_Scott, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q730050, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0779073/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/57350

Actor. Born 29 September 1946 in Chico, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 September 1946, Chico, California, USA
- **Active:** 1980–1984
- **Average Fi1m score:** 55, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 2, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Crime 1, Family 1, Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $189m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_Scott, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q730050, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0779073/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/57350

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Sheena*](https://film.one/film/sheena.md) (40)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Donovan Scott is an American character actor. He trained for two and a half years at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and in Commedia dell'Arte with Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, and toured as an actor and artistic director of a theatrical troupe before settling in Los Angeles in 1977.

Scott made his film debut in *1941* (1979) and is known for roles including Castor Oyl in *Popeye* (1980), Leslie Barbara in *Police Academy* (1984) and a deputy in *Back to the Future Part III* (1990). He has frequently portrayed Santa Claus in films and television series, and appeared in the music video for Olivia Newton-John's "Physical". He co-starred in the 1986 series *Life with Lucy* and has also directed films.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Police Academy* (1984), Fi1m 62, as Leslie Barbara — [page](https://film.one/film/police-academy.md)
- *Sheena* (1984), Fi1m 40, as Fletcher ("Fletch") — [page](https://film.one/film/sheena.md)
- *Popeye* (1980), Fi1m 64, as Castor Oyl — [page](https://film.one/film/popeye.md)

## Complete filmography (49)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Superstore* (2015), series, as Tom
- *Northpole: Open for Christmas* (2015), as Santa
- *Life in Pieces* (2015), series, as Santa
- *Death to Cupid* (2015), as Santa Claus
- *Matchmaker Santa* (2012), as Chris
- *Baby Daddy* (2012), series, as Santa Claus
- *3 Holiday Tails* (2011), as Michael
- *Backlight* (2010), as old farmer
- *The Three Gifts* (2009), as Santa
- *A Very Sunny Christmas* (2009), as Santa Claus in Mall
- *The Middle* (2009), series, as Santa
- *I Know Who Killed Me* (2007), as Leon Cardero
- *The Enigma with a Stigma* (2006), as Rober Riley
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Therapist
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Santa Larry — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, as Santa Claus in Mall
- *Uh-Oh!* (2004), as Captain Squid
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Judge Christopher Serra — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Fish Don't Blink* (2002), as Leonard
- *Blast from the Past* (1999), as Ron
- *Martial Law* (1998), series, as George Calvin
- *The Children of Captain Grant* (1997), as Willie · Director, Screenplay
- *You're Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley's* (1995), series, as Santa Claus
- *Babylon 5* (1994), series, as Captain Jack — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/babylon-5.md)
- *The Alaska Kid* (1993), series, as Shorty
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Santa — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Crazies* (1991), as the robber with the frog
- *Back to the Future Part III* (1990), as Deputy
- *Meet the Hollowheads* (1989), as Cop #2
- *Splash, Too* (1988), as Freddie Bauer
- *Annie Oakley* (1986), as Joe
- *Life with Lucy* (1986), series, as Leonard Stoner
- *Psycho III* (1986), as Kyle
- *The Best of Times* (1986), as Eddie
- *Pecos Bill* (1986), as Man in the Moon
- *Tall Tales & Legends* (1985), series, as Man in the Moon, Joe
- *Sheena* (1984), as Fletcher ("Fletch") — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/sheena.md)
- *Thumbelina* (1984), as Herman Toad
- *Police Academy* (1984), as Leslie Barbara — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/police-academy.md)
- *Goldilocks and the Three Bears* (1984), as Cubby Bear
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Hendrix / The French Chef, Cubby Bear, Herman Toad, Guest Interviewee
- *The Tale of the Frog Prince* (1982), as Hendrix / The French Chef
- *Savannah Smiles* (1982), as Boots
- *Olivia Newton-John: Let's Get Physical* (1982), as Guy getting powdered
- *Zorro, The Gay Blade* (1981), as Paco
- *The Incredible Shrinking Woman* (1981), as Neighbor
- *Popeye* (1980), as Castor Oyl — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/popeye.md)
- *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Owner
- *1941* (1979), as Kid Sailor

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/donovan-scott