Meet the actors who have played Charles Dickens' Scrooge

Bah! Humbug! Johnny Depp, Michael Cain and Kunal Nayyar... meet the actors who have played Charles Dickens' Scrooge

Johnny Depp has been announced to be playing Ebenezer Scrooge in Ti West's new adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 novel A Christmas Carol.

Scrooge is a cold-hearted businessman forced to confront his past, present and future on Christmas Eve in order to save his soul.

Discover the actors who have brought the miser to life in musicals, movies and animations...

Kunal Nayyar: Christmas Karma (2025)

Big Bang Theory star Kunal Nayyar plays a modern Scrooge figure, Eshaan Sood, in Bend it Like Beckham filmmaker Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma, a Bollywood-inspired musical retelling of Dickens’ classic.

The story reimagines Scrooge as a wealthy, prejudiced businessman forced to confront the consequences of his actions. Eva Longoria, Billy Porter and Boy George portray the three Christmas spirits guiding his redemption. Nayyar has described the project as “a fresh, culturally rich take on a timeless lesson".

Jim Carrey: Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)

Jim Carrey took on multiple roles - Scrooge at every age and all three ghosts - in Robert Zemeckis’s motion-capture adaptation. His elastic voice work and physical performance delivered a darker, more intense Scrooge while staying faithful to Dickens’ emotional beats. Carrey said he approached the role as “a journey through fear, regret, and ultimately compassion,” making this one of the boldest modern versions of the character.

Kelsey Grammer: A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004)

The Frasier star played Scrooge in this NBC musical adaptation based on the Broadway production. With full-scale numbers and an all-star cast including Jason Alexander and Jennifer Love Hewitt, Grammer leaned into the character’s dramatic transformation - from cold-hearted titan to joyful celebrant. He later said that performing the story as a musical “lets the redemption ring louder".

Tim Curry: A Christmas Carol (1997)

The Rocky Horror legend voiced Scrooge in the 1997 animated musical film, bringing his trademark theatricality and booming gravitas to the role. With Whoopi Goldberg as the Ghost of Christmas Present, this version introduced a younger generation to Dickens through bright songs and stylized animation. Curry’s performance balances menace with warmth, making his eventual transformation feel richly earned.

Michael Caine: The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Michael Caine’s performance is widely beloved for its sincerity - he plays Scrooge completely straight while surrounded by Muppets, creating one of the most emotionally resonant adaptations. Directed by Brian Henson, the film blends musical charm with Dickens’ stern morality. Caine famously said he performed the role “as if I were acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company", helping the film become a Christmas classic.