Throwback Thursday Christmas Edition: Before They Were in Hit Christmas Movies [VIDEO]

There are certain Christmas movies that are required watching.

But what did these stars do before they were in the holiday classics?

Darrin McGavin was the dad in A Christmas Story. Before that? He was Kolchak: The Night Stalker and Mike Hammer. Kolchak gave me nightmares, but I loved the show!

Before Chevy Chase was Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, he was on Saturday Night Live. Even before that (1974 to be exact) he broke out in the business playing a streaker in the TV movie Energy Crisis. Yep. he did! In 2015, Clark Griswold will return in Vacation.

And then there is The Santa Clause's Tim Allen. His actual launch ( he only had two credits to his name before this) was Home Improvement. He had been a comedian, but decided to cash in on his "tool prowess" on Tim Taylor was born. He did make a great Santa.