David S. Pumpkins is a fictional character played by Tom Hanks, first introduced in a Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch called “Haunted Elevator” on October 22, 2016.
Created by writers Bobby Moynihan, Mikey Day, and Streeter Seidell, the character is a quirky, nonsensical Halloween figure who appears in a haunted amusement park ride alongside two dancing skeletons (played by Moynihan and Day). Dressed in a black suit with orange pumpkins and sporting a distinctive white-streaked hairstyle, David S. Pumpkins confuses rather than scares the ride’s passengers (played by Kate McKinnon and Beck Bennett) with his bizarre catchphrase, “I’m David S. Pumpkins, and I’m gonna scare the hell out of you! Any questions?”
The humor stems from the character’s absurdity, lack of explanation, and Hanks’ over-the-top commitment to the role, including his signature two-finger point and dance moves. The sketch’s intentional randomness, inspired by the viral YouTube video “Little Superstar,” resonated with audiences for its meta-humor, capturing the feeling of not understanding a reference. The “S” stands for Simon, though it’s arbitrary, adding to the character’s odd charm. He’s cemented as a modern Halloween icon, often compared to a “Santa Claus for Halloween.”
There is a second skit from SNL as well but its not as good imho:
And a “Halloween special”…
…🎃 The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special is a surreal animated TV short that aired on NBC on October 28, 2017, expanding on the viral Saturday Night Live sketch “Haunted Elevator (featuring David S. Pumpkins).” Here’s what makes it such a bizarre and beloved oddity:
🕺 What It’s About
Set in a small suburban town on Halloween night, the special follows a young boy named Kevin and his sister Dotty as they encounter the mysterious and delightfully weird David S. Pumpkins (voiced by Tom Hanks) and his two dancing skeleton sidekicks (voiced by Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan). Together, they embark on a whimsical journey to discover the “true meaning of Halloween.”
The story is narrated by Peter Dinklage, adding a dramatic flair to the absurdity.
🧛♂️ Cast & Crew Highlights
- Tom Hanks as David S. Pumpkins (voice)
- Peter Dinklage as the Narrator
- Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan as the dancing skeletons
- Directed by Don Roy King
- Written by Mikey Day, Bobby Moynihan, and Streeter Seidell
- Produced by SNL Studios, Broadway Video, and Bento Box Entertainment
🧠 Fun Facts
It’s animated in a style reminiscent of classic holiday specials like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but with a surreal twist.
The special is only 21 minutes long, making it a quick, quirky watch.
Wanna be David S Pumpkins? – Get the Costume!
