David S. Pumpkins
David S. Pumpkins is a Halloween-themed character played by Tom Hanks on Saturday Night Live. He first appeared on October 22, 2016, in season 42, episode 4, created by Mikey Day, Bobby Moynihan, and Streeter Seidell.
In the original sketch, Pumpkins wears a pumpkin-themed suit and is joined by two dancing skeletons. The scene takes place on a spooky ride called 100 Floors of Frights. A couple enters, and the ride shows scary moments, but Pumpkins and the skeletons mostly confuse and amuse them. He says he is there to “scare the hell out of you,” but the act ends up being silly. The sketch became a viral hit and developed a devoted fan following.
The popularity led to a 30-minute animated special, The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special, which aired on October 28, 2017. Hanks, Day, Moynihan, and Seidell returned, with Peter Dinklage joining the cast. The story follows Kevin and his sister as they trick-or-treat and try to stop the Raincoat Man from stealing Halloween candy, with Pumpkins and the skeletons helping them in a magical adventure.
Pumpkins continued to appear on SNL in later years. Dave Chappelle referenced the character in 2017, and in the season finale Hanks appeared in a pre-recorded rap video as David S. Pimpkins. In 2022, Hanks and Moynihan returned with Day in the season 48 episode hosted by Jack Harlow. They appear again in a jump-scare haunted attraction called Cell Block 666, hosted by Kenan Thompson, with Jack Harlow and other cast members around them.
Other details: The middle initial S stands for Simon. The idea for Pumpkins came from wanting a Halloween version of a viral video and a “Santa Claus for Halloween.” The pumpkin suit was bought for $12.99 at Party City. There were early talks of having Lady Gaga as Mrs. David Pumpkins, but she declined. Tom Hanks’s performance helped him earn an Emmy nomination in 2017. Madame Tussauds Orlando later made a wax figure of Hanks dressed as David Pumpkins in 2017.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:43 (CET).