Who do you think of when Santa Claus comes to mind? Tim Allen in The Santa Clause? Richard Attenborough on Miracle on 34th Street? Did you ever believe Brian Cox, of all people, could be Santa?

Baby-faced as a young actor and whitely bearded in his older age, Richard Attenborough — warmly known as “Dickie Darling” — has passed away. The older brother of nature documentary ...