For more than three decades, Greg Wilson of Gallatin has stepped into the worn boots of one of literature’s most infamous characters, Ebenezer Scrooge. But for Greg, this role has never been about bitterness. It’s always been about hope.

Greg didn’t grow up dreaming of the stage. In high school, he was an athlete until his older brother, already involved in theater, asked him to help fill in as an extra. Greg didn’t realize that “extra” meant playing a dead man in a 1970 production. But something unexpected happened: he fell in love with acting.

By 19, Greg was already doing professional work. Years later, while attending church, he was recruited to play Scrooge in a Christmas production, a role he has now portrayed for 31 years. What once took an hour and a half of preparation to look “grumpy and old” now takes none at all. “I’m ready to go,” he laughs.

Greg believes A Christmas Carol endures because it’s an “everyman” story. “We all have flaws,” he shares. “Everyone has been a Scrooge at one point or another.” In his version of the play, Scrooge’s transformation is deeply spiritual, culminating in a moment of surrender at the gravesite, a reminder that self-reflection and realignment matter for all of us.

As the founding artistic director of Actors Point Theatre Company, Greg is passionate about storytelling that holds both weight and joy. He loves building characters that honor the seriousness of their role while still leaving room for laughter. “Good acting,” he says, “is when you start feeling the same thing as the character.” And nothing compares to hearing an audience erupt in response.

Over the years, Greg has received messages from people whose lives were touched by his performances. One audience member shared they committed their life to Christ during a show. Another moment remains especially close to his heart: the first time his father ever saw him perform. That night, his father responded to the altar call. Years later, on his father’s deathbed, when Greg asked where he stood with Christ, his dad gently replied, “Don’t you remember when I said that prayer?”

When asked who shaped his own generosity, Greg doesn’t hesitate. “My wife, Jennifer,” he says. Married for 46 years, he calls her a constant example of kindness.

Greg admits his own “Scrooge-like” moments come from regret, times he wishes he had shared his heart more openly. His advice for anyone feeling stuck or alone? “Aloneness is not your friend. Surround yourself with people you want to be like. Aspire to be more like Christ.”

After all these years, Greg isn’t just playing Scrooge, he’s living the message: redemption is always possible, and it’s never too late to open your heart.