Santa lookalike from Robinson vies for prizes on 'Let's Make a Deal'

Check out the Santa Claus lookalike on the Jan. 29 episode of “Let’s Make a Deal.”

That’s Michael Murray of Robinson, vying for big prizes on the long-running game show, airing at 10 a.m. on CBS.

Murray teaches health and physical education to Pittsburgh Public Schools students from kindergarten through fifth grade. He said he sports a beard during the holidays to play Santa at area malls, including Ross Park Mall and South Hills Village.

“It was during the holiday season that we taped the show,” he said. “So, this is how people will recognize me on the show.”

Murray said he applied to be a contestant at the urging of his daughter, Chana Carol, who lives in Burbank, Calif., and “is really into TV shows and acting.”

“I didn’t really expect anything, because I’m in Pittsburgh and not California, but they called and asked if I’d like to be on,” he said.

Location wasn’t an issue, because the show is currently taping with a small group of potential contestants on the set, along with others joining in via Zoom panels.

“They said, ‘You’re OK as long as you have a computer and access to Zoom. You can stay in Pittsburgh and we’ll have you on our virtual wall,’” Murray said.

Murray taped six shows, three in October and three in December. He was not picked to compete for prizes during the first session, but was called on in December.

Taping was an all-day affair each time, with breaks between the episodes. Host Wayne Brady lived up to his affable persona, Murray said.

“Wayne’s a really nice guy. He talked to all of us during the breaks,” he said. “He calls us his ‘at-homies.’”

Murray’s lips are sealed about the show’s outcome.

“I’m not allowed to say how it went for me, so that will definitely keep people on their toes waiting to find out,” he said.

He and his family, including Chana, wife Helen and son John are longtime game show fans. They’ve previously been in the audience for “The Price is Right.” Chana, Helen and John also have been audience members for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

“This is the first time any of us has been a contestant,” Murray said.

But it might not be the last.

“They liked my energy,” he said. “They said they’d like me back on the virtual wall, so I said, ‘Call me.’”