 The film premiered in the US on November 25, 1979 on ABC.This was the last Rankin/Bass special to star Canadian actress Billie Mae Richards as Rudolph and American actor Jackie Vernon as Frosty.Mickey Rooney reprised his role as Santa Claus from "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town" (1970) and "The Year Without A Santa Claus" (1974).