Fulton Greenway is Walter Hobb's boss and the hidden main antagonist of the 2003 Christmas comedy film Elf and it's 2014 TV animated remake Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas.
He was portrayed by Michael Lerner in the film and voiced by Gilbert Gottfried in the cartoon.
Role in the film
The Original film
He first appears in Walter's office with a failed children's book that Walter had published he niece read. After complaining about how awful the book and two missing pages and a minus 8, he firmly demands that Walter finds a new book to publish by December 24th or lose his job. Though it is Christmas Eve, Fulton shows no feelings towards the wondrous night. This could imply that Fulton cares little to nothing for the holiday and his family.
After the failed meeting with Miles Finch, Walter sends Buddy off, saying he no longer wants him in his life. During the meeting to discuss new book ideas, Michael bursts in on Walter's meeting with Greenway to frantically tell him that Buddy is gone. After Michael points out that Walter seems to care more about himself than his family, Walter asks Greenway to reschedule. Greenway coldly refuses and threatens to fire him if he leaves, however, Walter stands up to him, and tell him "up yours". As a result, Greenway fires Walter.
Afterwards, his fate is unknown. If he did face defeat, a possibility would be that his company went out of business.
The animated remake
He first appears, walking down the hallway as a short, hot tempered man, yelling at his employees to get to work or they are fired.
Later, in a meeting with Walter Hobbs, Buddy bursts in to tell his father about his love, until he notice Greenway, mistaking him as an elf, and tries to place a elf uniform on him. Humiliated, Greenway declares that the next meeting to take place on Christmas Eve, and tells his employees to be there or they'll be fired and leaves.
During the meeting on Christmas Eve, Michael and Emily Hobbs bursts in to tell Walter about Buddy had ran away, Walter asks for reschedule but Greenway refuses, so Walter tells Greenway that the idea of the story and it is called "I Quit!", revealing that he quits his job and leaves.
Later, after all the naughty kids, including Greenway insults appears in Central Park, they chase after Santa's sleigh as Buddy tries to fend them off. After Santa's sleigh takes to the sky, Greenway joins him, after he has reformed.
Trivia
- Although he is referred to onscreen as Mr. Greenway, he is credited as Fulton, so his full name must have been Mr. Fulton Greenway.
- The TV remake marks as the 11th anniversary of the original film.