THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Hocus Pocus' 27 years later
Talia Lakritz
- "Hocus Pocus" came out in 1993 and became a Halloween cult classic, with a sequel now in the works for Disney Plus.
- Omri Katz, who played the movie's protagonist Max Dennison, quit acting and became a hairstylist.
- Bette Midler has continued to enjoy huge success as an actress on Broadway and on film.
- Sarah Jessica Parker went on to star in "Sex and the City."
When "Hocus Pocus" first hit theaters in 1993, it was neither a commercial nor critical success. The film follows the Sanderson sisters, a trio of evil witches who are accidentally resurrected on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts, and the rag-tag group who tries to finish them off once and for all.
In the years since, "Hocus Pocus" has become a Halloween cult classic — so much so that a sequel is in the works for Disney Plus. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker have all signed on to reprise their iconic roles as the Sanderson sisters.
Here's what the original cast of "Hocus Pocus" is up to now.
Bette Midler starred as the Sanderson sisters' ringleader, Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson.
Midler put her singing skills to use when her character performed a version of "I Put A Spell On You" with spooky lyrics such as "It's been 300 years, right down to the day / Now the witch is back and there's hell to pay."
Midler is still riding high as an award-winning actress, singer, author, and comedian.
She has most recently starred in "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway (for which she won her second Tony), "The Politician" on Netflix, and the Gloria Steinem biopic "The Glorias."
Sarah Jessica Parker played Sarah Sanderson, who hypnotizes children with her enchanting voice.
Sarah Sanderson isn't the brightest of the bunch, but she manages to lure all of the children in Salem to their house by singing a hypnotizing song called "Come Little Children."
Parker went on to star in "Sex and the City" and its subsequent film adaptations, and founded her own production company in 2005.
Parker's most recent role in the HBO show "Divorce" earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Kathy Najimy played Mary Sanderson, the third Sanderson sister with a talent for sniffing out children.
Before "Hocus Pocus," Najimy played Sister Mary Patrick in "Sister Act" alongside Whoopi Goldberg.
Najimy has since appeared in a wide array of movies and TV shows, including "Rat Race," "The Guilt Trip," "BoJack Horseman," and "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."
She has most recently starred in "Veep" and "The Rocketeer," and appeared in "Robot Chicken," "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Duncanville," and "American Dad!"
Omri Katz played the protagonist of "Hocus Pocus," Max Dennison.
In the film, Dennison lights the cursed Black Flame Candle on Halloween night that brings the Sanderson sisters back from the dead.
Katz retired from acting and currently works as a hairstylist in Los Angeles.
Before an appearance on "Eerie, Indiana" in 2018, Katz's last acting role was in a 2002 short film called "Journey Into Night."
Even though he left Hollywood behind, he still made an appearance for a Freeform special in honor of the 25th anniversary of "Hocus Pocus" in 2018.
Thora Birch played Max's fearless younger sister, Dani.
Birch, a '90s child star, was 11 years old when "Hocus Pocus" came out.
Birch has continued to act, most recently appearing in "The Walking Dead."
Throughout the '90s, Birch starred in multiple movies, including "Now and Then," "Monkey Trouble," and, when she was 17, "American Beauty."
More recently, Birch has appeared in movies such as "Above Suspicion," "Kindred Spirits," "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," and "Affairs of State."
The character of Allison was played by Vinessa Shaw.
Allison's mother used to run the museum built in the Sanderson sisters' old cottage in Salem. She brings Max and Dani there, where Max lights the Black Flame Candle and resurrects the fearsome witches.
Shaw has continued acting, appearing in movies including "Eyes Wide Shut," "40 Days and 40 Nights," and "The Hills Have Eyes."
She most recently played Ellie in the 2018 horror film "Family Blood."
Stephanie Faracy played Max and Dani's mother, Jenny.
Jenny dresses up as Madonna for a Halloween party.
Faracy most recently appeared in the TV shows "Sneaky Pete," "How to Get Away with Murder," and "Devious Maids."
Faracy also starred in "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" alongside Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza.
Doug Jones played the undead William "Billy" Butcherson, Winifred Sanderson's ex-boyfriend whom she resurrects to help retrieve her spellbook.
Spoiler alert!
In the end, Butcherson helps Max, Dani, and Allison defeat the Sanderson sisters, and returns to his grave to sleep in peace. Jones used his training as a mime and contortionist to make the zombie-like character more humorous than horrifying.
Jones still works in acting, often playing aliens or other non-human species with the help of makeup and special effects.
Jones has appeared in films like "Hellboy," "Crimson Peak," and "The Shape of Water," but wrote on Twitter that "Playing Billy in HOCUS POCUS was a highlight in my life and career."
- Read more:
- Sarah Jessica Parker says she wants to do a 'Hocus Pocus' sequel and all 3 original Sanderson sisters could return
- Colourpop is releasing a 'Hocus Pocus' makeup line just in time for Halloween
- 11 surprising things you never knew about 'Hocus Pocus'
- Everyone is realizing that the iconic 'Friends' fountain is also in 'Hocus Pocus'
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