The Cast Of 'Hocus Pocus,' Then And Now
It may be hard for some to believe, but when it was first released in 1993, Hocus Pocus was neither a critical nor box office success. It was just too weird, too adult, too non-Disney, and it seemed likely to end up largely forgotten. But thanks to repeated Halloween airings on television over the following years, it became a cult classic.
Many fans are probably curious about the Hocus Pocus cast now. In addition to the trio of stars at its core, the film boasted a strong lineup of child actors. Since the movie's release, they've had varying degrees of success in the industry. The adult stars, meanwhile, largely speak for themselves. Bette Midler was already a legend, Sarah Jessica Parker became a cultural icon a few years later thanks to Sex and the City, and Doug Jones has seemingly played every movie monster and creature you've loved for decades.
The Divine Miss M played Winifred, the eldest of the Sanderson witch sisters. With her blazing red hair piled high atop her head, a pursed, kewpie-doll mouth, and a set of protruding, rabbit-like teeth, Winifred attempted to carry out her plan to steal the souls of the children of Salem.
Bette Midler's career since Hocus Pocus has taken her from box office and recording star to nothing short of a living legend. She has released multiple albums, gone on several tours (including a Las Vegas residency), and starred in dozens more films. She returned to the Broadway stage in the title role of Hello, Dolly! and won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her remarkable performance. Midler is also extremely active in charity work, mainly with the New York Restoration Project and various AIDS organizations.
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Dani Dennison was the determined 8-year-old trick-or-treater whose wiles and headstrong nature helped thwart the Sanderson sisters. The actress who played her, Thora Birch, was an established child performer who had appeared in commercials, television shows, and a handful of movies before Hocus Pocus came along.
After the movie, Birch worked in a number of mainstream and independent projects. Her true breakout role was as Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening's daughter in the Oscar-winning American Beauty. She followed that up the following year with Terry Zwigoff's beloved graphic novel adaptation Ghost World, starring alongside a pre-superstardom Scarlett Johansson as well as Steve Buscemi. After a period of time in the 2000s when it was hard for Birch to find work, she returned to acting, nabbing the role of Gamma on The Walking Dead in 2019.
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As the flirtatious, siren-voiced youngest Sanderson sister Sarah, Sarah Jessica Parker lured children to the witches' lair. Parker was a young performer who broke into the entertainment world via theater. Prior to co-starring in the 1993 Halloween classic, Parker had major supporting roles in Steve Martin's L.A. Story and the Nicolas Cage rom-com Honeymoon in Vegas. Appropriately enough, after Hocus Pocus she wound up in Tim Burton's world with key roles in Ed Wood and Mars Attacks!
Then, of course, she hit the big time as the headliner of the HBO hit series Sex and the City, which made her a household name.
Outside of Carrie Bradshaw's world, Parker has led a number of prominent projects in television, on film, and in the fashion industry, and reprised her iconic role in the follow-up series And Just Like That… in 2021.
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- Photo: Hocus Pocus / Buena Vista Pictures
Dani's older brother Max Dennison was the teen who lit the magic candle that released the Sanderson sisters and their wrath upon Salem. Angry about his family's move from L.A. to Salem, Max found newfound purpose defending himself, his family, and the girl he hoped would become his girlfriend from the witches' schemes.
Actor Omri Katz was a successful child star before Hocus Pocus, his most notable role being that of J.R.'s son in the television series Dallas. Katz made just a few more movies and television shows after Hocus Pocus, and seems to have retired from the industry. These days, he's a hairdresser and also helps run a cannabis company.
Kathy Najimy was just breaking into movies when she landed the role of awkward middle Sanderson sister Mary. She had made a splash in smaller roles in a few earlier high-profile films, including her unforgettable turn as the unrelentingly sunny Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act. Mary Sanderson was a plum part for Najimy, who poured her considerable comic talents into the role. As the witchy sister blessed with an astounding sense of smell, Mary's nose came in handy when the Sandersons needed to find the precocious kids of Salem.
Since Hocus Pocus, Najimy, who is also a social justice and feminist activist, has continued her career in films and television. She's an accomplished theater performer, writer, and director as well.
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Early in Hocus Pocus, Max and Dani meet Salem native Allison, a smart and savvy teen who so sparks Max's interest that he tries to impress her by unwittingly bringing the Sanderson sisters back to life.
Vinessa Shaw was about to quit acting when she got the role in Hocus Pocus. Shaw has continued to act in both big-budget and smaller projects, and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the cast of the 2007 film 3:10 to Yuma. In August 2017, she announced that she was pregnant in true Hocus Pocus style.
When he was alive in the 17th century, the gaunt, lumbering Billy Butcherson was Winifred's boyfriend... until his affair with Sarah. Winifred poisoned him, sewed his mouth shut, and put him six feet under. After she was resurrected, Winifred made Billy into a zombie and summoned him from the dead to come and help her.
Doug Jones was an unforgettable Billy, and the actor has had a long career, mostly in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. He lives with his wife Laurie in California and is still creating haunting characters on the large and small screens. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is his long-standing collaboration with director Guillermo del Toro. Chances are, if it's a memorable fantastical creature in a del Toro film, it's Jones who brought that creature to life, from Abe Sapien in the Hellboy films to the Pale Man and the Fawn in Pan's Labyrinth to the Amphibian Man at the center of The Shape of Water.
Thackery Binx played a pivotal role in the backstory of the Sandersons. In 17th century Salem, he was unable to stop his little sister from being killed by the three witches, so they turned him into an immortal black cat so he would never be able to forget his guilt. Heavy stuff for a movie marketed to children.
The role was played by actor Sean Murray, who comes from a show business family and had done a number of projects as a child actor. A married father, Murray still acts and is best known for his role of Special Agent Timothy McGee on NCIS.
Charles Rocket – Dave Dennison
Dave was Max and Dani's dad, portrayed by actor and comedian Charles Rocket. Rocket had briefly been a cast member of SNL during its controversial 1980-1981 season, though he was fired after he swore on live television. He played smaller roles in several movie and television projects both before and after Hocus Pocus, perhaps most notably as Nicholas Andre in Dumb and Dumber.
In 2005, Rocket was found with his throat cut outside his home in Connecticut. His death was eventually ruled a suicide.
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Max and Dani's mother Jenny was portrayed by character actress Stephanie Faracy. With her blond hair and distinctive voice, Faracy is one of those actors many people instantly recognize but can't exactly remember what they know her from. And there's a lot to possibly know her from.
In addition to supporting roles in numerous films, Faracy has a long list of television credits to her name. She worked with Bette Midler again in the performer's self-titled 2001 sitcom.
Larry Bagby – Ernie, AKA Ice
"Ice" (real name: Ernie) was the apparent head of Salem's juvenile delinquent population. One of Max's main bullies, Ice eventually needed Max's help when he was trapped in a cage by the Sanderson sisters.
Actor Larry Bagby went on to have a recurring role as a high school jock (also named Larry) on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and appeared in films like Walk the Line. In 2005, he released his first album. Music seems to be his main focus lately.
Local bully Jay gets himself locked in a cage at the Sandersons' place after he calls the sisters "ugly chicks." Not a smart move. Hocus Pocus marked the debut of actor Tobias Jelinek, who also had a small role in Batman & Robin before taking a long hiatus from the acting world.
He returned in the early 2010s and has been working steadily ever since, including recurring roles on Stranger Things and American Woman.
