The Cast of 'Hocus Pocus,' Then and Now
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After being dormant for 29 years, both the Sanderson sisters and the Hocus Pocus franchise have been resurrected. The original movie released in 1993 is a cult classic all Halloween movie fanatics know and love. In 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 was released starring the original three Sanderson sisters: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. The movie and its sequel has inspired all kinds of fanfare—from Hocus Pocus costumes to drinking games to tours of the town where it was filmed.
Though after nearly 30 years, you can expect the original cast to have changed a lot, especially the child actors who are now all grown up. Though the entire cast isn't back for the second movie, you may have recognized some of them in other movies and TV shows over the years. If you're curious like us about what the original cast is doing now (and what they look like) you're in luck, because we've done our research. From the big stars to the small roles like the bus driver that is infatuated by Sarah, we've checked in on them all. With Hocus Pocus 3 officially in development, it's a good idea to get it all straight before a new movie with possibly even more characters is added to the list.
WATCH HOCUS POCUS 2 ON DISNEY+
Bette Midler as Winifred
The most sinister Sanderson was the leader of her sisters, and stopped at at nothing to gain eternal youth.
Bette Midler Now
Bette still celebrates her iconic role with a massive annual Halloween party, the proceeds of which are given to the New York Restoration Project. She's been eager to get back into character for years, calling Hocus Pocus 2 "a dream come true"during a 2022 press conference.
Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah
Don't listen to Sarah sing! She may be the ditzier sister, but her pipes are dangerous.
Sarah Jessica Parker Now
Thanks to Hocus Pocus and a little character you may have heard of named Carrie Bradshaw, SJP is now Hollywood royalty. Unlike her costar, the actress was "shocked" when she heard there was going to be a sequel.
"[Bette] could not be deterred from the idea, and I admire her so much for believing and fighting for a sequel. The lesson is, listen to the Divine Miss M. She knows what works and how to get it done,” she told Vanity Fair.
Kathy Najimy as Mary
Mary would do whatever she could to please Winifred. Even if it meant riding a vacuum through town...
Kathy Najimy Now
Over the years, Kathy has brought her hilarious sense of humor to roles on The Good Fight and Veep. She might look a little different in Hocus Pocus 2—and there's a reason for that. She told Entertainment Weekly about her character's famous crooked jaw: "It's on the other side mainly because it's so hard for me to do it on the side I did it on 30 years ago."
Omri Katz as Max
Where would we be if a virgin hadn't lit the Black Flame Candle? Max may have been the source of the trouble, but he was also the hero by the time the credits rolled.
Omri Katz Now
Omri hasn't appeared in a TV show or movie since the early 2000s, but he did come out of retirement for the 25th anniversary of Hocus Pocus in 2018. Though he's not in the sequel, he still attends signings, screenings, and events for the original film every October.
Thora Birch as Dani
Little Dani was the bravest witch around, and didn't let the real-life ones scare her away. (Her human/cat Binx helped, of course.)
Thora Birch Now
Thora appeared in some major movies, including American Beauty and Patriot Games. She came close to appearing in Hocus Pocus 2, but couldn't make it work due to scheduling issues. "There were three options we had for how to bring Dani back, all of which I was excited by," she later revealed to Entertainment Tonight. Birch is now a director, making her debut as a director for the Lifetime movie The Gabby Petito Story in 2022.
Vinessa Shaw as Allison
Max's crush was the key to breaking into the Sanderson sisters' house.
Vinessa Shaw Now
Vinessa has been married to Kristopher Gifford since 2008 and has one son named Jack. Though she doesn't make an appearance in Hocus Pocus 2, she has some ideas on where her character would be today. "I feel like she and Max are still together, but I think, you know, Allison's from Salem and he always wants to go to California, so, I think they did some sort of compromise," she told Entertainment Tonight. Shaw is still acting today, appearing in movies including The Hills Have Eyes and After the Fall.
Sean Murray as Thackery Binx
Okay, so Thackery was a cat for most of the movie. But we got a glimpse at his human form for at least a few minutes!
Sean Murray Now
Sean was a member of the NCIS cast, playing the lovable McGee. While you won't see him in the sequel, the actor still gets recognized for his role in the original film. "I have kids come to me and their parents grew up on it and now their kids grow up on it. It's like a cult favorite," he told E!.
Amanda Shepherd as Emily Binx
Even though Amanda Shepherd's character is only in the movie briefly, the whole plot revolves around her. Who knows what would have happened if Emily didn't go into the woods that day?
Amanda Shepherd Now
There was a slight misunderstanding about the actress who played Emily Binx. The internet spread a rumor that YouTuber Jodie-Amy Riveria was the child star—but it was actually Amanda. The two of them set things straight for everyone in an interview with Cosmopolitan. Amanda has since worked in real estate in Malibu, and now runs a Reiki healing practice called Shekinah Speaks.
Stephanie Faracy as Max's Mom
Who could forget Max's mom, Jenny, who essentially ignores her children's warning and ends up spellbound to the dance floor?
Stephanie Faracy Now
Stephanie is still acting, primarily in supporting roles in movies and on TV. A few of her recent projects include The Goldbergs and Uncoupled. While she isn't in Hocus Pocus 2, you'll spot someone wearing her character's iconic Madonna costume, so keep an eye out!
Charles Rocket as Max's Dad
Charles put his comedian training from Saturday Night Live to good use when he played Max's dad, Dave. We're sure his Dracula pun would have killed in an opening monologue.
Charles Rocket in 2005
Sadly, Charles passed away near his house in Connecticut in 2005. The comedian was known for his roles in films like Dumb and Dumber and Dances with Wolves. His final film role was in Fly Me to The Moon in 2007.
Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson
Billy Butcherson probably had a lot to say to his ex-girlfriend, Winnie, who killed him, sewed his mouth shut, then resurrected him to help her hunt Max, Allison, and Dani.
Doug Jones Now
Doug is a trained mime and specializes in working with prosthetics, so you've probably seen him in more than you realize over the years, including The Shape of Water and Pan's Labyrinth. The actor reprised his role in the sequel, telling Yahoo Entertainment: "Watching myself transform from Doug Jones into Billy Butcherson again for the first time was… a rush of many emotions."
Norbert Weisser as Thackery's Father
One of the most underrated moments of Hocus Pocus was when Thackery's father completely missed his son's attempts to get his attention as a newly transformed cat and savagely yells, "Away, beast." Ouch.
Norbert Weisser Now
The actor has a background in theater, but has appeared in many film and television productions, including Ron Howard's Angels and Demons and Breaking Bad.
Larry Bagby as Ernie "Ice"
It was never really made clear what happened to Ernie (a.k.a. "Ice") and his mischievous pal, Jay, after they were placed in cages at the witch's house, but we assume it all turned out okay.
Larry Bagby Now
The actor, now 49, has continued to work in Hollywood since his days as Ice, appearing on shows like Ray Donavan and The Young and the Restless.
Tobias Jelinek as Jay
What would Hocus Pocus have been without the second half of the Ice and Jay duo? Tobias Jelinek looked the part of the rebellious town bully with his long blonde hair and motorcycle jacket.
Tobias Jelinek Now
Fans of Hocus Pocus were quick to spot Tobias in season 1 of Stranger Things, in which he played one of the agents looking for Eleven. The actor has also appeared in Shameless and American Woman.
Kathleen Freeman as Miss Olin
Shoutout to Miss Olin for setting the whole movie in motion by telling her class about the legend of Thackery Binx and the Sanderson sisters.
Kathleen Freeman in 2001
Kathleen Freeman continued acting up until she passed away in 2001 at the age of 78. The actress appeared in everything from The Blues Brothers to Married...with Children.
Don Yesso as the Bus Driver
For a minor role, Don Yesso managed to squeeze quite a few memorable lines into his scene with the Sanderson sisters. In case you forgot, he was the clueless bus driver who was infatuated with Sarah.
Don Yesso Now
Don Yesso's career has reached another level since his small role on Hocus Pocus. The actor landed major roles in Bad Country and Fantastic Four, and has also appeared on television shows like True Detective and CBS's Zoo.
Garry Marshall as the Devil
Garry appeared in the film as the devil—or, in actuality, a man dressed up as the devil for Halloween. When the Sanderson sisters mistake him for being the real Satan (whom they worship) a hilarious scene unfolds.
Garry Marshall in 2016
The famous director passed away at the age of 81 in 2016. He was responsible for many acclaimed films, including Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Never Been Kissed, and Overboard.
Penny Marshall as Medusa
In a more bizarre twist, Penny Marshall played the wife of her real-life brother. In the movie, her character doesn't want to dress up for Halloween and the Sanderson sisters confuse her curlers for her being Medusa.
Penny Marshall in 2018
Penny Marshall passed away in 2018 at the age of 75 after complications from diabetes. The actress was best known for her role in Laverne and Shirley and for directing A League of Their Own and Big. Hocus Pocus 2 features a special tribute to both Penny and Garry—in a brief moment, you can spot someone watching their scene from the original movie on the TV.
Ropes Mansion as Allison's House
It was when Max and Dani visited Allison's home on Halloween night that trouble started to brew. If you weren't jealous of cool girl Allison before, you definitely were after seeing her family's over-the-top party.
Ropes Mansion Now
The house that was used for the exterior for Allison's home is actually located in Salem, Massachusetts. It's known as Ropes Mansion and you can still visit it today, along with a whole tour of Hocus Pocus filming locations.
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