Then and Now: The Sanderson Sisters and the Rest of the Hocus Pocus Cast!
Hocus Pocus: Then and Now – How Time Flies!
Hocus Pocus, that Halloween classic from 1993, has become a beloved tradition! It's seen regular showings on TV; thus building a HUGE fanbase who have continued to revisit this title; yet a cult following didn’t exist immediately after its initial theatrical run which unexpectedly made this Disney production fail commercially; becoming one of Disney’s least commercially-successful ventures! And now, almost thirty years later; there was a sequel, Hocus Pocus 2! The original stars returned for that 2022 Disney+ release showing this incredibly long time jump!
This created huge questions regarding that significant age jump between the Movies themselves and viewers suddenly wondered how all the cast members would appear after so many years and that naturally sparked many discussions among the audience! This was a perfectly timed follow up as many have eagerly revisited the original classic movie every year, further intensifying their fascination for this franchise!
The Sanderson Sisters: Then and Now
Bette Midler (Winifred Sanderson): Still Serving Witchy Charm
In the original Hocus Pocus, Bette Midler was 46; already hugely popular both in singing and acting; with projects like The Rose already under her belt! After Hocus Pocus, she became even more successful in movies (The First Wives Club, Stepford Wives) and a Las Vegas residency; that enduring talent and incredible charisma truly shines. Even at 76 for Hocus Pocus 2, her presence was entirely magical. We expect she'll return to play Winifred in a possible Hocus Pocus 3!
Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson): From Sanderson Sister to Fashion Icon
Sarah Jessica Parker was only 27 during the first Hocus Pocus, showcasing significant achievements: This includes some earlier movies that include Footloose and L.A. Story, with additional appearances in theater! Her iconic Sex and the City role changed everything. Now, that fame and immense popularity created yet another generation for her fanbase and has established Parker in various projects such as that Sex and the City sequels and And Just Like That..., making this incredibly iconic persona even more unforgettable for newer generations of fans. She returned at 56 to reprise her Hocus Pocus role; demonstrating both mature confidence, plus the same fun-loving spirit.
Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson): A Legacy Beyond the Broom
Kathy Najimy was 35 in the original Hocus Pocus, starring in Sister Act prior to joining this cast! After it; her work includes memorable roles in several television series: Veep, Numbers, and Younger! Also; she's championed women's rights and LGBTQ+ issues; these accomplishments have made Najimy’s contributions unforgettable among audiences. She played Mary Sanderson once more at 65; bringing the same memorable charm.
The Rest of the Cast: Where Are They Now?
Only the Sanderson Sisters and Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones) return in Hocus Pocus 2! Yet this shouldn’t overshadow the entire original cast which had contributed immensely; These original actors, this entire ensemble contributed so immensely to this cult classic! Those original kid actors went on to other successful Hollywood careers too. Let’s check out where they ended up.
Doug Jones (Billy Butcherson): The Master of Creature Roles
Doug Jones, playing Billy Butcherson at 33 became famed for creature acting: From contortionists (Tales from the Crypt) to Gentlemen (Buffy) to Silver Surfer (Fantastic Four) and the Amphibian (Shape of Water). Now 64, his acting career is massive!
Omri Katz (Max Dennison): From Salem to Cannabis
Omri Katz (Max), at 17, was hugely popular in children’s TV (Eerie, Indiana) and even on the TV series Dallas! After a smaller number of roles, he’s retired from acting since 2002. However, he owns a cannabis company– The Mary Danksters–and goes to those fan conventions!
Vinessa Shaw (Allison): Still Acting Strong!
Vinessa Shaw (Allison), who was also 17, has done quite a lot since Hocus Pocus. She’s acted and modeled appearing on classic shows such as Murder, She Wrote and also even appeared in The Hills Have Eyes (2006)! That’s a whole lot of incredible achievements over these last decades!
Thora Birch (Dani Dennison): Behind and in Front of the Camera
Thora Birch (Dani), who was 11 years old, has made huge achievements. She acted consistently in projects such as Monkey Business and Now and Then, along with bigger titles like Ghost World and American Beauty. Now she’s also behind the camera; showcasing more diversity: Recently on The Walking Dead and Mayfair Witches, plus directing The Gabby Petito Story.
Sean Murray (Thackery Binx – Human Form): A 20+ Year Run on NCIS!
Sean Murray (human Binx), who was 16, is famous today primarily because he played Timothy McGee on NCIS for over twenty years! And that shows huge dedication. He has made cameo appearances in some other projects, but McGee is that massive character who has greatly improved his acting career.
Jason Marsden (Thackery Binx – Voice): Voice Acting Pro!
Jason Marsden voiced Binx at 18; also famous for tons of voice work in movies, TV, video games ever since. This includes the memorable Max Goof from A Goofy Movie and various works on Transformers, Disney, and Barbie.
Conclusion: A Magical Legacy Continues!
The Hocus Pocus cast has done quite a bit over three decades and has demonstrated impressive, continued excellence. They moved past the limitations of their first roles! And with this enormous legacy created primarily through regular viewership of this fantastic holiday classic; many people now expect many more future installations and it would seem they would really continue appearing. The massive success; especially considering the lack of earlier commercial appeal when initially launched – made it one of those cult favorites and now is a staple for generations!
