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Then and Now: The Sanderson Sisters and the Rest of the Hocus Pocus Cast!
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 that2022Disney+ 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!
In the originalHocus Pocus,Bette Midlerwas46; already hugely popular both in singing and acting; with projects likeThe Rosealready under her belt! AfterHocus Pocus,she became even more successful in movies (The First Wives Club,Stepford Wives) and aLas Vegasresidency; that enduring talent and incredible charisma truly shines. Even at76forHocus Pocus 2,her presence was entirely magical. We expect she'll return to play Winifred in a possibleHocus Pocus 3!
Sarah Jessica Parkerwas only27during the firstHocus Pocus, showcasing significant achievements: This includes some earlier movies that includeFootlooseandL.A. Story, with additional appearances in theater!Her iconicSex and the Cityrole changed everything. Now, that fame and immense popularity created yet another generation for her fanbase and has established Parker in various projects such as thatSex and the Citysequels andAnd Just Like That..., making this incredibly iconic persona even more unforgettable for newer generations of fans. She returned at56to reprise herHocus Pocusrole; demonstrating both mature confidence, plus the same fun-loving spirit.
Kathy Najimywas35in the originalHocus Pocus, starring inSister Actprior to joining this cast! After it; her work includes memorable roles in several television series: Veep,Numbers,andYounger! Also; she's championedwomen's rightsandLGBTQ+issues; these accomplishments have made Najimy’s contributions unforgettable among audiences. She playedMary Sandersononce more at65; bringing the same memorable charm.
Only theSanderson SistersandBilly Butcherson(Doug Jones) return inHocus 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, playingBilly Butchersonat33became famed for creature acting: From contortionists (Tales from the Crypt) toGentlemen(Buffy) toSilver Surfer(Fantastic Four) and theAmphibian(Shape of Water). Now64,his acting career is massive!
Omri Katz(Max), at17, was hugely popular in children’s TV (Eerie, Indiana) and even on the TV seriesDallas! After a smaller number of roles, he’s retired from acting since2002. However, he owns a cannabis company–The Mary Danksters–and goes to those fan conventions!
Vinessa Shaw(Allison), who was also17,has done quite a lot sinceHocus Pocus. She’s acted and modeledappearing on classic shows such asMurder, She Wroteand also even appeared inThe Hills Have Eyes(2006)! That’s a whole lot of incredible achievements over these last decades!
Thora Birch(Dani), who was11years old,has made huge achievements. She acted consistently in projects such asMonkey BusinessandNow and Then, along with bigger titles likeGhost WorldandAmerican Beauty. Now she’s also behind the camera; showcasing more diversity: Recently onThe Walking DeadandMayfair Witches, plus directingThe Gabby Petito Story.
Sean Murray(humanBinx), who was16, is famous today primarily because he playedTimothy McGeeonNCISfor 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 MarsdenvoicedBinxat18; also famous for tons of voice work in movies, TV, video games ever since. This includes the memorableMax GooffromA Goofy Movieand various works onTransformers,Disney, andBarbie.
TheHocus Pocuscast 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!