Twenty-nine years ed between Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2, marking a significant age difference for the actors playing the otherwise un-aging Sanderson sisters, but how old was Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus? Hocus Pocus was released in July 1993, receiving mixed reviews and becoming a box office failure for Disney (via Box Office Mojo). Over the past three decades, however, Hocus Pocus garnered a cult following thanks to regular TV showings, and it has become an annual must-watch in millions of households. As a result, the enchanting tale of three witch sisters resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts, has bewitched viewers generation after generation.

In that time, the original cast have experienced significant transformations both in their personal lives and on their career paths. Fast Forward to the 2020s, when the magic was rekindled when they ed the cast of Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. The original trio of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy returned, only this time as way more seasoned performers with a wide array of roles and accomplishments under their belts. The sequel served as a testament to the timeless appeal of the original actors, but how old was Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus?

Bette Midler (Winifred Sanderson)

Then: 46/Now: 77

If Hocus Pocus 3 moves beyond the development stage, it's likely she and the two other Sanderson sisters will reappear.

Bette Midler was already a well-established actress and singer by the time she first portrayed Winifred Sanderson in 1993's Hocus Pocus at the age of 46. Her career had been flourishing since the 1970s, with notable highlights including the film The Rose and her concert performances.

After her spellbinding performance as the leader of the Sanderson sisters, Midler continued to shine in movies like The First Wives Club and Stepford Wives, and she also had a Las Vegas residency. Returning to her role as Winifred in Hocus Pocus 2 at the age of 76, Midler has shown that her magnetic presence and comedic timing remain as captivating as ever.

If Hocus Pocus 3 moves beyond the development stage, it's likely she and the two other Sanderson sisters will reappear.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson)

Then: 27/Now: 58

At 27, Sarah Jessica Parker had already gained recognition for her work on Footloose, L.A. Story, and the Broadway stage before she became the enchanting Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus.

Post-Hocus Pocus, Parker's career skyrocketed with her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series Sex and the City, which solidified her status as a fashion icon. In addition to reprising her role in the Sex and the City movies and the revival series And Just Like That..., Parker has maintained a successful acting career, and at 56, she returned to the bewitching world of Hocus Pocus, bringing a mature yet equally playful energy to the lovable Sarah Sanderson.

Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson)

Then: 35/Now: 66

Kathy Najimy was 35 when she played Mary, the quirky and sensitive sister in the Hocus Pocus trio. Before this role, she was known for her performance in Sister Act and her career became even more diverse after the 1993 movie, with roles in various TV shows like Veep, Numbers, and Younger.

She's also been an active advocate for women's rights and LGBTQ+ issues. At 65, Najimy brought Mary Sanderson back to life with the same humor and heart she had in the original. Her return in Hocus Pocus 2 not only served nostalgia but also showcased her enduring talent, and it's like the three-decade gap between movies never happened.

What About The Rest Of The Hocus Pocus Cast?

The Rest Of The Hocus Pocus Cast Featured A Wide Range Of Talent

The main trio of kids in the cast, however, did all go on to continue careers in Hollywood...

Though the Hocus Pocus sequel novel features the return of all of the main characters in the original movie, the 2022 sequel movie is a completely different story. As such, only the Sanderson sisters and Billy Butcherson are characters that appear in both, making Doug Jones the only other original cast member to appear. The main trio of kids in the cast, however, did all go on to continue careers in Hollywood as well, and they all participated in the 25th anniversary bash for the movie hosted by Freeform in 2018.

Doug Jones (Billy Butcherson)

Doug Jones was born in 1960 and started acting professionally in 1988. When he played Billy Butcherson, the man who had the misfortune of being the object of Winifred’s affection while falling for her sister, he was 33 years old.

Though he’s played a variety of roles throughout his career, Jones has become best known for the variety of creatures he’s played. Thanks to his height, long frame, and impeccable control of his limbs, he’s played everything from a contortionist in Tales from the Crypt in the 1990s to one of the Gentlemen in the quietest episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He also played the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and the Amphibian in The Shape of Water.

When Jones returned to play Billy again, he was 62. At 64, he’s still taking on character and creature roles in Hollywood. Recently, he starred as Saru in Star Trek: Discovery.

Omri Katz (Max Dennison)

When Omri Katz was cast as Max in Hocus Pocus, it was after Leonardo DiCaprio was rumored to have turned down the role. Katz was best known among Hocus Pocus fans at the time as one of the stars of the kids’ show about the unexplained, Eerie, Indiana. He also, however, appeared in the primetime soap Dallas for most of his young acting career. Katz, born in 1976, was 17 when Hocus Pocus hit theaters.

Though Katz had a handful of roles following his role in Hocus Pocus, they were mostly single appearances in television shows. Since 2002, he’s retired from acting, but he does still keep in touch with his costars. He, Vinessa Shaw, and Thora Birch even hung out together on Halloween in 2015, sharing their reunion on Instagram. Today, the 48-year-old owns a cannabis company called The Mary Danksters, but he does still make appearances at fan conventions.

Vinessa Shaw (Allison)

Like Katz, Vinessa Shaw was also 17 the year Hocus Pocus hit theaters. Also like Katz, she was already an established actor at the time. She had been acting since she was just 5 years old and participated in acting workshops with her mother as a teenager.

Following the release of Hocus Pocus, Shaw continued to both act and model. She appeared in ‘90s staple Murder, She Wrote as well as a slew of other single-episode TV appearances between movies. One of her best-known projects is the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes, despite her own fear of horror movies. Shaw has also appeared in multiple episodes of the series Ray Donovan, and more recently, Swagger.

Like Katz, Shaw continues to appear at fan conventions, especially with Hocus Pocus costars. Unlike Katz, at 48, she’s shown no signs of slowing down in the acting world.

Thora Birch (Dani Dennison)

Like Katz and Shaw, Thora Birch started acting at a young age and was already established in the industry by the time she appeared in Hocus Pocus at the age of 11. She had already appeared in several movies, television shows, and commercials by that time.

Following Hocus Pocus, Birch also appeared in the ‘90s classics Monkey Business and Now and Then. She also went on to star in Ghost World and American Beauty, both hugely acclaimed movies. Birch has continued to work in the industry both in front of the camera and behind it ever since. Recently, she appeared in the television series The Walking Dead and Mayfair Witches. She also played a ing role in The Gabby Petito Story for Lifetime, which she directed.

At 42, Birch is expanding how she works in the entertainment industry as her foray into directing demonstrates.

Sean Murray (Thackery Binx)

Sean Murray was one year younger than Katz and Shaw when he appeared in Hocus Pocus, though he only shared one scene with them at the very end when the ghost of Thackery Binx bids his new friends goodbye. That’s because Murray’s biggest scenes appear at the start of the movie. He plays the human form of the teenage boy who is turned into a black cat by the Sanderson sisters at 16.

Murray had only appeared in a handful of roles before Hocus Pocus, so it could be thought of as his big break. Following his role, he mostly appeared in television projects. He filmed several TV movies and appeared in guest-starring roles in multiple television shows. It wasn’t until 2003 that he would get his biggest role to date: Timothy McGee in NCIS.

Murray has played McGee on NCIS for over 20 years and is still playing the character at 46. He’s appeared in numerous crossovers for the show as well. While he’s had roles in a handful of other projects, McGee is the biggest role of his career and one of the most beloved.

Jason Marsden (Thackery Binx)

Though Sean Murray might have played Binx in human form, he didn’t voice the character. Even in his human scenes, Murray’s voice was dubbed over with Jason Marsden’s. Murray’s voice was deemed too contemporary for a cat that was a boy growing up in the 1600s, so Marsden was cast to provide a different sound for the character.

Marsden is a prolific actor, writer, and producer at 49 today, but he was only 18 when he voiced Binx. Around the same time, he was a staple on ‘90s television shows. Marsden appeared in Eerie, Indiana with Katz, but he could also be seen in Baywatch, Blossom, Full House, Baywatch, Boy Meets World, and Step by Step. He also became a prolific voice actor at the same time, with one of his best known roles being that of Max Goof in A Goofy Movie.

These days, though Marsden does do the odd live-action role, he’s better known for that voiceover work. He voices characters in both video games and animated projects. He’s completed more than 200 projects in his career so far. Marsden still does voice work for franchises like Transformers, Disney, and Barbie in animation.

All of the Hocus Pocus cast have a lasting legacy in the acting world.