Omri Katz has opened up about trading Hollywood for hairdressing and cannabis entrepreneurship three decades after playing Max Dennison in Hocus Pocus.
The former child actor, now 50, spoke on the Est. In the 90s podcast in September 2025 about the psychological barriers that ended his acting career for good after a brief attempt at returning to Los Angeles. Katz, who was just 16 when he filmed the 1993 Disney classic, had initially left the industry to become a snowboarder in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, spending summers surfing before money ran out.
“I left the industry not too long after Hocus Pocus and kind of never really looked back,” Katz said during a 2025 appearance on the Bronx Buds YouTube Channel. He started acting at age three and grew up entirely within the entertainment world.
“I grew up in the industry, so that’s kind of all I knew. I think I was soul searching and wanted more of a human experience; just see what else is out there, see the world, and be normal. I didn’t really have that growing up,” he continued.
When he returned to Los Angeles, Katz landed a few episodic roles including appearances on Freaks and Geeks and General Hospital. But he found himself unable to perform as he once had, describing a psychological block that caused him to freeze up and struggle with his lines. He soon concluded that acting was no longer for him.
Katz now works as a hairdresser and runs The Mary Danksters, a cannabis-themed merchandise and lifestyle brand. At the brand’s launch, he posted: “Lots of people wondering what I’ve been up to. Being a member of the cannabis community for almost 20 years now and jumping through hoops of fire to get here I’m proud to announce our online apparel store will be opening up soon. Keep your eyes peeled as we will be announcing our opening date. I’m so proud of what we’ve created so come show your love and support.”
Despite his departure from acting, Katz remains connected to his most famous role through regular convention appearances and cast Q&A panels. He participated in the “Hocus Pocus Returns” panel during FanExpo Chicago 2026 in August.
The 1993 film follows teenager Max Dennison, who accidentally resurrects the mischievous Sanderson sisters on Halloween night in Salem, forcing him, his little sister Dani, and friend Allison to stop the witches before they wreak havoc. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy played the iconic witch trio, all three returning for 2022’s Hocus Pocus 2. The original also starred Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw alongside Katz.
Katz said in 2021 that he had not been contacted about the sequel despite expressing interest in returning for the fans. “In terms of my phone ringing, I haven’t heard anything,” he said.
By August 2022, sequel director Anne Fletcher confirmed that neither Katz nor Shaw would appear, explaining that incorporating the original leads proved narratively impossible. “We wanted to weave in all of the people that the fans loved, and when you sat back with all the ingredients and story, you’re like, how do we make this work?” Fletcher said. “It was very difficult to try to have them be a part of it, because we did talk about it — painstakingly. You’re trying to stay on track with story, even if they came in as a cameo. People would say, ‘They could be in the background!’ and I’m like, really? You’re going to put the leads of the first movie in the background and be satisfied? You’re not going to be satisfied, you’re going to be angry.”
Katz’s pre-Hocus Pocus credits included roles in Dallas and Eerie, Indiana, though Max Dennison remains his most recognized performance.