Omri Katz, best known for playing Max Dennison in the 1993 Halloween classic Hocus Pocus, now looks completely different and has built a new life away from Hollywood. Now 50 years old, Katz stepped away from acting after the film and currently runs a cannabis-themed merchandise brand called The Mary Danksters.
A Different Life After Hollywood
Katz still has a sizeable Instagram following of more than 30,000 people, but he no longer works as an actor. In his younger years, he appeared in television series including Dallas and Eerie, Indiana, as well as films such as Matinee, Adventures in Dinosaur City and Hocus Pocus.
It is reported that Hocus Pocus was the last major project he undertook on the big screen, as he chose to pursue a more ordinary way of life. "I grew up in the industry, so that's kind of all I knew," he told the horror news website Bloody Disgusting in 2022. "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."
From Surfing to The Mary Danksters
After stepping away from acting, Katz spent time travelling and surfing before eventually finding his way back to LA. Initially, he hoped to return to acting "to make money so he could escape again", but he conceded the plan "didn't work out too well".
Following a stint in the hairdressing industry, he stumbled upon a fresh passion and went on to establish the cannabis-themed merchandise brand The Mary Danksters. "We're doing everything the legal way, and I'm really excited to see where this industry takes me," he told Bloody Disgusting at the time. Based on his Instagram page, this venture still appears to be thriving.
No Return for Hocus Pocus 2
In 2022, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprised their roles in Hocus Pocus 2. Katz and his co-stars Vinessa Shaw and Jason Marsden were reportedly not approached to return for the second instalment.
"I would have loved to be involved. I feel bad for the original fan base saying we aren't because I'm sure they wanted to see us reprise our roles," Katz told Entertainment Weekly ahead of the movie's release. Even so, he confessed to being thrilled about the film heading in a "new direction", adding: "I think it'll be good for everyone who loved the original!"
