Omri Katz became a familiar face to a generation of viewers when he played Max Dennison in Disney’s 1993 Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus. He was just 17 at the time, but the role eventually became one of the most recognizable parts of his acting career. Long before Max found himself dealing with the Sanderson sisters, Katz had already appeared on television, including his role as John Ross Ewing III on Dallas, as well as Eerie, Indiana and Adventures in Dinosaur City. But while Hocus Pocus initially received a modest response in theaters, repeated television showings helped turn it into an annual Halloween tradition. More than three decades later, Katz looks dramatically different from the clean-cut teenager fans remember. His short hair, mature features, and full salt-and-pepper beard have given him an entirely new appearance, making recent photos a striking reminder of just how much time has passed.

After growing up in the entertainment business, Katz eventually decided that he wanted to experience life away from Hollywood. He has explained that he wanted to travel, explore the world, and experience a more ordinary life after spending much of his childhood working in front of cameras. He later worked as a hairdresser and became involved in a legal cannabis business, choosing a path far removed from traditional acting. Katz did return to Salem in 2022 for a special Hocus Pocus event marking 30 years since the original movie was filmed there. Fans were thrilled to see him again and hear his memories of the beloved film. Although he did not appear in Hocus Pocus 2, he has remained appreciative of the movie’s lasting popularity and the connection audiences have with its characters. Today, the transformation from teenage Max to the grown man fans see in recent photos is a remarkable reminder that some movie characters stay frozen in time—even when their actors continue living completely different lives.