Hocus Pocus star reveals real reason for leaving Hollywood after ‘beating’ Leonardo DiCaprio to role
By Jamie Roberts
Oct 26, 2024
A star of the iconic Disney film Hocus Pocus has revealed exactly why he quit his impressive Hollywood life to take up a completely different career path
A star of iconic Halloween flick Hocus Pocus has explained why he left the world of showbiz behind him after forging an impressive career – and even beating Leonardo DiCaprio to a popular role.
Acting had been Omri Katz’s life since the age of three, with him starring as Max Dennison alongside the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1991 Disney hit Hocus Pocus. He also featured in hit series Dallas and Eerie, Indiana as a youngster before deciding enough was enough.
Now, in a tell-all interview with Eerie Indiana co-star Justin Shenkarow, Omri has revealed why he left the business – and why he tried to return for the wrong reasons.
Omri starred as Max in the iconic movie Hocus Pocus He admitted his role for Max saw him pitted against DiCaprio, joking he “beat” him to the gig. Speaking on the Bronx Buds YouTube Channel, Omri joked with the host: I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m pretty sure it’s true that Leonardo DiCaprio was up for the role, but he declined. But I guess I got some bragging rights again, I beat out Leo for Hocus Pocus.”
Omri was just 16 when he starred in the movie which centres around Max as he works to stop three resurrected witches (played by Bette Midler, Sarah, and Kathy Najimy) as they try to take over Salem, Massachusets. Max is accompanied by his little sister Dani and his crush Allison, played by Thora Birch and Vinessa Shaw respectively.
Omri went on to reveal to Justin that he left Hollywood because of his early start and non-stop schedule and he simply wanted a break. He admitted: “I left the industry not too long after Hocus Pocus and kind of never really looked back.”
After leaving Hollywood, he followed the Grateful Dead for five years before becoming a snowboarder. He stayed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for five seasons, explaining he would surf in the summer. However, after running out of money he made a return to Los Angeles and his acting lifestyle, for what he said were “the wrong reasons”.
He soon realised acting wasn’t for him and said his time away from the limelight had even seen him develop stage fright. Jobs away from acting saw Omri waiting tables and he also became a hairdresser for eight years.
He later got into the cannabis business and the now-48-year-old called his The Mary Danksters brand on their Instagram at the time of launch that they are “exotic craft cannabis cultivators”. Their website boasts that they represent “positivity, herb and unity.” The website and Instagram don’t mention Omri Katz or his role in the 90s Disney movie.
Catch exclusive clips of the interview with Omri and Justin now on Bronx Buds TikTok page @bronxbuds. The full interview will be available on their YouTube channel from Monday, October 28.
Hocus Pocus
PG 1993 ? Family/Comedy ? 1h 36m! The article says 1991 film, which is WRONG!
Yeah I see whag you mmean’