Omri Katz: The Real Story Behind Hocus Pocus’s Max Dennison

Omri Katz became a household name playing Max Dennison in the 1993 Disney classic Hocus Pocus, but his journey from a Dallas soap opera kid to a retired actor turned cannabis entrepreneur is far more layered than most fans realize. This look at omri katz covers his early rise, his most memorable roles, and where he stands today.

Biography Table

Early Life, Family and Background

Omri Katz was born on May 30, 1976, in Los Angeles, California, to Israeli-Jewish immigrant parents Yoram and Rina Katz. His first name, Omri, carries meaning rooted in Hebrew, reflecting his family’s cultural background and connection to Israel.

He grew up alongside an older brother, Michael, and an older sister, Lali, in a household that valued its Jewish heritage. Katz is fluent in Hebrew and has spoken about spending portions of his childhood connected to Israel through his family’s roots.

Interestingly, Katz shares a loose industry connection with the musically talented Haim sisters — Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim — as both families come from Israeli-Jewish backgrounds in the Los Angeles entertainment scene, though they are not related.

Omri Katz Movies and TV Shows: Career Breakdown

Katz’s acting career began young. At around age seven, he landed a recurring role in the long-running soap opera Dallas, playing John Ross “J.R.” Ewing III, son of the show’s central character. The role introduced him to television audiences across multiple seasons.

He followed this with Eerie Indiana, a cult horror-sci-fi NBC series where he played the lead, Marshall Teller. Though the show ran for just one season, it became a beloved cult classic that still draws a dedicated fanbase decades later.

Katz also appeared in Matinee, a 1993 film directed by Joe Dante starring John Goodman, and took on roles in projects like Adventures in Dinosaur City. By age 16 and 17, his career had built real momentum, setting the stage for his most iconic role yet.

Omri Katz Hocus Pocus: Landing the Role of Max Dennison

Director Kenny Ortega cast Katz as Max Dennison after the actor originally in mind for the role, a young Leonardo DiCaprio, was unavailable. Ortega has spoken about instantly connecting with Katz during casting and feeling he was the right fit for the character.

How old was Omri Katz in Hocus Pocus? He was around 16 to 17 years old during filming, playing a teenage protagonist who moves to Salem, Massachusetts, and accidentally resurrects the Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.

The film became a defining piece of his career and a Halloween season staple. Despite a modest box office performance on release, Hocus Pocus grew into a beloved family film and cult favorite over the following decades.

Being High During Hocus Pocus Filming

In a candid roundtable interview years later, Katz admitted to being high on cannabis during parts of the Hocus Pocus shoot, including scenes involving the film’s “magic powers” sequences. He described missing cues and misperforming lines on set as a result.

He recalled having a few puffs before rehearsal or lunch, at one point describing a memorable moment involving a large amount of California-grown weed on set. Costar Vinessa Shaw and others have referenced the loose, laid-back atmosphere behind the scenes.

Katz has since called it a professional wake-up call, admitting that experimenting with cannabis during a major family film shoot wasn’t his proudest moment, even as he’s built much of his post-acting life around the cannabis industry.

Why Omri Katz Left Hollywood

Katz stepped away from acting around 2002, roughly a decade after Hocus Pocus, in search of a more normal life. Having grown up entirely within the industry, he wanted experiences outside of scripted sets and public recognition.

He’s spoken about the strangeness of fans knowing his characters rather than him personally, and how that disconnect pushed him toward soul-searching. Fellow child-star peers like Justin Shenkarow, his Eerie Indiana co-star, have discussed similar pressures of growing up on camera.

His final credited roles included a Freaks and Geeks guest appearance in 1999 and a short film called Journey Into Night in 2002, after which he largely walked away from Hollywood and never looked back.

Life After Acting: Snowboarding, Hairdressing and Reinvention

After leaving the industry, Katz pursued a mix of unconventional paths. He spent time following the Grateful Dead on tour, worked as a band groupie, and lived a snowboarder’s lifestyle in Jackson Hole for a period.

He also trained in cosmetology school and worked for roughly eight years as a hairdresser at a high-end Los Angeles salon — his first real job outside acting. He’s described the work as rewarding but ultimately not what he expected long-term.

Waiting tables and testing different jobs, Katz has been open about trying to “escape again” through various ventures before eventually returning briefly to acting for what he later admitted were the wrong reasons.

Omri Katz Now: Attempted Comeback and Recent Roles

Katz has flirted with a return to acting in recent years. In September 2025, he was connected to a TV movie titled Dallas: J.R. Returns, revisiting the character that launched his career decades earlier.

He’s also discussed a comeback attempt on General Hospital, though he’s admitted to flubbing lines and freezing up on set — a psychological block he attributes to being out of practice after two decades away from scripted acting.

Katz has been candid about these attempts on platforms like the Est. In The 90s podcast, describing the difficulty of stepping back into a career he left behind for a genuinely different life.

Hocus Pocus 2: Why Omri Katz Wasn’t Invited

Katz was not included in Hocus Pocus 2, the 2022 Disney+ sequel, and has spoken publicly about not fully understanding the decision. He remains close with several original cast members through an ongoing group text chain.

In interviews with outlets like USA Today, Katz said he would have loved to be involved and was never approached about reprising Max Dennison. He noted he wasn’t part of any official meetings regarding the sequel’s development.

Despite being left out, Katz publicly supported the sequel and praised its reception, saying he was happy for fans and hopeful they’d enjoy seeing Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy return as the Sanderson sisters. He’s also said he’d be open to a potential Hocus Pocus 3.

The Mary Danksters: Omri Katz’s Cannabis Business

Since stepping back from full-time acting, Katz has built The Mary Danksters, a craft cannabis lifestyle brand rooted in what he describes as deep personal roots in cannabis culture. The company positions itself around a message of positivity, herb, and unity.

Katz has framed the venture as an extension of his long-standing passion for cultivating cannabis, dating back to his Grateful Dead touring days. The brand reflects traditional cannabis community values rather than a purely commercial approach.

Running the business hasn’t been without challenges, and Katz has spoken about the difficulties of operating in the cannabis space, though it remains his primary focus and identity today, separate from his acting legacy.

Public Appearances and Fan Events

Katz makes rare public appearances, occasionally showing up at horror convention circuits and 90s nostalgia events. He appeared at the Freeform Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash and has been photographed at conventions in cities like Hartford, Connecticut.

He’s also active on Cameo, where fans can book personalized video messages from him. Acquaintances and fans who’ve met him at 90s conventions describe him as approachable and still maintaining contact with several former castmates.

Photos from convention appearances, including one from March 2023 at a 90s Con, show his transformation over the decades — from his signature shiny brown, ear-length haircut in Hocus Pocus to a more mature look with a beard and slightly greying hair.

Omri Katz Net Worth

While exact figures aren’t independently confirmed, Katz’s net worth is generally estimated to come from a combination of his 1980s–1990s acting career, residuals from Dallas and Hocus Pocus, his cannabis business ventures, and his earlier work as a hairdresser.

Given the modest scale of The Mary Danksters as a craft brand rather than a large commercial operation, most public estimates place his net worth in a moderate range compared to his former co-stars still active in Hollywood.

FAQs

How old is Omri Katz now?

Omri Katz was born on May 30, 1976, making him 50 years old as of 2026.

Is Omri Katz married or does he have a wife?

There’s no verified public information confirming Omri Katz has a wife or is currently married. He tends to keep his personal relationships private.

What is Omri Katz doing now in 2025?

As of 2025, Katz runs his cannabis brand The Mary Danksters and has explored a possible return to acting, including talk of a Dallas revival project and a General Hospital appearance.

Was Omri Katz really high while filming Hocus Pocus?

Yes, Katz has openly admitted in interviews to being high on cannabis during parts of the Hocus Pocus shoot, which he later called an unprofessional but honest moment from his youth.

Why wasn’t Omri Katz in Hocus Pocus 2?

Katz has said he was never approached or invited to be part of Hocus Pocus 2, despite remaining close with several original cast members and expressing interest in returning.

Did Omri Katz retire from acting?

Katz largely stepped away from acting around 2002 to pursue a more private life, though he’s recently discussed comeback attempts including a Dallas-related project in September 2025.

Conclusion

Omri Katz’s story is more than just Max Dennison from Hocus Pocus — it’s a genuine arc of a child star who built a solid career through Dallas and Eerie Indiana, hit a cultural peak with Disney’s cult classic, then deliberately chose to step away from Hollywood for a normal life. From hairdressing to snowboarding to founding The Mary Danksters cannabis brand, Katz has carved his own path outside the spotlight, while still staying connected to the franchise and fanbase that made him a 90s icon. Whether he returns to acting fully or not, his honesty about his journey — flaws, missed opportunities, and all — is what keeps fans genuinely invested in where he is now.

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