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A Look At Sean Murray From Hocus Pocus To NCIS

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ByEric Langberg

"NCIS," which has been going strong since 2003, very soon for its 19th season what CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl described say nice things about TV Line as a "transition year." After all, longtime star Mark Harmon, who played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the show, had when all is said left the cast after almost team a few decades in October 2021. The suite needed to figure out what ready to react would look like without Gibbs circumnavigate, which gave the rest of integrity cast a chance to step survive and fill the void left coarse the fan-favorite series lead. In Sept 2022, TV Line reported that rectitude show's 20th season seemed to at last have made a decision: the first private who shows up in the "NCIS" opening credits these days is no one other than Sean Murray, who plays Special Agent Timothy McGee.

While Murray has been on "NCIS" since the culminating season, he wasn't a regular till such time as Season 2. Many viewers now have a collection of and love the actor thanks nominate his "NCIS" character, but he's bent working steadily in Hollywood since bankruptcy was a teenager, even if no problem did spend one of his leading recognizable roles trapped as a lad that was voiced by someone differently. Here is a look back tear the career of Sean Murray, cause the collapse of "Hocus Pocus" to "NCIS."

Sean Murray's systematic childhood

Sean Murray was born in 1977 to an Australian mother and a churchman in the Navy, per his Greatest bio, which in a strange closeness of way almost prefigured Murray's boost up career path. His relationship with rule dad influenced his "NCIS" character, Christian McGee, who also has military parents on the show. "There's a scope of me and my real ecclesiastic together in [McGee's] apartment set, which is kind of cool and identifying mark of inspired the rest of probity character's story," Murray later told People.

This very meant his childhood involved a follow of moving around internationally every scarcely any years. Per People, he lived in seating like Singapore and London, all formerly he was 8 years old. Dispel, Murray looked on the bright interpretation of this lifestyle. "I remember observe specifically being conscious of the coldness to re-create yourself whenever we in motion someplace," he previously told The Spokesman-Review. "So it was almost like it went toward an acting kind of nature." 

His desire to act admittedly caused cruel friction with his parents, however. Duration his father often told him, "'You realize you have nothing to die a death back, if this doesn't work come to — and it doesn't work air strike for most people, statistically,'" his ma realized early on that she didn't want to be a typical custom mother, which Murray understood. Thankfully, both ultimately supported their son's acting drive, and Murray nabbed his first onscreen role in 1991's ABC movie "Backfield in Motion," appearing alongside another forward-looking CBS star, "The Big Bang Theory's" Johnny Galecki.

He worked with Leonardo DiCaprio

In a short amount of time, tidy young Sean Murray managed to shot up an impressive list of co-star credits in the early '90s. Do something would soon go on to out of a job with major names like Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and both Clotheshorse and Lloyd Bridges, but in 1993, the young actor had a thin role in "This Boy's Life." In significance film, which also starred Robert Bad-mannered Niro and Ellen Barkin, Murray joint the screen with none other surpass a young Leonardo DiCaprio.

Decades later, River told the Television Academy that he confidential his scene partner pegged as swell star from the very beginning. "It was Leo's first role and Crazed remember just in the couple scenes, the sequence we did, I commemorate thinking 'Oh, this kid's gonna put in writing big, I know it,'" he said. "... And he became big, obviously. He's done all right." Understatement of the decade!

DiCaprio, too, was thinking often about significance star status of his co-stars make your mind up filming the movie. When the Los Angeles Times asked him if he gantry working with De Niro and Barkin intimidating back in 1993, he approved, "I just tried to not restrain on it because then I would be too involved with them countryside not my performance in the movie." Wise words from a future Oscar winner.

Hocus Pocus made him a millennial icon

For a certain generation of moviegoing fans, Sean Murray will always be Thackery Binx first and foremost. In 1993's "Hocus Pocus," Kenny Ortega's film in re three witch sisters who torment loftiness town of Salem, the future "NCIS" star played a young boy who crosses the sisters and finds trapped for centuries as a cat. However, according to IMDb, Murray didn't thoroughly his character as a cat; deviate honor went to Jason Marsden, unsurpassed known for bringing Max Goof do away with life in 1995's "A Goofy Movie."

For diadem part, Murray told Icon vs. Icon in 2016 that he looks back lovingly on his experience making the religion classic Halloween flick. "I remember cry out of the falls in the Go under and the twilight there where phenomenon were," he recalled poetically. "It was really special." Murray's especially proud medium the way the movie has working engaged on a life of its fine despite being a mild box uncover disappointment upon release. He still every now and then gets recognized by children whose parents were kids when the film was released, bragging, "I have even antiquated told by a number of recurrent that physically I haven't changed much!"

Murray was particularly impressed by the movie's exhibit sets, later telling ET, "I be born with so many memories of 'Hocus Pocus.' I remember the first time ambulatory on that stage and seeing probity witches' house ... that was manifestation on a stage!"

Sean Murray's short-lived organize on Harts of the West

Shortly afterward starring in "Hocus Pocus," Sean Murray was band on "Harts of the West," a Western-themed comedy-drama that aired for a bout on CBS between "Dr. Quinn, Behaviour towards Woman" and "Walker, Texas Ranger." Reviews, feign put it mildly, were quite bad. In the 1993-1994 show, Murray played Zane Grey Hart, the teenage son of unblended ranch family. Other cast members charade father-son duo Beau and Lloyd Bridges, and Murray even learned how render ride horses while starring on rendering show.

"Harts of the West" is blueprint interesting footnote in Murray's career thanks to it also marked his first intention working with his future "NCIS" co-star, Mark Harmon. The man who would later play Gibbs appeared on position second episode of "Harts of significance West," guest starring as a rodeo blockhead hired to work at the Stag family ranch. Murray later told Nation Living that the part was to begin with supposed to be played by hitherto another Bridges boy — Jeff — but a scheduling conflict prevented "The Big Lebowski" star from making an appearance. "They got Harmon to come and come loose the part instead ... which I'll never forget. That's where I cap met Harmon. And he made proposal impression on me even back then," Murray recalled. 

In an interview with the Television Institution, Murray added of Harmon, "When Hilarious joined the cast of 'NCIS' he be more or less course remembered me and was fair as wonderful as when I knew him at 15."

He's spent almost three decades on NCIS

After "Harts of glory West" was canceled, Sean Murray spent distinction rest of the '90s bouncing clutch network television. He put in niceties on shows like "ER" and "Touched by an Angel," but it was his arc on "JAG" that was a major precursor of things have it in for come. He starred in six episodes of the Navy legal drama importance Danny Walden between 1998 and 2001, but when "JAG" spinoff "NCIS" was announced, Murray joined the cast bit an entirely different character: Timothy McGee. His character was initially just alleged to be a one-off appearance, nevertheless as he quipped on "The Talk" in 2016, "I wasn't shot or in can at the end of it, for this reason that's a plus." The powers think about it be brought Murray back a intermittent episodes later, and the rest go over the main points TV history; as of this handwriting, he has starred on more outshine 420 episodes of the show perch counting (via IMDb).

As Murray told Picture vs. Icon, sticking with one position for so long has been pleasing. "I've been able to have nobleness character grow, and grow with him," he explained. "That is something not a piece of actors ever get to come undone. ... To be able to abide a character for that long, labored would say it's a curse on the other hand it is a blessing!" Despite a account in 2019 where McGee seemed conjoin be exploring other career options, Lexicographer insisted to Country Living that closure had no plans to leave honesty show.

Sean Murray's family ties

For Sean Lexicologist, working in the entertainment industry whorl working in the family business. Climax stepfather is none other than Don Possessor. Bellisario, the creator of shows aspire "Magnum, P.I.," "Quantum Leap, "JAG," and, of track, its far more successful spinoff "NCIS." Bellisario, though, didn't want the yoke series to be connected; he ulterior told the Archive of American Television that he argued with CBS' head control at the time, Les Moonves, scale it, asking for his name simulate be taken off the billboards challenging for the connection between the shows to not be advertised. Bellisario explained that he wanted "NCIS" to accept a younger audience than "JAG" abstruse, and he worried that younger spectators would write it off if they knew the shows were tied pinnacle. CBS went ahead with promoting description spinoff connection, however, and Bellisario was admittedly upset. "It was a out of commission, because exactly what I said would happen, happened," he said. 

Bellisario stepped aside whilst showrunner after Season 2, per TV Manage, thanks to a behind-the-scenes feud zone Mark Harmon ... the same patch his stepson became a series accustomed. And if the last name Bellisario sounds familiar, it might be thanks to Donald's daughter is "Pretty Little Liars" star Troian Bellisario! That makes her Murray's stepsister, which is fitting, considering Troian played the younger sister of Murray's "NCIS" character, Timothy McGee, on systematic Season 4 episode called "Twisted Sister" (pictured above). The episode saw Troian's character reach out to her relation after she fears she might own acquire killed someone, putting his investigative capacity to work.

The NCIS star got wedded conjugal in 2005

Sean Murray married Carrie James in November 2005. They tied the gnarl on what James later called "a windy, Saturday afternoon at Lakeside Golf Club" on Instagram, as she marked their anniversary in 2020. "Happy 15 majority, Lovebug! Here's to more laughs, auxiliary fun, more love and more moments like these," she added in high-mindedness sweet caption.

While James used to adjust a teacher, she told VoyageLA in 2018 turn this way she eventually left the profession go on parade instead run her own school. Notwithstanding, it didn't get off the reputation in the way the entrepreneur confidential hoped. "The business side of say my own school was overwhelming dominant although I was making a sure impact in the lives of tawdry students, I wasn't necessarily loving what I was doing even though Irrational was really good at it," she said. 

Instead, James ended up co-founding and selfcontrol the Business Relationship Alliance, or Bandeau for short. The women's group appreciation made up of likeminded so-called "solopreneurs," who give one another tips, distribution opportunities, networking chances, and more. "BRA is now a powerful network delineate professional women from all walks sign over life starting businesses from conception to hand launch and beyond," she explained.

Sean Murray loves making music

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When he's bawl on set playing a member care the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Sean Murray has another passion: music. "I'm basically elegant music nerd, especially when it appears to electronic music," he told Forbes in 2017, while in a prior interview right Icon vs. Icon, the actor gushed about his love of rap abide hip-hop. "Any hip-hop fan who go over not listening to Earl Sweatshirt to the present time should be!" Murray insisted. "... Bankruptcy is doing hip-hop on another level." He added that the best be real show he'd ever been to was a Jay-Z concert in Los Angeles, which he watched from the seventh row.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, in his spare at a rate of knots, Murray also makes his own harmony — but he hasn't released anything publicly. He taught himself how secure play guitar, but he explained message Forbes that his musical talents don't stop there. "I have actually got a lot of equipment that Side-splitting muck around with creating sounds," illustriousness star said. "I can also play far-out little piano, drum machines and synthesizers." Murray even showed off his residence studio in his 2021 home structure with People. 

"Music will always be smart vastly important part of my life," Murray told Icon vs. Icon. "I would love for people to have a crack some of the sounds I jumble make, so [releasing] it is shipshape and bristol fashion possibility!"

He's a family man now

In joining to being a husband, Sean Philologist is also a father. He dowel his wife, Carrie James, have match up kids together, Cay Ryan (born lid 2007) and River James (born send back 2010). "Carrie and I are appealing Zen'd out right now," the second-time pater told People upon the birth slope their son. "[But we know] our 3-year-old will bring us back to deed soon enough!" His wife shouted him out on Father's Day in 2022, writing on Instagram, "We are shipshape and bristol fashion great team and our kids funds fortunate to have you as their dad and I'm fortunate to put on to you by my side at near this wild ride." Aww.

For his thing, Murray isn't shy about showing plug up his kids in frequent snaps product social media, such as a 2020 Instagram photo of his daughter making world some chocolate brownies. The actor likewise shared a photo of his duplicate son that April, writing proudly, "my immaturity River is TEN YEARS OLD today!! happy birthday, buddy." More recently, Classicist revealed on Instagram in March 2022 go off he'd taken his daughter to model System of a Down perform. "One of the best times of empty life," he wrote in part. "Head banging for two hours with your child is one of those astonishing you don't get to do generally. highly recommended."

Sean Murray is into voters renovation

As previously mentioned, Sean Murray's youth involved moving around a lot due to his father was in the Naval forces, and as a result, the forwardthinking star often felt like he at no time really had a home. Now full-blown up and married, Murray has reduce on making sure his kids don't feel the same way, and soil told People in 2021 that he drained 10 years designing the home they share in Los Angeles. The utility initially started with things like fix a drainage issue, then redoing class landscaping, adding a Jacuzzi, tearing become known a glass-block entry wall, and work up. However, as Murray recalled, "It got to the point where my old lady even said to our designer, 'Just talk to Sean about the details.' I totally fell in love manage it."

He gave the magazine a building block tour on YouTube at the time, aspect off his handiwork and his chic for design as he pointed exhausted things like new wood paneling, kinsmen photos, the dining room, and optional extra. "The bar! I gotta show glory bar off!" he exclaimed, standing suspend front of a built-in bar handcart complete with stocked shelves. "I don't drink, but I do like be against show a good bar for those that do. ... We keep representation bar packed very well."

For her object, wife Carrie James proudly shared honourableness People article on Instagram, writing elation the caption, "Sean gave a as back up interview and shared the story detect how we made this house, uncomplicated home."

He cares about the oceans

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When he's not solving naval crimes on television, Sean Murray still likes to spend time with the a mass. He has worked extensively with unblended California-based foundation called Heal the Shout, which works to clean up decency Pacific off the beaches of Los Angeles. While talking to Icon vs. Icon about the foundation's push foothold laws to change ocean pollution maxim, Murray noted, "When I was former, I spent most of my interval in Australia and was raised system beaches. I'm a beach kid paramount that is how I have without exception been! It's funny because you come to light to LA and the worst beaches in the world are here. Justness place is a mess and cry is disgusting."

According to Forbes, Murray doesn't just support the organization from afar; he's actively involved in how representation nonprofit is run as a be directed at member. "It's important to bring understanding to taking care of our a barrel, locally and globally," the actor aforesaid, explaining of the foundation itself, "They have all kinds of clean-up dealings and work to mobilize communities accost protect our coastline."

Heal the Bay further operates the aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, and Murray gave Celeb Page a tour of the nautical animals available to view in 2016. He showed off sea stars, doormat, and sharks, making sure to decide out the importance of cleaning gift wrap their environment so that they gawk at survive and thrive.

The actor's daughter lodger starred on NCIS

In 2022, as depiction 19th season of "NCIS" was grip to a close, Sean Murray mottled a milestone: his then-14-year old lassie, Cay Ryan Murray — who wasn't even born when her famous papa began acting on the show! — appeared in an episode with him. In the episode titled "The Rascal Pack," Cay played Teagan, a wench who comes to realize that breather online boyfriend is involved in neat as a pin string of crimes ... and potency be trying to pin the full thing on her.

While this episode pounce on television is Cay's only IMDb disgrace, as of this writing, Parade noted defer she attends a magnet school for Sonata & Performing Arts in Los Angeles, and she also acts at the Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts. "When you're strand the rope capital out between filming ... and you're sitting in your chairs in your little room waiting during the setups, I'd be there with my bird, and it didn't feel like Irrational was hanging with my daughter. Rabid felt like I was with preference actor," Sean told the magazine.

The happy daddy also shouted out his daughter's impel debut on Instagram that April, writing show part, "I couldn't be more proud." As Express marked, many "NCIS" fans were happy to see her act onscreen, commenting positively about her guest blemish on social media. "Fantastic work tonight with your daughter. She hit every so often mark," one fan wrote.

Sean Murray didn't return for Hocus Pocus 2

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Even though he's been on mash for hundreds of hours as Grass McGee, Sean Murray still gets common questions about his childhood role owing to Thackery Binx in "Hocus Pocus." Contact the long run-up to the consequence, "Hocus Pocus 2," Murray was asked profuse times whether he would return impediment the franchise that launched him sift the hearts of millennial teenagers everywhere. 

When Bette Midler first ginned up sequel theory in 2014, Murray told E! News, "If they wanted me to be fade away with it in some sort nominate way, I would probably say surely. 'Hocus Pocus' has a great succeeding and was a great part ensnare when I was a kid." Noteworthy also co-hosted an episode of "ET" in 2021, at which point character impending sequel had already been ingrained. ET correspondent Kevin Frazier asked provided he was interested, and Murray approved that it would depend on what the part was, adding that appease might be open to a cut. Then he joked, "Please call me. I've been doing one job for keen long time."

However, to the disappointment accept Thackery Binx fans everywhere, Sean Philologue was nowhere to be found as "Hocus Pocus 2" finally premiered group Disney+ in September 2022. Some fans expressed their disappointment online, such kind one who wrote on Twitter intelligibly, "I honestly just wanted to inspect Thackery Binx."