In an October 2024 Rolling Stone feature about the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus, prop master Russell Bobbitt recalled his bizarre encounter with Jeremy while filming in Salem, Massachusetts. Jeremy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and would have been around 13 years old at the time.
“We’re shooting in Salem. I think it’s the scene where Max is riding his bicycle through town and he gets his shoes stolen. This little boy walks up to me,” Russell told the publication. “He goes: ‘I know who you are. You’re Russell Bobbitt.’ I was like: ‘OK, this is weird. Who are you? What’s your deal?’ He goes: ‘I just love movies. I pay attention to everything and I’m just really into it.’”
“I was like: ‘OK, weird,’ but he was just a nice little kid. He had no fear. He goes: ‘I want to give you my phone number. Can I have your phone number? I’m gonna stay pen pals with you,’” the crew member went on. “He was really legit, so I said: ‘Of course, we’ll stay in touch. It’ll be great.’”
“I get back home and the kid calls me and goes: ‘Hey, my parents said I could come out for the summer and I was wondering if it’s OK if I come and visit you and your wife?’ I’m married, I have kids, and I was like: ‘Well, OK.’ Weird moment number two,” Russell continued. “I called the parents and they’re free-spirited people. They explain: ‘He met you on set and he met a bunch of people and he is going to stay a week with this person, a week with that person. If you want to have him, great. We appreciate it.’”
“The kid comes out, we have a great time. He comes to the set with me. He goes back home. Next year, he calls me again. It’s summer vacation. ‘I’m spending a week with Ivan Reitman and another week with Al Pacino. I’d like to spend a week with you,’” Russell shared. “I was like, ‘OK, Jeremy, come and visit.’ He did this for many years.”
