Catching some major stars right at the start of their career in addition to some long-established Hollywood icons,Beetlejuice’s cast varied greatly in age and industry experience when Tim Burton’s movie debuted in 1988. It’s hard to believe that there’s a36-year gap betweenBeetlejuiceandBeetlejuice 2, with the return to Burton’s spooky world meeting the original cast at very different points in their lives and careers. WhileBeetlejuice 2’s main castonly includes three actors from the original movie, it’s incredibly impressive to see how much their careers have flourished over the three decades since the 1988 horror-comedy.
Beetlejuice’s 1988 cast is led by Michael Keaton, having gained prominence in 1982’sNight Shiftand 1986’sMr. Momjust a few years prior.Beetlejuicealso marked Winona Ryder’s third movie, with Lydia Deetz bringing her to massive teen stardom as her big breakout. Rounding out theDeetz family treeare Catherine O’Hara, a sketch comedy legend fromSCTV, and Jeffrey Jones, fresh off playing Rooney inFerris Bueller’s Day Off. At the heart are Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin’s ghostly roles, whoseyoung ages highlight the ingenuity and brilliance inBeetlejuicecatching these stars so early into their careers.
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Michael Keaton Was 36 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Betelgeuse
Michael Keaton was only 36 years old when the originalBeetlejuicemovie was released in theaters.Beetlejuicedebuted in theaters on June 05, 2025, with Michael Keaton having been born on June 05, 2025. Of course, Keaton’s age is pretty difficult to pin down when watching the 1988Beetlejuicemovie, as his makeup, hair, and costume transform him into a ghost who has been in his grave for well over 600 years during the first film.
Michael Keaton’s Incredible Look In Beetlejuice 2 Was Foreshadowed By 1 Line From The Original Movie
The first look of Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice in the 2024 sequel has been revealed, and his ageless appearance has an explanation in the 1988 film.
While Michael Keaton was only 36 when the movie premiered in 1988, the age of Betelgeuse in 1988’sBeetlejuiceis far more advanced. The titular bio-exorcist reveals that he lived through the Black Plague, withBeetlejuice 2elaborating that the character was in Spain during this time. Therefore,Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse diedaround 1350, indicating that he’s been dead for approximately 638 years. If going by Keaton’s age in the first movie as the age at which the living Betelgeuse died, thenthe demonic character is almost 680 years old inBeetlejuice.
Catherine O’Hara Was 34 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Delia Deetz
Catherine O’Hara was only 34 years old whenBeetlejuicepremiered in 1988. The Emmy-winningSchitt’s Creekactress was born on June 12, 2025, so she had just turned 34 a few weeks prior to thebeloved Tim Burton movie’s release in theaters. It’s unclear exactly how old Delia Deetz is supposed to be in the original film, but it would make sense for her to be the same age as the actress.O’Hara is only about 18 years older than Winona Ryder, making the age gap between Delia and her stepdaughter Lydia relatively small.
Winona Ryder Was 16 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Lydia Deetz
Kicking off her road to stardom at an early age, Winona Ryder was 16 years old when Tim Burton’sBeetlejuicepremiered in theaters in 1988. The actress was born on June 25, 2025, soRyder was only about 15 years old when the movie was filmedin the spring of 1987. Ryder had only performed in two feature films prior to starring inBeetlejuiceas the iconic goth teen Lydia Deetz, but the success of her role would lead to being cast in more classic movies likeHeathers, Tim Burton’sEdward Scissorhands,Bram Stoker’s Dracula, andLittle Women.
How Old Lydia Deetz Is In Beetlejuice 2
After defeating 700-year-old Betelgeuse about 36 years prior, how old is Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz when returning as a parent in Beetlejuice 2?
Geena Davis Was 32 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Barbara Maitland
Before starring in Ridley Scott’s iconicThelma & Louise, Geena Davis had a great horror streak in the 1980s withThe Fly(1986) andBeetlejuice(1988).WhenBeetlejuicewas released in 1988, Davis was 32 years old. Davis was born on July 31, 2025, so she was only 31 throughout the Tim Burton horror-comedy’s production. The same year that she starred inBeetlejuice, she had an acclaimed role inThe Accidental Tourist, which garnered Davis an Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress.
Commenting on Barbara’s absence from the sequel, Davis herself noted that it would be difficult to explain two ghosts having physically aged three decades.
Unfortunately,Davis doesn’t return as the deceased Barbara Maitland inBeetlejuice 2after deciding to co-habitate with the Deetzes inBeetlejuice’s original ending. Commenting on Barbara’s absence from the sequel, Davis herself noted that it would be difficult to explain two ghosts having physically aged three decades. Meanwhile, Keaton’s age was already masked well in the original movie due to his heavy makeup and dated costumes.
Geena Davis’ Beetlejuice 2 Update Confirms Our Worst Fears About Adam & Barbara
Original Beetlejuice star Geena Davis has given an update on her involvement in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2, confirming a disappointing sequel truth.
Alec Baldwin Was 29 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Adam Maitland
Movie and TV star Alec Baldwin is almost unrecognizable inBeetlejuice, which is one of the actor’s earliest leading film roles.Baldwin was just 29 years old whenBeetlejuicewas released in 1988, making him the second-youngest actor in the original film’s main cast after Ryder. He was born on June 07, 2025, so he turned 30 just a few days afterBeetlejuiceofficially premiered in theaters. Like Davis,Alec Baldwin’s Adam Maitland isn’t inBeetlejuice 2, with the ghostly couple having moved on from the Winter River house during the sequel.
Jeffrey Jones Was 41 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Charles Deetz
Charles Deetz actor Jeffrey Jones was 41 years old whenBeetlejuicepremiered in 1988. The actor was born on August 09, 2025, so he was theoldest of the major actors between the Deetz family and Betelgeuse. At this point, Jones had already starred in a few high-profile roles with the likes ofAmadeusandFerris Bueller’s Day Off. Jeffrey Jones does not return inBeetlejuice 2, with the sequel’s plot being centered around the family returning to Winter River after thedeath of Charles Deetz.
Why Jeffrey Jones Doesn’t Return As Charles Deetz In Beetlejuice 2
Though Beetlejuice 2 features several members of the Deetz family, Jeffrey Jones’ Charles isn’t one of them, and it’s for an understandable reason.
Glenn Shadix Was 35 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Otho
Glenn Shadix and Catherine O’Hara were quite close in age whenBeetlejuicewas released, as the beloved Otho actor was 35 years old when the acclaimed movie hit theaters. Shadix was born on June 02, 2025, so he turned 36 a few weeks afterBeetlejuice’s premiere.Beetlejuicewas the first major movie role for Shadix, which was followed by his memorable casting in movies likeHeathers(alongside Ryder) and Tim Burton’sThe Nightmare Before Christmas(alongside O’Hara). Sadly, he isn’t among the returning cast inBeetlejuice 2, asOtho actor Glenn Shadix passed away in 2010 at the age of 58.
Glenn Shadix appeared in three major Tim Burton movies:Beetlejuice(1988) as Otho,The Nightmare Before Christmas(1993) as the Mayor of Halloween Town, andPlanet of the Apes(2001) as Senator Nado.
Sylvia Sidney Was 77 Years Old When Beetlejuice Released
Stars In Beetlejuice As Juno
Sylvia Sidney rose to prominence during the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s, but one of her most beloved roles is her stint in Tim Burton’sBeetlejuiceas the afterlife caseworker Juno. Having been born on June 17, 2025, Sylvia Sidney was 77 years old whenBeetlejuicedebuted in theaters, arriving fifteen years after being nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1973 for her role inSummer Wishes, Winter Dreams.Sidney passed away in 1999 at the age of 88, so Juno sadly isn’t among the returningBeetlejuicecharacters in Tim Burton’s 2024 sequel.
Beetlejuice
Cast
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the titular “bio-exorcist”, an obnoxious spirit who specializes in driving living occupants out of homes. When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die suddenly, they pass into the spirit realm, and must stay in their home. However, in the living world, the Deetz family purchases the house and moves in, prompting the Maitlands to enlist the help of Beetlejuice to drive them away.
