The 1988 classic Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton, took the world by storm, grossing over £60 million at the box office. It remains a beloved horror-comedy that continues to influence pop culture. The success of the film not only cemented the careers of its cast members but also propelled them into major Hollywood stardom. However, the lives of many cast members have been filled with dramatic and often scandalous events that rival the film’s quirky, dark humor. From legal troubles to heartbreak, the lives of the Beetlejuice stars have been as chaotic as the film itself.
As the sequel to the film approaches, with a new cast joining the returning stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the scandals, controversies, and personal battles faced by the original cast. Here’s a look at some of the darkest moments from the lives of the Beetlejuice cast members.
Winona Ryder: Shoplifting Scandal and Career Resurgence
The Shoplifting Incident
Winona Ryder’s career began with her breakout role as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice at just 16 years old. Despite being thrust into the limelight, Ryder’s early years were marked by insecurities, as she struggled with fitting in, even though she had already become a household name. Her personal life and career have been both tumultuous and triumphant, with one of the darkest chapters being her arrest in 2001 for shoplifting.
Ryder was caught stealing over £4,000 worth of designer clothes and accessories from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. She was charged and sentenced to probation, community service, and counseling. Ryder later explained that mental health issues, physical pain, and over-prescribed medication contributed to her poor judgment at the time.
In a 2016 interview, Ryder reflected on the incident, stating, “It wasn’t what people think. And it wasn’t like the crime of the century! It allowed me time that I really needed.” Though it was a major blow to her career, Ryder has since made a successful comeback with her role as Joyce Byers on Stranger Things, which has earned her both critical acclaim and a steady stream of projects.
Relationship and Personal Life
Ryder’s romantic life has also been high-profile. She was previously engaged to actor Johnny Depp, though the relationship ended in 1993. Their breakup was described as a personal “real-life Girl, Interrupted” experience for Ryder, who would later star in the 1999 film of the same name, portraying a character struggling with mental health.
Currently, Ryder has been in a relationship with fashion designer Scott Mackinlay Hahn for over 15 years, providing her with a sense of stability after years of personal and public turmoil.
Alec Baldwin: The Painful Divorce and Tragic On-Set Incident
A Breakup That Rocked Hollywood
Alec Baldwin, who played the husband Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice, went on to become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, starring in films like The Hunt for Red October, The Departed, and The Cooler. However, his personal life has been a whirlwind of controversies, particularly surrounding his tumultuous divorce from actress Kim Basinger.
Their split, which began in 2000, became one of the most bitter and public divorces in Hollywood history. Alec and Kim battled over custody of their daughter, Ireland, with Alec famously leaving an angry voicemail for his 11-year-old daughter, calling her a “rude, thoughtless little pig.” The voicemail became public, causing a massive media frenzy. Alec has since admitted to suicidal thoughts following the release of the voicemail.
In recent years, Baldwin’s life took an even darker turn. In 2021, he was involved in a tragic incident on the set of the film Rust, where a prop gun he was holding discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter but the charges were dropped in April 2023. However, he still faces a civil lawsuit from Hutchins’ family, and his involvement in the incident has further marred his career.
New Family and Career Success
Baldwin married Hilaria Baldwin in 2012, and the couple has since had seven children together. Baldwin’s more recent films, such as Blue Jasmine and Still Alice, have shown that he is still a highly respected actor despite his controversial personal life. Yet, the shadow of the Rust tragedy continues to follow him.
Geena Davis: Divorces, Betrayals, and Life After Beetlejuice
The Betrayal That Ended Her Marriage
Geena Davis, who portrayed Barbara Maitland, the ghostly wife in Beetlejuice, has had a career that spans iconic films like Thelma & Louise and A League of Their Own. While Davis has been praised for her performances, her personal life has been far from smooth. Davis’s love life includes four divorces, with one of the most infamous being the end of her marriage to Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin.
In 1997, Davis discovered that Harlin had been having an affair with her personal assistant, Tiffany Browne. To make matters worse, Tiffany gave birth to Harlin’s child the day after Davis filed for divorce. The affair and subsequent betrayal left Davis heartbroken and marked a dramatic chapter in her life.
Marital Troubles and Later Years
After her divorce from Harlin, Davis went on to marry surgeon Reza Jarrahy in 2001, but their relationship also ended in separation after 16 years in 2017. Davis later claimed that she and Jarrahy were never legally married, despite his insistence to the contrary. Davis has dialed back her acting career to focus on raising her children, but she continues to appear in notable films, including Fairyland, which showcases her enduring talent.
Catherine O’Hara: The Comedic Queen Who Found Family in Beetlejuice
Catherine O’Hara played Delia Deetz, the eccentric and outrageous stepmother in Beetlejuice. O’Hara’s career has been defined by her impeccable comedic timing, but her personal life has largely avoided major scandals. She met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of Beetlejuice, and they married in 1992, raising two sons together.
While O’Hara has enjoyed a largely scandal-free career, she has shared a few terrifying experiences. One particularly harrowing memory was when she and her husband almost lost their sons in a subway incident in New York City. Despite these few unsettling moments, O’Hara remains one of Hollywood’s most beloved and respected actresses.
Her iconic role as Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek solidified her status as a comedic legend, winning numerous awards, including an Emmy.
Jeffrey Jones: A Career Destroyed by Legal Troubles
Jeffrey Jones, who played Lydia Deetz’s father Charles, saw his career come to a screeching halt in 2001 after he was arrested on charges of soliciting a minor for sex. Jones pleaded no contest to charges involving a 14-year-old boy and was placed on probation. His career was never the same, and he faced additional legal problems in 2010 when he failed to update his sex offender registration.
Jones’s career, once filled with iconic roles in films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Sleepy Hollow, was effectively destroyed by these legal issues. Though he remains active in the industry, he has yet to regain his former stature.
Michael Keaton: Avoiding Scandal but Facing Personal Tragedy
Michael Keaton, who portrayed the titular character in Beetlejuice, is one of the few members of the cast whose career has not been marred by scandal. Keaton initially turned down the role of Beetlejuice three times, not understanding the concept of the film, but was eventually convinced by director Tim Burton.
Keaton’s career took off after Beetlejuice, with major roles in Batman and Jackie Brown. He faced a career lull in the 2000s but made a triumphant return with roles in Birdman and Spotlight. Keaton’s personal life, while largely private, was marked by the death of his ex-wife Caroline McWilliams in 2010, and he remains close to their son Sean, now 42.
Conclusion
While Beetlejuice remains one of the most iconic films of the late 1980s, the personal lives of its cast members tell a much darker and more complex story. From shoplifting scandals to devastating divorces and tragic on-set accidents, the stars of Beetlejuice have faced numerous challenges. Despite the controversies, many of them have managed to build successful careers and personal lives after the film’s release. As we look forward to the sequel, we are reminded that even the most beloved Hollywood stars have faced their own personal demons.
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