Warning: Spoilers ahead for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!With the Deetz family returning for Beetlejuice 2’s story, whereas it doesn’t appear that Baldwin and Davis’ deceased characters will return for Tim Burton’s 2024 sequel.

The Deetz family was first introduced in the 1988 Beetlejuice movie after the deaths of the Maitlands, as the family would soon move into the house that the ghosts were forced to haunt for another 125 years. By the end of Beetlejuice’s original movie, the Deetzes and Maitlands cohabitate in harmony after banishing Michael Keaton’s devious “bio-exorcist,” Beetlejuice. Now, after 36 years, the Deetz family is returning for another bout against Keaton’s long-deceased character; this time with new ing the action while others have since departed to the afterlife.

Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder)

Charles' daughter, Delia's stepdaughter, Astrid's mother

The most iconic member of Beetlejuice’s Deetz family is Lydia, played in her breakout role by Winona Ryder. Goth teenager Lydia Deetz brought a teen Winona Ryder to the spotlight in 1988, with her performance and character quickly becoming a horror icon. Lydia’s story was celebrated for her unapologetic and sweet outcast nature, forming a close bond with the recently deceased Adam and Barbara while feeling disconnected from her own family . After finding her surrogate parents in Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder’s return as Lydia in Beetlejuice 2 contends with the conflicts of becoming a parent herself.

In the world of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice franchise, Lydia is the only daughter of Charles Deetz and his unnamed first wife. While Lydia seems to get along with her father, the 16-year-old version of her character is often at odds with her stepmother, Delia. However, over three decades after the original movie’s events, Beetlejuice 2’s story proves Lydia and Delia grew somewhat closer in the time since. This is partly due to the fact that Lydia is now the mother to teenager Astrid, played by Scream Queen Jenna Ortega.

Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones)

Lydia's father, Delia's husband, Astrid's grandfather

The patriarch of the Deetz family is Charles Deetz, who is the father of Lydia and husband of Delia. The whereabouts of Charles’ parents and whether he has any siblings are unknown in the original Beetlejuice movie, as his only referenced family are his only child and second wife. Charles’ daughter Lydia is the only child from his first marriage, though the fate of Lydia’s mother is a mystery in Beetlejuice. As such, it’s unclear how long Charles had been married to Delia before the events of the 1988 movie.

Charles’ daughter Lydia is the only child from his first marriage, though the fate of Lydia’s mother is a mystery in Beetlejuice.

Jeffrey Jones’ absence from Beetlejuice 2’s returning cast list led to plenty of speculation about Charles Deetz’s fate in the sequel. As it turns out, the first teaser trailer for the sequel confirmed that Jeffrey Jones’ Charles Deetz is dead in the 2024 movie. Beetlejuice 2 explains how Charles died, leading to three generations of Deetz women gathering in Winter River: Delia (his wife), Lydia (his daughter), and Astrid (his granddaughter). Though the original Beetlejuice movie proved that ghosts could still interact with the living after death, Jones doesn't directly reprise his role alongside the other Deetzes in Beetlejuice 2.

Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara)

Charles' wife, Lydia's stepmother, Astrid's grandmother

Another iconic member of Beetlejuice’s Deetz family is Delia, the second wife of Charles and stepmother of Lydia. It’s unknown how long Delia has been part of the Deetz family, but it seems that she solidified herself as the primary maternal figure in Lydia’s life long before the original film. However, Lydia and Delia don’t have a close relationship in the 1988 movie, with Delia’s story primarily focusing on her business pursuits with her friend Otho, her desire to capitalize on the Maitlands’ ghostly entertainment potential, and promoting her art and sculptures.

Catherine O’Hara reprises her role as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice 2, where she finally has one-on-one scene with Michael Keaton’s titular character. Now serving as the matriarch of the Deetz family, Delia’s return is all the more complex following the death of her husband, Charles. Delia is still the ultimate scene-stealer, especially when alongside her stepdaughter, Lydia, and granddaughter, Astrid.

Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega)

Lydia's daughter, Charles & Delia's granddaughter

One major new member of the Deetz family tree in Beetlejuice 2 is Astrid, the teenage daughter of Lydia Deetz. Astrid is played by Wednesday star Jenna Ortega, marking her second project with Tim Burton in the director’s chair after the hit Netflix show. Ortega now s the franchise as the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia and granddaughter of Delia and Charles.

Lydia and Astrid aren't on the best of throughout Beetlejuice 2

Aside from losing her grandfather, Astrid lost her father, Richard, before the events of the sequel. Beetlejuice 2 explains Richard's death and how it affected Astrid and Lydia over the years. Though Lydia took a long time to process the loss, Astrid still carries the grief, and it still complicates her relationship with Lydia. Lydia and Astrid aren't on the best of throughout Beetlejuice 2, but they learn a lot about each other while in Winter River.

Richard (Santiago Cabrera)

Lydia's previous husband, Astrid's father

One of the main reasons Lydia seems to resent Lydia is the fact that Lydia can't communicate with Richard despite her ability to talk to other spirits. Though many details regarding Richard (including his name) were kept under wraps before the movie, Beetlejuice 2 officially introduces Astrid's father when she's in the afterlife. Richard died in Brazil from a boating accident, and his body feasted on by piranhas was never found.

In the sequel, Richard works in the immigration section of the afterlife, where he witnesses Jeremy putting his daughter in danger. He eventually becomes pivotal in her rescue attempt before reuniting with his previous wife, Lydia, allowing the family to have a nice heart-to-heart. The sequel mentions Lydia not being able to see Richard, but it also brings up new mysteries surrounding the afterlife and why Richard can't visit his family.

Lydia's Unseen Mother

Lydia's mother, Charles' first wife

The most important member of the Deetz family who is unlikely to ever be seen in Beetlejuice is Lydia’s mother. The original movie never directly referenced Lydia’s mother or revealed what happened to her, but Beetlejuice 2 finally reveals that Lydia's mother is still alive. Still, it hasn’t been explained why her marriage with Charles ended before Charles ended up with Delia. If Beetlejuice 3 happens, the movie could shed more light on Lydia's mother and have her actually appear for the first time in the franchise.

How Beetlejuice's Other Characters Connect To The Deetz Family

Rory and the Maitlands are like family

Though a few new characters in Beetlejuice 2 have been revealed, there are other figures present with connections to the Deetz family. For one, Justin Theroux plays the new character Rory, who is Lydia's boyfriend and business partner heavily involved in her hit talk show, Ghost House. Granted, Delia and Astrid aren't big fans of Rory, and for good reasons.

Even though they aren’t blood-related, the Maitlands and Deetzes can still be considered family.

Furthermore, while the Maitlands have no blood relation to the Deetzes, the two ghosts still maintain a close connection to the family after the original movie’s events. Adam and Barbara ultimately assumed the more hands-on parenting role with Lydia by Beetlejuice’s ending, so even though they aren’t blood-related, the Maitlands and Deetzes can still be considered family. When Lydia mentions Adam and Barbara in Beetlejuice 2, it seems like she still views them as family even though they are no longer around.