Following the success of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988), as the film turned into a pop culture phenomenon, the filmmaker returned with its highly anticipated sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in 2024. Following up on the first film’s events, thirty-six years later, the sequel became just as popular as the original.
Perhaps the 2024 movie earned global success because of the OG characters’ return, including Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), and Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara). But most importantly, as the sequel brought back Betelgeuse, the age of the mysterious character became a hot topic. So, let’s explore how old Betelgeuse is in both films.
How old is Betelgeuse in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice (1988)?
First things first—Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse isn’t your typical ghost. He doesn’t just haunt places—he haunts people, dreams, and even the rules of the afterlife. When we first meet him in Tim Burton’s 1988 classic Beetlejuice, he is introduced as a self-proclaimed “bio-exorcist,” the kind that specializes in scaring away the living.
Now, while we learned plenty about his chaotic personality and questionable morals, his age remained rather mysterious. And people couldn’t figure out his age just from his appearance alone. Because Betelgeuse did not look young, nor did he look old. He had the energy of an over-caffeinated trickster and the maturity level of a teenager pulling pranks on Halloween.
As for his rotting complexion and wild hair, it only suggested that the character has been dead for quite some time. But even then, the movies never explicitly state when he kicked the bucket. However, after the sequel was released in 2024 and delved into Betelgeuse’s life and how he died, we have gotten an estimation of Betelgeuse’s possible age.
It was particularly the flashbacks from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to Betelgeuse’s life during the Black Plague that confirmed that Michael Keaton’s character has been causing havoc for over six centuries. Considering how the sequel confirmed that the ghost had lived through the Black Plague in Spain, which lasted from 1348 to 1350, only to be later murdered by his wife Delores at the age of 40, the 2024 movie hinted at Betelgeuse’s approximate age in Beetlejuice.
Well, it seems that since his possible birth, followed by his demise during the Black Plague, the bio-exorcist had already been around for about 680 years during 1988’s Beetlejuice.
What is Betelgeuse’s age in the 2024 sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?
Now, while it’s almost clear based on our ghost math and history knowledge that Betelgeuse was likely more than six centuries old—let’s take a look at how old he became in the 2024 sequel. Picking up 36 years after the events of the original, it seems to hint that Betelgeuse was perhaps 36 years older than 680 years in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Therefore, adding 36 years to his age after the 1988 horror-comedy, Betelgeuse is supposed to be around 716 years old during Beetlejuice 2. But surprisingly, while Michael Keaton aged like fine wine, his onscreen character seemed frozen in time (no pun intended). He appeared just as scrappy, mischievous, and unhinged as before, proving that ghosts either age in reverse or not at all.
But just because of fans’ curiosity about his age, we’re happy to tell you that Betelgeuse was 680 years old in Beetlejuice and turned out to be 716 years old in the sequel. Now, since curiosity has a price, we must tell you how awkward and uncomfortable it sounds, especially since we know his age. And we’ve seen him try to marry 16-year-old Lydia in the 1988 movie and once again try to marry 50-year-old Lydia in Beetlejuice 2.
So it seems that despite his growing age, as per human world norms, Betelgeuse didn’t grow any wiser. He still had his old tricks up his sleeves and continued his attempts to marry Winona Ryder’s Lydia. It’s as if time hasn’t touched him at all, and honestly, that fits perfectly with his character. He’s an entity that exists outside of normal rules, a ghost who bends time and space to his will.
How old is Michael Keaton in the two Beetlejuice films?
Although Betelgeuse is practically ageless, and we have calculated his age, let’s check out how old Michael Keaton was during the two films. The man behind the ghost has been in Hollywood for decades, bringing us unforgettable performances in everything from Batman to Birdman. But it’s the amount of time that has passed between the two Beetlejuice movies that got fans curious.
Back in 1988, when he first played the mischievous ghost, Keaton was 36 years old. He was still early in his career, but his performance as Betelgeuse was literally unforgettable, turning into one of his most iconic roles. Thereafter, by the time the sequel rolled around in 2024, Michael Keaton was 72 years old—a full 36 years older than when he first donned the striped suit.
And yet, thanks to some incredible makeup, practical effects, and Keaton’s own boundless energy, he steps right back into the role like he never left. Even though Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz and Catherine O’Hara’s Delia Deetz seemed to have aged, Keaton’s character managed to stay immune to time, making it almost eerie how well he slipped back into character.
So, after all this, do we have a solid number for Betelgeuse’s age? Not exactly. But we did get closer to an estimation. Hell yes! Now, let’s not forget that Betelgeuse is, quite literally, a timeless ghost. He doesn’t follow the rules of human aging, and that’s exactly what makes him so fun to watch.
Now, if you still find yourself wondering about Betelgeuse’s true age, just remember—he’s old enough to be a legend but young enough to still cause trouble. And if you say his name three times—well, let’s just hope he doesn’t show up and answer the question himself!
Beetlejuice movies are available to stream on Prime Video.
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