25 reasons why we still love Beetlejuice

Screenshot of official Beetlejuice trailer on warnerbros.com.

21. Jeffrey Jones as Charles Deetz

Jeffrey Jones is perfectly cast in the role of Delia’s husband, Charles. Jones also acted as the principal in another great ‘80s classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Although both he and Delia are wealthy urbanites, in contrast to his wife’s artistic ambitions, Charles just wants to relax in his new home in Beetlejuice…and maybe entertain a more traditional lifestyle than their life in New York afforded. “Look at that kitchen. You’re finally going to be able to cook a decent meal,” he says when they first tour the home—to a scouring glance from Delia.

Whereas she’s motivated by her arts, Charles wants to acquire more property (and presumably money), so much so he even toasts meals with, “May your buildings go condo.”

Charles at least gets Delia to agree to leave him an untouched room in the house in which to relax from his artsy wife and morbid daughter. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m perfectly happy here. Those people in New York don’t know what they’re missing,” he tells his family. He starts wearing dad sweaters and birdwatching—but gets distracted by the local real estate. “These people don’t know the value of their own property. I can buy the whole town,” he announces, seeking to gobble up more properties in the area.