Numerous actors recur in the casts of Beetlejuice 2’s returning cast and release date in 2024, the list of actors who have appeared in several Tim Burton movies is expanding, with Burton also adding actors from the next generation like Jenna Ortega to his frequent collaborators crew.
While Tim Burton has directed 20 feature films, with The Nightmare Before Christmas being his most notable producing effort, none of his acting collaborators have been in each of his projects. Rather, the highest number of film partnerships between Burton and another actor comes in at eight movies, which still can’t compare to Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman’s 19 collaborations and counting. From the director’s feature debut Pee-wee’s Big Adventure to the Beetlejuice 2 movie, here’s a breakdown of 12 actors who have appeared in Tim Burton’s movies the most over across nearly 40 years of his work.
12 Eva Green
Tim Burton has worked with French actress Eva Green on three of his movies, with their collaborations beginning in 2012. Green first appeared in Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows as Angelique Bouchard, followed by her eponymous role as Miss Alma Peregrine in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2014), and later returned to the Tim Burton world as Colette Marchant in Dumbo (2019). Green isn’t confirmed to appear in any more of Tim Burton’s projects, but it’s possible that she could the cast of his Netflix series Wednesday or 2024 movie Beetlejuice 2.
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11 Lisa Marie
Actress Lisa Marie has appeared in four Tim Burton films, which were released during the time of their personal partnership from 1993 until 2001. Marie made her Tim Burton debut in 1994’s Ed Wood as the iconic 1950s character Vampira. The actress then starred as Martian Girl in Mars Attacks! (1996), appeared in Sleepy Hollow (1999) as Lady Crane, and played Nova in Planet of the Apes (2001). Marie hasn’t appeared in any Tim Burton projects over the past 20 years, but her last credited film role was in 2015.
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10 Danny DeVito
Legendary actor Danny DeVito has also starred in four Tim Burton movies since 1992, with their collaborations spanning 27 years. DeVito memorably played The Penguin in Burton’s Batman Returns (1992), after which he returned in three more Tim Burton-directed movies to portray a rude gambler in Mars Attacks!, Amos Calloway in Big Fish (2003), and ringmaster Max Medici in Dumbo. Two of his collaborations with Tim Burton have also paired him with Michael Keaton, so it’s possible that Danny DeVito could make a surprise return in Beetlejuice 2 to reunite with the director and actor.
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9 Catherine O’Hara
Emmy-winning actress Catherine O’Hara has collaborated with Tim Burton on four occasions, though one movie wasn’t actually directed by Burton. Of Tim Burton’s directed movies, O’Hara starred in Beetlejuice (1988) as Delia Deetz, voiced several characters in Frankenweenie (2012), and is set to reprise her role as Delia in Beetlejuice 2. O’Hara also notably voiced Sally and Shock in the Henry Selick-directed The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was produced by and based on a story from Tim Burton.
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8 Winona Ryder
Two-time Oscar nominee Winona Ryder now has four movie collaborations with Tim Burton, the first of which launched her to notoriety for her breakout role in Beetlejuice. After Ryder memorably starred as gothic teen Lydia Deetz in 1988’s Beetlejuice, the actress worked with Tim Burton again in his critically acclaimed 1990 movie Edward Scissorhands as teenager Kim Boggs. Ryder reunited with Burton in 2012 when she voiced Elsa Van Helsing in Frankweenie, with Ryder now reprising her role as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice 2 for the actress and director’s fourth film partnership. Since Ryder also already has an established connection with Netflix through Stranger Things, it’s possible that the actress could eventually appear alongside her Beetlejuice 2 co-star Jenna Ortega in Burton’s Wednesday series.
7 Deep Roy
Deep Roy is another frequent Tim Burton collaborator who has appeared in four of the director’s movies. Roy first worked with Burton on Planet of the Apes in 2001, in which he played Gorilla Kid. The actor then reunited with Burton in 2003 on Big Fish as the character Mr. Soggybottom, and twice again in 2005 as the voice of General Bonesapart in Corpse Bride and the Oompa-Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roy has yet to appear in another one of Tim Burton’s directed feature films over the past 18 years.
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6 Michael Gough
Rising to notoriety for his roles in 1950s Hammer Horror films, Michael Gough is known for his five collaborations with Tim Burton prior to the actor’s ing in 2011. Gough memorably starred as Alfred Pennyworth in Tim Burton’s Batman movies, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). He then appeared in three more Tim Burton-directed movies between 1999 and 2010, including Sleepy Hollow as Notary James Hardenbrook, Corpse Bride as the voice of Elder Gutknecht, and – in his final film role – Alice in Wonderland as the voice of Uilleam the Dodo Bird.
5 Christopher Lee
Best known for playing Dracula in the Hammer Horror films and his roles in massive franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, legendary actor Christopher Lee also ed Tim Burton’s acting troupe in 1999. Burton and Lee collaborated on five occasions before the actor’s death in 2015, including a fitting vampire-based film. Christopher Lee appeared in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow as the Burgomaster, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Willy’s father Dr. Wonka, Corpse Bride as the voice of Pastor Galswells, Alice in Wonderland as the Jabberwocky, and Dark Shadows as Silas Clarney.
4 Michael Keaton
Several of Michael Keaton and Tim Burton’s most notable movies are their collaborations, which have grown to include five movies together. Keaton first worked with Burton on Beetlejuice in 1988, in which he played the titular character. Burton then fought for Keaton to star as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the greatly successful Batman (1989) movie, with the director and actor returning for the sequel Batman Returns in 1992. After a 27-year hiatus, Keaton and Burton reunited in 2019 when the actor portrayed V.A. Vandevere in Dumbo. Burton is now set to star in his fifth Tim Burton movie as he reprises his role as Beetlejuice in the Beetlejuice 2 movie.
3 Harry Taylor
Although the roles are mostly bit parts, English driver and actor Harry Taylor has appeared in six Tim Burton movies, the third-most of any of the director’s acting collaborators. Taylor has been seen in Burton’s directed movies as Mr. Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. Lovett in 2007’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the ship captain in Alice in Wonderland, a henchman in Dark Shadows, a ride operator in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and a power tower guard in Dumbo. Considering Taylor has appeared in nearly every live-action Tim Burton movie since 2005, the actor will likely also have a small role in Beetlejuice 2.
