What happened to Glenn Shadix from the original Beetlejuice? Explained

Glen Shadix as Otho (Image via Warner Bros. )
Glenn Shadix as Otho (Image via Warner Bros.)

A celebrated American actor and comedian from Beetlejuice, William Glenn Shadix, died on September 7, 2010, after meeting with an accident. According to reports given by his sister, he died in his condo after having succumbed to his injuries at the age of 58. He fell miserably in an attempt to gain access to his kitchen as he was unable to walk well and had been in a wheelchair.

Released in 1988, Beetlejuice is a dark fantasy comedy horror film from director Tim Burton. The screenplay was assigned to Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren, based on a story written by McDowell and Larry Wilson. Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, Glenn Shadix, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton comprise the main cast of the movie.


What led to Beetlejuice star Glenn Shadix's demise?

Glen Shadix's problem with mobility (Image via Warner Bros.)
Glen Shadix's problem with mobility (Image via Warner Bros.)

Glenn Shadix had a successful acting career, with appearances in more than 30 films. In 2009, he underwent surgery to mend an ankle he broke on set. He started having difficulty walking from there on. Over time, he resorted to the use of a wheelchair. Although his death was an accident, it is somehow related to his mobility issues.

"He was having mobility problems, and he was in a wheelchair," his sister explained. She added, "It looks like he fell and hit his head in the kitchen, and that's the cause of death.”

What role did Glenn Shadix play in Beetlejuice?

Glenn Shadix's role in Beetlejuice (Image via Warner Bros.)
Glenn Shadix's role in Beetlejuice (Image via Warner Bros.)

Beetlejuice is a film about a couple who die and turn into ghosts. They cannot leave their house and thus, they resort to getting help from a weird dude named Betelgeuse, who happens to be good at scaring people away.

Glenn Shadix portrays the role of Otho Fenlock, a friend and interior decorator of the new family who has moved into the house where the ghost resides. As an occultist believer, he goes on to ignite a good deal of trouble when he tries to contact the dead couple.


Career highlights of late actor Glenn Shadix

Glenn Shadix's career achievements (Image via Warner Bros.)
Glenn Shadix's career achievements (Image via Warner Bros.)

Shadix was born on April 15, 1952, in Bessemer, Alabama. He spent two years at Birmingham–Southern College, studying with absurdist playwright-director Arnold Powell. He relocated from Manhattan, New York to Hollywood in 1977.

Shadix’s breakthrough role in the acting industry came with his character of Otho Fenlock in Beetlejuice. Another very renowned role of his includes the character of Mayor of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.

He also gave his voice in the animated feature movie version of The Nightmare Before Christmas by Burton. He also appeared in the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes.

Shadix also appeared in the HBO drama Carnivàle, Seinfeld, in which he played Jerry's landlord, and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, where he played giant brothers Typhoon and Typhon. Before his sudden death, he was due to begin rehearsing for a stage production of History Boys in Birmingham.


After 36 years, the sequel to Tim Burton's classic 1988 horror-comedy Beetlejuice is finally here. The new movie brings back the original cast and introduces fresh faces to the franchise. With a solid 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the fantasy horror comedy hit theaters in the UK and the US on September 6.

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Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu