Dad in Beetlejuice didn't return for sequel despite issuing public apology for despicable act

Beetlejuice 2 is officially out in the wild, with many heading to cinemas across the globe to watch the hugely anticipated sequel.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice dropped in theatres across the US earlier this month, as the likes of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara returned to reprise their iconic roles over three decades on from the first movie.

However, one notable actor who did not make a return for the Tim Burton classic was Jeffrey Jones, who played Lydia Deetz's father, Charles Deetz.

The actor hasn't spoke publicly about not being involved in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, though his lack of involvement is likely due to his arrest in 2002.

Jones pleaded no contest to charges of possession of child pornography in 2003, which landed him with five years of probation.

He was also ordered to take counselling, while he was told to register himself as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

Jeffrey Jones in the first Beetlejuice film in 1988 alongside Winona Ryder (Warner Bros.)

Jones expressed his regret at the time of the incident, issuing a public apology following his arrest.

He said: "This concludes a really painful chapter in my life. I am sorry that this incident was allowed to occur. Such an event has never happened before and it will never happen again."

That wasn't the end of the matter, however, as Jones was arrested again in 2004 and then in 2010 for failing to register as a sex offender.

Jones pleaded guilty to such offence and was handed a further 250 hours of community service and additional years of probation.

Jones pleaded no contest to charges of possession of child pornography in 2003 (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Nonetheless Jones was able to find roles in Deadwood: The Movie (2019) and 2020's My Brothers' Crossing.

And while he doesn't feature directly in the Beetlejuice sequel, his character from the first movie does briefly feature as a ghost after he was killed and eaten by a shark, with Charles seen wandering around in the afterlife missing the entire upper half of his body.

"The way Beetlejuice Beetlejuice addresses the death of Charles and the absence of Jeffrey Jones is nothing short of sheer perfection to be honest," one fan posted on Twitter.

Not everyone enjoyed however, with another viewer penning: "Finished Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The theatre was laughing constantly, except when Jeffrey Jones’ character was referenced."

Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton, Justin Theroux, Mónica Bellucci and Tim Burton ahead of the release of the Beetlejuice sequel (Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media/Getty Images)

Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are other notable absentees from the sequel, while the likes of Jenna Ortega star in the series for the first time.

Prior to the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, director Burton confirmed the actors would not be making a return for the movie.

However, he quickly shut down rumors it was due to Baldwin’s involvement in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins - who was accidentally shot by a prop gun Baldwin was holding while filming - telling PEOPLE: “I think the thing was for me I didn't want to just tick any boxes.

"So even though they were such an amazing integral part of the first one, I was focusing on something else.”