Maree Cheatham In Beetlejuice: The Shocking Fate Of Sarah Dean And Her 2025 Soap Opera Comeback

Maree Cheatham’s contribution to cinematic history, while brief, is one of the most iconic and violently hilarious moments in the 1988 classic, *Beetlejuice*. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the veteran actress is experiencing a massive career resurgence, not for her film work, but for a poignant return to the world that made her a household name: daytime soap operas. Her unforgettable performance as the pretentious New York socialite Sarah Dean, however, remains a fascinating subject—especially as fans debate the true fate of her character following the film's chaotic climax and the release of the long-awaited sequel, *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*.

The actress, known for her decades-long career across three major soap operas, brought a perfect blend of high-society snobbery and terrified confusion to her role in the Tim Burton film. This article dives deep into the details of her iconic scene, the unresolved mystery of Sarah Dean, and Cheatham’s incredible, ongoing career.

Maree Cheatham: A Veteran Actress's Full Profile and Biography

Maree Cheatham, born Bettie Marie Hatcher, has one of the most enduring careers in American television, spanning over six decades. While a younger generation may recognize her instantly as Sarah Dean from *Beetlejuice*, her foundational fame comes from the demanding world of daytime television, where she is revered as a legend.

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• Full Name: Bettie Marie Hatcher
• Date of Birth: June 2, 1942
• Age (as of 2025): 83
• Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
• Years Active: 1964–Present
• Spouse: Bill Arnett (married 1998)
• Key Soap Opera Roles: Marie Horton on *Days of Our Lives* (1965–present, on and off), Stephanie Wyatt on *Search for Tomorrow* (1974–1984), Mona on *Passions* (2002–2003), and Aunt Stella on *General Hospital* (2018).
• Notable Film Roles: Sarah Dean in *Beetlejuice* (1988), Grandma in *The Wedding Singer* (1998), Mrs. Miller in *A Night at the Roxbury* (1998), and Mrs. Rumor in *Rumor Has It...* (2005).

Cheatham’s ability to transition seamlessly between the dramatic intensity of soap operas and the comedic timing required for major Hollywood films like *Beetlejuice* highlights her versatility as a character actress.

The Iconic Role of Sarah Dean: More Than Just a Dinner Guest

In *Beetlejuice*, Maree Cheatham played Sarah Dean, the wife of Maxie Dean, a ruthless and "aggressively '80s" New York businessman played by the legendary singer and actor, Robert Goulet. The Deans, along with other high-society friends like Bernard and Grace, are invited to the Deetz's house to discuss Charles Deetz's (Jeffrey Jones) ambitious real estate development plans for Winter River, Connecticut.

Sarah Dean is the embodiment of the pretentious, wealthy elite that the Maitlands (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) and Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) despise. She is a minor character, but her presence is crucial for setting the stage for the film's wildest sequence. The dinner party is not just a social gathering; it is a pivotal moment where the spiritual and human worlds collide.

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The Deans and the other guests are the perfect targets for the Maitlands' desperate attempt to scare away the living. However, the Maitlands' amateur haunting efforts are quickly taken over by the bio-exorcist Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), leading to a much more dangerous, and unforgettable, scenario.

The "Day-O" Dinner Scene: Shot Through the Roof

The climax of Sarah Dean’s time in the film is undeniably one of the most memorable scenes in any Tim Burton movie: the possessed dinner party, soundtracked by Harry Belafonte's calypso classic, "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)."

The scene begins with the guests, including Sarah and Maxie Dean, being possessed by the Maitlands. They begin to dance erratically, their bodies contorting as they sing the famous "Day-O" lyrics. This moment is a perfect blend of dark comedy and surreal horror, a signature of Burton's style.

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The situation escalates dramatically when Beetlejuice himself appears, having been summoned by Otho Fenlock (Glenn Shadix). Betelgeuse, in a grotesque display of power, transforms his hand into a giant, inflatable mallet. He uses this cartoonishly massive weapon to strike Maxie and Sarah Dean.

• The Impact: The force of the blow sends both Maxie and Sarah Dean flying straight up, crashing through the living room ceiling and out of the house.
• The Mystery: For years, fans debated whether the Deans were killed by the blow or the subsequent fall. The scene is ambiguous, leaving their fate open-ended.
• The Unresolved Question: Did Sarah Dean become a ghost in the Neitherworld, or did she simply survive the bizarre assault? Her character is literally "shot through the roof" in a shocking, sudden exit.

It is this abrupt, violent exit that cemented Maree Cheatham's character in the minds of moviegoers, ensuring that even a small role could become a major talking point in pop culture discussions about the film.

From Winter River to Salem: Maree Cheatham's 2025 Career Resurgence

While the fate of Sarah Dean is a decades-old mystery, Maree Cheatham’s current professional status is crystal clear and incredibly active. The actress is making headlines in 2024 and 2025 for her work on the daytime drama, *Days of Our Lives* (often referred to as *DOOL*).

Cheatham originated the role of Marie Horton in 1965 and is recognized as the only surviving original cast member of the show. Her return to the fictional town of Salem to reprise her role as the matriarch Marie Horton is a major event for soap opera fans, proving her enduring star power and her ability to connect with audiences across generations.

This return is a testament to her legacy, which began long before she shared a chaotic dinner scene with Michael Keaton and Robert Goulet. Her career highlights include:

• Playing Stephanie Wyatt on *Search for Tomorrow* for a decade.
• Appearing in major films like *The Wedding Singer*, where she played the naive grandmother who hilariously asks a plane full of passengers, "What's a hooker?"
• A recurring role on the Nickelodeon series *Sam & Cat*.

The Fate of Sarah Dean in Beetlejuice 2

With the announcement and production of the sequel, *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*, the question of Sarah Dean's fate has resurfaced. The original film never explicitly confirmed the deaths of Maxie and Sarah Dean. Fan theories have long suggested that the characters, having only been "sent through the ceiling" by a magical, non-lethal blow, could have survived, albeit severely injured and traumatized.

Recent speculation surrounding the sequel suggests that Maxie Dean may have survived the crash, implying that Sarah Dean could have survived as well. However, due to the passing of Robert Goulet (Maxie Dean) in 2007, the character’s return would be impossible unless recast or handled with archive footage. Maree Cheatham, however, is still actively working in the industry.

The possibility of Sarah Dean returning in *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*—perhaps as a wealthy, heavily bandaged trauma survivor who has spent decades telling the unbelievable tale of the haunted house—is a tantalizing prospect for fans. Whether she makes a cameo or is simply referenced, the character's mysterious exit has given her a legacy far greater than her brief screen time. It’s a perfect example of a character actress making the absolute most of an iconic, unforgettable movie moment.