The Ghost: Pete Sandich (Richard Dreyfuss)

Helpful How? Sandich makes a (literally fatal mistake) as the pilot of a water-bombing firefighter plane - he goes on one last mission, which ends with him saving a mate but dying in the process.

He's brought back to Earth to serve as first the bringer of "spiritus" - or divine breath, which is basically making mortals think they came up with good ideas on their own. He's forced, however, to watch his former girlfriend start up a relationship with another man, but overcomes his conflicted feelings to support her and grant her happiness.

He's rewarded for his kindness by getting into heaven. A happy ending? Of course! It's 80s-era Spielberg, people!

Frightening Fact: Spielberg and Dreyfus bonded on Jaws over their mutual love of 1942's romantic fantasy A Guy Named Joe, and they'd sworn to homage it. Consider it done…