“Desperate Housewives” surround James Denton, but the handsome actor who plays mysterious plumber Mike Delfino on the ABC series feels like he’s on lucky street. A hit show, a good salary and a wife and two kids.
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” says Denton, who introduces himself as Jamie in a telephone interview. On this morning, Denton is at home in L.A. His son, Sheppard, 3, plays in the background. His daughter, Malin, is a year old. His wife, Erin, is a personal trainer.
Denton, 43, knows it’s all about the women.
In January, he hosted the Miss America Pageant. On “Housewives,” he’s happy to play second to a female cast.
Q. Do you have anything in common with Mike? Are you handy around the house?
A. I have everything in common with Mike. Mike’s a blue-collar guy with a dog and a pickup truck. I’m describing myself as well. I grew up in a small town outside of Nashville. I play guitar, drive a pickup truck and I have a dog. I’m very handy around the house. I just installed a sprinkler system. I’m building a deck. I can do tile and flooring. I’m good with wood.
I’m a little easier to read than Mike. I’m not nearly that interesting or mysterious.
Is Mike getting back together with Susan?
They started out like Sam and Diane of “Cheers.” I think the audience got tired of the cat and mouse chasing their tails. The show had to find some way to get them apart. They had to give Susan (played by Teri Hatcher) someone else to obsess about. And there are other things Mike has to deal with. I don’t think they’re going to get us back together in this season. Of course, I’m completely guessing. Anything could happen.
What’s coming up?
There will be a two-hour finale that will resolve two mysteries: The Applewhites and Zach, whether or not he is definitely Mike’s son. Even though he wants him to be his son, it’s not going to turn his life around. Zach can choose to stay with Paul. (Watch for a confrontation soon between Mike and Dr. Ron, Susan’s new beau, and her off-and-on husband, Carl.) Dr. Ron and Mike and Carl are all together. Somebody goes down, that’s all I’ll say. One guy gets the worst of it. It’s an interesting confrontation.
What’s it like working with so many women?
You certainly get a lot less attention. The hair and wardrobe people don’t pay attention to me. When you work with five women, they’re very preoccupied. Which is good because I don’t like people fussing over me.
Who would you like to see guest-star on the show?
Robert Downey Jr. He’s the first guy who comes to mind. His sense of humor is perfect. It’s a tricky humor on the show. It’s not a sitcom humor. It takes a certain sensitivity. He has it.
If you weren’t an actor, what would be the next best thing?
If I could do anything, I’d play big-league baseball. If I had a job, I’d probably teach history and coach basketball. We’re saving our money and we have a place in Montana. When “Housewives” runs its course, that’s probably what we’ll do. I love acting, but it might be nice to do something that makes a little more of a difference.
I never came here to be a movie star. It’s not anything that interests me. When you’ve got a wife and two kids at home, you have other things to worry about.
What does your wife think of the show?
She likes the show creatively. She really likes “Grey’s Anatomy.” Just about every Sunday, we watch the show together and then we watch “Grey’s Anatomy.” She tolerates me. She sits through me to get to Patrick Dempsey.
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