Actor James Denton has made a surprising confession about his character's dramatic exit from the hit series Desperate Housewives - he actually loved filming his death scene. The 61-year-old actor, who played the beloved Mike Delfino, recently opened up about the memorable moment from season 8 when his character met his end through a drive-by shooting.
"The one where I got shot," Denton enthusiastically shared with PEOPLE magazine when asked about his favorite episodes. "It's always fun to get chills on camera."
The technical aspects of filming the death scene were complex, involving special effects and carefully orchestrated blood rigs. "You have one tube up one leg of your pants that has the blood to your chest, and you have a wire running down the other leg," Denton explained. The scene could only be shot a few times due to the intricate setup.
The emotional weight of the scene was carried brilliantly by his co-star Teri Hatcher, who played Susan Mayer. Denton praised Hatcher's performance, noting how she sobbed uncontrollably throughout the day-long shoot, making it challenging for him to maintain his composure as his character lay dying in her arms.
Before his character's demise, producer Marc Cherry consulted with Denton about the plot development. The show's creative team wanted "to do something big before the finale that doesn't involve the women," making Mike's death a pivotal moment in the series.
Despite the scene airing 12 years ago, fans still approach Denton to express their sadness over Mike's death. The actor appreciates the lasting impact, crediting writers Matt Berry and Marc Cherry for crafting such an emotionally resonant scene.
"I was very happy with that," Denton reflected on his character's final moments, which gave Mike Delfino a heroic send-off as he sacrificed himself to save Susan's life.