James Denton

Actor James Denton was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in nearby Goodlettsville, the second of three children. His father was a dentist who had served in the military. His mother died from breast cancer in 2002. Denton was raised Southern Baptist and became a minister of music at Westmoreland United Methodist Church in Westmoreland, Tennessee.

Denton attended the University of Tennessee where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, majored in television/journalism, and earned a degree in advertising. Before he became an actor, he sold advertising for two radio stations. His acting journey began at the age of 28 in a Nashville production of "Our Town," where he played George Gibbs. Denton quickly moved into Chicago theatre, starring as "C.C. Showers" in "The Diviners," which earned him a Joseph Jefferson Best Actor nomination. He eventually moved to California to pursue full-time acting, initially credited as Jamie Denton in films such as "That Old Feeling."

While living in Chicago, Denton appeared in a range of stage productions from "A Streetcar Named Desire" to the French farce "Lapin Lapin." He was a company member at The Griffin Theater and at Strawdog Theater Ensemble. His film career includes roles in "Face/Off" (1997), "Primary Colors" (1998), and various television appearances on shows like "The Pretender," "Philly," "JAG," "Ally McBeal," and "The West Wing." In 2004, he joined the cast of "Desperate Housewives" as Mike Delfino, a role that would bring him widespread recognition and a Golden Globe Award for the show.

Since "Desperate Housewives," Denton has continued acting in various TV movies and had a role in "Devious Maids" in 2016. He also participates in philanthropy, playing guitar in the charity band Band from TV and becoming a spokesperson for Lee National Denim Day, a campaign raising funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This effort honors his late mother and focuses on raising $10 million for breast cancer research and programs.

Denton was previously married to Jenna Lyn Ward and is currently married to Erin O'Brien, with whom he has two children. His personal life and career reflect a commitment to both his family and his craft, balancing ongoing TV roles with significant charitable contributions.