James Denton (born January 20, 1963) is an American film and television actor. He is known for playing Mike Delfino on ABC's comedy drama series Desperate Housewives (2004–2012) and Dr. Sam Radford on Hallmark Channel's fantasy series Good Witch (2015–2021).

Early life Denton was born January 20, 1963, in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in nearby Goodlettsville, the second of three children. His father, J.T. Denton (1930–1993), was a dentist who had served in the military. His mother died of breast cancer in 2002. Denton was raised Southern Baptist and became a Minister of Music at Westmoreland United Methodist Church in Westmoreland, Tennessee.

Denton graduated from Goodlettsville High School, and attended the University of Tennessee, where he is a member of the Tennessee Kappa chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He majored in Television/Journalism, and earned a degree in Advertising. Before becoming an actor, he sold advertising for two radio stations. He began acting at the age of 23, at a community theater in Nashville. He eventually moved to California to become a full-time actor. Early in his career, he was sometimes credited as Jamie Denton.

Career While living in Chicago, Denton's first role was as "Stanley" in A Streetcar Named Desire, and his last role was as the terrorist "Bebert" in the French farce, Lapin Lapin. In the years that came between the two roles, Denton was a company member at The Griffin Theater and at Strawdog Theater Ensemble. He added a steady string of roles and accolades to his quickly growing list of achievements, including one of the leads in the world premiere of Flesh and Blood, performing in and composing the music for The Night Hank Williams Died, and his portrayal of Kentucky preacher "C.C. Showers" in The Diviners - which gained him a nomination for a Best Actor Joseph Jefferson Award (Chicago's only theater award).

After moving to Los Angeles, Denton continued to perform on stage, usually during hiatus from whichever TV series to which he was attached at the time. Several plays and independent films in which Denton has appeared, have been written by his friend, Mike Petty. For example, "In Walked Monk", in which Denton played the role of "Steven" during the summer of 1999 and Locked Up Down Shorty's", in which he played the role of "Danny", during the summer of 2001.Denton has appeared in several films, including: That Old Feeling (1997), Face/Off (1997), and Primary Colors (1998). He has appeared in various television shows, including: Sliders, Dark Skies, Two Guys and a Girl, Ally McBeal, The West Wing, and JAG, and has had recurring roles in The Pretender, Philly, The Drew Carey Show and Reba. In 2003, he portrayed the lead role of Special Agent John Kilmer in the short-lived crime thriller series Threat Matrix.

In 2004, Denton began portraying Mike Delfino on ABC's comedy-drama television series Desperate Housewives. The show was well received by viewers and critics and it won multiple Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. From the 2004–05 through the 2008–09 television seasons, its first five seasons were rated amongst the top ten most-watched series. In 2007, it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 120 million and was also reported as the third most watched television series in a study of ratings in twenty countries.

Since first appearing in Desperate Housewives, Denton continued to appear in numerous films, including: Assumption (2006), Beautiful Dreamer (2006), Undead or Alive (2007), Custody (2007), Tortured (2008) and All-Star Superman (2011). Denton also appeared in Dale Watson's music video for "Justice for All" (2007) and Phil Vassar's music video for "Bobbi with an I" (2009).

Denton portrayed Dr. Sam Radford, a starring role on Hallmark Channel's fantasy comedy-drama television series Good Witch. The series follows a mother-daughter duo's magical journey as they welcome Dr. Sam Radford (Denton) and his son to town. The New York Times called the series "a gentle, sentimental prime-time fable set in an idealized Middle American small city (not an angsty suburb), is the show you find your parents or grandparents watching when you come home for a visit." In 2019, the show was one of the network's most popular original series, and the Good Witch closed season five in first place among household ratings on Sundays. The success of the series lifted the Hallmark Channel to be the highest-rated and most-watched cable network on the weekends.

In 2016, he had a recurring role as Peter Hudson on Lifetime's comedy-drama series Devious Maids. In 2018, he made a guest appearance as Navy Captain Deckard on CBS' television series NCIS: New Orleans, in the episode "Checkmate, Part 2". In January 2024, Denton was announced as a contestant in the 13th season of dance competition television series Danse avec les stars, the French version of Dancing with the Stars. He sustained an injury early in the competition and was unable to compete in two performances.

Other ventures

Denton plays guitar in the charity cover band Band from TV along with Hugh Laurie, Teri Hatcher, and Greg Grunberg, among others. They donate the proceeds of their performances and recordings to the charities of their choice. Band from TV has raised almost two million dollars for various causes supported by the band.

He has appeared on the cover of several magazines, including TV Guide, Tango, Orange Coast, Calabasas and Spectrum United, and pictorials for Entertainment Weekly, People, US Weekly and Life & Style. Denton has appeared in television commercials for Buick and Ford Warriors in Pink. Denton modeled for Daniel Hechter's 2012 Spring/Summer advertising campaign.

Personal life Denton dated country music singer Deana Carter in high school. He was married to Jenna Lyn Ward from 1997 to 2000. On December 16, 2002, Denton married Erin O'Brien, a personal trainer at Life Time Fitness. They have a son born in 2003 and a daughter born in 2005. The couple previously lived in Glendale, California. After Desperate Housewives ended, the family moved to Chanhassen, Minnesota.

Denton has supported the Angel Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota, serving adults with cancer and their families.

Filmography

+ Film and television roles Year Title Role Notes 1993 Thieves Quartet Ray Higgs 1994 Basic Football The Quarterback Short film 1995 Hunter's Moon Nick 1996 Sliders Jack Bullock Episode: "The Good, the Bad and the Wealthy" 1996 Moloney Rocky Talese Episode: "Friendly Fire" 1996 Dark Skies Robert Winter Episode: "Hostile Convergence" 1996–2003 JAG Lieutenant Commander Bruce Carmichael / Geoffrey Roizman 2 episodes 1997That Old Feeling Keith Marks 1997 Face/Off Buzz 1997–2000 The Pretender Mr. Lyle 36 episodes 1998 Primary Colors Mitch 2000 Locked Up Down Shorty's Danny 2000 Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Dr. Howard Zaunaveld Episode: "The Monitor Story" 2000 Ally McBeal Jimmy Bender Episode: "Do You Wanna Dance?" 2000 The West Wing Tom Jordan Episode: "The Midterms" 2001 The Pretender 2001 Mr. Lyle Television film 2001 The Pretender: Island of the Haunted Mr. Lyle Television film 2001–2002 Philly Judge Augustus Ripley 13 episodes 2002 The Drew Carey Show Daryl 2 episodes 2003–2004 Threat Matrix Special Agent John Kilmer 16 episodes 2004 Jumbo Girl Jack Short film 2004–2012 Desperate Housewives Mike Delfino 158 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2005, 2006)Nominated –Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2007, 2008, 2009)Teen Choice award for Best TV actor 2005–2006 Reba Dr. Jack Morgan Episodes: "Date of Mirth" and "The Trouble with Dr. Hunky" 2006 Assumption John Short filmShockerFest Science Fiction Genre Award for Best Actor Fantasy / Science Fiction 2006 Beautiful Dreamer Dr. Kessler 2007 Ascension Day Brother John 2007 Undead or Alive: A Zombedy Elmer Winslow 2007 Masters of Science Fiction Barney Curran Episode: "The Discarded" 2007 Custody John Sullivan2008American IdolBand from TVEpisode: "Idol Gives Back" 2008Tortured Agent Murphy 2010 Group Sex Luke Uncredited 2011 All-Star SupermanSuperman / Clark Kent Voice 2012 Hot in Cleveland Kerouac Cowboy Episode: "Storage Wars" 2012 Karaoke Man Slim 2013 Grace Unplugged Johnny Trey 2013–2019Home & FamilyHimselfGuest and guest co-host; 9 episodes2014OutnumberedGuest co-host; Episode: "Episode dated 7 October 2014" 2014 Stranded in ParadiseCarter2014Hunger in AmericaNarratorDocumentary film; also co-executive producer 2015–2021Good Witch Dr. Sam Radford Main cast; 75 episodes2016 Devious Maids Peter HudsonRecurring role; 7 episodes2016 For Love & Honor Tom BrennanTelevision film; also as executive producer2018NCIS: New Orleans Navy Captain Deckard Episode: "Checkmate, Part 2"2018Wake. Joe FredericksonFilm2020Selfie DadSteve2021A Kiss Before ChristmasEthan Holt Television film; also as executive producer2022Perfect HarmonyJack Chandeller2023Christmas on Cherry LaneNelson KingTelevision film 2023 Fantasy Island Dutch Episode: "Paymer vs. Paymer"2024Danse avec les starsHimselfContestant on season 13

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