'Desperate Housewives': Reveals name of major character to die in forthcoming episode

'Desperate Housewives': Reveals name of major character to die in forthcoming episode

James Denton's character Mike Delfino has been revealed as the character to die on the upcoming episode of 'Desperate Housewives'.

Denton, who has been a series regular since its debut in 2004, plays Teri Hatcher's (Susan Delfino) husband on the show.

He was approached by producer Marc Cherry in the winter of last year about killing off his character.

Of Mike's demise, Denton told Entertainment Weekly: "I was really surprised. Any other year, I would have been disappointed, but at this point I figured, well, we made it... As an actor, you just hope people care."

Denton described filming his final scene as surreal, recalling: "I remember lying in the threshold [while filming the scene] with the blood pouring out of me looking up at the top of the porch. I've been there for over eight years, and I've done so many scenes on that porch... It was a little creepy... It was sort of fitting."

News of the actor's departure was let slip during a court hearing today at the trial between show creator Cherry and former star Nicolette Sheridan.

Sheridan has sued Cherry for wrongfully terminating her from the series, and has also accused him of physically assaulting her while she was still a member of the cast.

There will be six more episodes of Desperate Housewives after Denton's departure. It was announced last year that the current eighth season of the series will be its last.

Denton's on-screen departure will take place during the episode 'You Take for Granted' at 9/8c on Sunday (March 11) on ABC.