You need to know
It has been 21 years since a desperate housewife changed the landscape of melodrama forever.
The ABC comedy drama, premiering on October 3, 2004, followed four suburban mamas: Susan Meyer (Terri Hatcher), Brievan DeCamp (Marcia Cross), Lynette Skavo (Felicity Huffman) and Gabriel Solis (Eva Longoria).
As the messy series unfolds, all characters face challenges amidst their complex relationships, growing children, and ever-changing friendship dynamics. In addition to five friends, the Emmy-winning series also starred Ricardo Chavira, James Denton, Nicolet Sheridan, Doug Savant, Jesse Metcalf and Kyle MacLachlan.
The hopeless housewife doesn’t offer a lack of mystical side characters, twisted relationships, or dramatic deaths, but in reality, many of the cast members have been married for years and have started their own family.
Here’s what you need to know about the real-life partners of the hopeless housewives cast, from Eva Longoria to Felicity Huffman.
Eva Longoria and Jose Baston
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Longoria, who portrays the fiery, loyal Gabriel Solis, has been with Jose “Pepe” Baston since 2013. The only murder of the building actress and businessman first met through a mutual friend, but did not hit it until it was reintroduced a few months later.
The couple got engaged in December 2015 and got married the following May at a ceremony at their home in Baston, Mexico.
“I’m not a fan of marriage. I like to marry him,” Longoria told people in 2017.
When Longoria and Baston welcomed their son Santiago on June 19, 2018, Longoria became mothers. In addition to Santiago, Longoria is also the mother of Baston’s three children, daughter Natalia and twins Mariana and Jose Antonio.
Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy
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Huffman, who played devoted mom and businessman Lynette Scavo, has been married to fellow actor William H. Macy for nearly 30 years.
The Doc actress and shameless actor met in the 1980s and had repeated, non-dependent relationships for 15 years before they married in 1997. The couple is the parents of two daughters. Sofia was born in 2000 and Georgia was born in 2002.
Over the years, Huffman and Macy have appeared together in television shows and films, including the accused, Crystal, and Water Engine. In 2012, they both received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
After Huffman temporarily resigned from the acting industry amidst the 2019 college admissions scandal, Macy told Entertainment Tonight that he was “really pleased” that he’s back to work.
“We give each other scripts and each other notes. Somehow we make it work,” he told the outlet in May 2024.
Mercia Cross and Tom Mahony
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Cross played the hopeless housewife and mysterious perfectionist Brie Van de Kamp, but in real life she was with her husband, Tom Mahoney for 20 years. The Melrose Place actress and businessman were engaged in that August, sparking rumors of romance in March 2005.
Cross and Mahoney married in California in June 2006 and later welcomed twin daughters, Eden and Savannah, in February 2007.
In 2009, Mahoney was diagnosed with throat cancer. He was in remission, but within ten years his cancer was back – and the cross was diagnosed with anal cancer. The two helped to support each other on their journey to remission.
Teri Hatcher
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Hatcher, who played the adorable Goof Susan Mayer, appears to be single. The actress from The Tomorrow Never Dies was married to Marcus Ley Sold from 1988 to 1989 and fellow actor John Tenney from 1994 to 2003.
During his marriage to Tenny, Hatcher welcomed his daughter, Emerson in 1997.
As for her love life now, Hatcher explained that she has a different approach to dating as she gets older.
“Okay, okay, Line ‘Mup’,” Hatcher joked during an episode of Sheri in November 2024. “People will tell me that. They say, ‘I can’t believe you’re not going on a date, they must be lined up outside the door’ and I’m like, ‘No’. No, I open it occasionally, no one is there. ”
Ricardo Chavira and Marcia Dietzel
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Chavila played Gabriel’s husband Carlos Solis, but in real life she has been married to Marcae Dietzel since 2007. In 2003, we welcomed our son, Thomas Antonio and daughter, Belen Elisabeth.
Although Chavira has kept much of her life out of the spotlight, she occasionally posts photos of herself to spend time with her kids, such as going to the zoo, attending basketball games, and celebrating holidays together.
James Denton and Erin O’Brien Denton
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Denton has been married to Erin O’Brien Denton since 2001. A good witch actor who portrayed heart-pounding Mike Delfino, the fitness trainer tied the Las Vegas knot after meeting during the play.
In 2007, Erin looked back on their relationship and told Shakopee Valley News that James was a “man.”
“The reason I married him is because he is a man,” she told the outlet. “He picks up a bottle of my favorite wine. He makes a bed every morning. I rather have a stomach and get ginger ale. He holds the flowers and says, ‘You’re a great mom.’ He will even read to kids when he is tired and ornery. ”
Erin and James are the parents of two children, son Shepherd and daughter Marin.
In 2024, Denton told people that her daughter and her friends were “bing” on the hit show.
“I get stopped in all sorts of college days in my early 20s. There’s a rush of young people stopping me on the streets, so I can always tell you that it’s been re-released on Hulu or Netflix,” he said.
Brenda Strong and John Falmesh Bocca
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Strong played the hopeless housewife and a beloved, mysterious Mary Alice Young. In her personal life, she has been married to John Falmesh Bocca since 2015. Since then, the two have called him a “human miracle” in their December 2024 birthday homage.
“He brought so much love, laughter, art, friends, family, adventure and passion into my life, and brought the lives of everyone lucky enough to call him a friend, brother and creative partner,” she captioned several photos of the two.
Strong is the mother of one child, son Zecurry Henri, who shares with her ex-husband Tom Henri. Like his mom, Zack is also an actor, appearing in Blend, Naughty, and Vanhead.
Doug Savant and Laura Layton
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Savant, who played Tom Scavo, husband of Lynette Scavo, has been married to fellow Melrose Place Costar Laura Leighton for nearly 30 years. The couple we met on set were initially friends before going on a date in 1998 and later getting married.
“We were friends on set, and then we said, ‘Oh my God, I think this guy is here that I think is so perfect,'” Savant told people in 2007.
Almost 20 years after Savant shared his sweet feelings, Leighton said she “absolutely” agreed.
“It was really nice to say,” Layton said in January 2025 episode of Still Here’s the Hollywood podcast. “Who’s the Thunk? We’ve been married for 26 years and we’ve been raising four children together. We’re pretty proud of it. We’re still on the way. It was really the best thing to come out of the show.”
The couple welcomed their son Jack and daughter Lucy together. Savant is also the dad of two daughters from his previous marriage, Arianna and Madeline.
