Desperate Housewives: Cast Salaries, Sad Deaths & Why It Ended

Desperate Housewives turned suburban banality into scandalous appointment viewing, peaking at 30 million viewers, but behind its manicured hedges a story of salary gaps and set friction defined its legacy. This guide pieces together the numbers, conflicts, and choices that defined the show’s eight-season run.

Original Run: 2004–2012 (8 seasons) ·
Number of Episodes: 180 ·
Network: ABC ·
Main Cast Members: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria ·
Highest Paid Star (Final Seasons): $400,000 per episode (multiple actors) ·
Final Season Viewership (avg.): 10.6 million

The table below summarizes key production details for the show.

Who was the highest paid on Desperate Housewives?

What were the cast salaries in the final seasons?

Six actors, one pay tier: by the later seasons, the four leading women had all reached roughly the same per-episode number.

Near the show’s peak, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Eva Longoria were each earning an estimated $375,000 per episode, according to a 2024 entertainment report by realestate.com.au (online real estate publication). Other industry chatter, though less verified, placed the figure closer to $400,000 per episode for the same quartet. Hatcher was said to have negotiated an additional producing fee, bringing her annual package to around $9 million, according to press reports at the time.

The implication: the base salaries flattened the top of the cast, but Hatcher’s producer role gave her an edge in total compensation. That gap reportedly fueled on-set friction.

Who is the richest cast member from the show?

According to a 2024 analysis by realestate.com.au, the cast’s property portfolios reflect the financial success of the franchise. Eva Longoria has built a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio, while Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman also hold valuable properties. Exact net worth figures remain estimates, as none of the actors publicly declare their full wealth. What’s clear is that all four leads earned enough during the show’s run to invest significantly.

Why did Desperate Housewives end?

Was the show cancelled or did it end naturally?

One trend, two conflicting takes: ratings plummeted from a peak of 30 million to roughly 10 million by the final season, but creator Marc Cherry and ABC framed the decision as mutual.

The series premiered October 3, 2004, on ABC (Wikipedia). After eight seasons, the finale aired May 13, 2012, drawing 11.3 million viewers (Wikipedia). Creator Marc Cherry told Deadline (Hollywood news outlet) in 2025 that the story had simply run its course. “We all felt it was time,” Cherry said. ABC and the production team agreed that a natural conclusion was preferable to cancellation.

What this means: the end was a controlled landing, not an abrupt cancellation. But the steep viewership decline made the business case for continuation harder to justify.

Was Chloë Grace Moretz in Desperate Housewives?

What character did Chloë Grace Moretz play?

• Yes, Chloë Grace Moretz appeared in three episodes between 2006 and 2007 as Sherry Maltby, a foster child taken in by the Applewhite family (Wiksteria Lane Fandom).
• Her character was part of a storyline exploring adoption and family secrets in Season 3.

The implication: Moretz’s early role on Wisteria Lane foreshadowed her later Hollywood breakout, but it remains a footnote in the show’s vast guest-star roster.

Who is Maisy Gibbons in Desperate Housewives?

Was Maisy Gibbons a main character?

• Maisy Gibbons was a recurring character in Season 2, played by Sharon Lawrence (Wikipedia).
• She ran a high-end escort service from her suburban home, which Bree Van de Kamp discovered, leading to a memorable blackmail storyline.

The catch: Maisy Gibbons was never a main character, but her arc exemplified the show’s knack for turning scandal into layered character drama.

Did Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria get along?

What was the on-set atmosphere like?

Both actors have acknowledged a complicated relationship. Teri Hatcher admitted in a 2014 interview with HuffPost Live that she “didn’t feel supported” by some castmates, as reported by Collider (film and TV news site) in a 2024 recap of the show’s behind-the-scenes drama. Eva Longoria, speaking on Watch What Happens Live, said, “It’s well-documented that we weren’t best friends, but we were professionals.” The Collider article characterizes the backstage environment as “messy,” citing lawsuits and tension that occasionally spilled into public view.

The implication: while both actors remained professional, the public perception of discord has become part of the show’s legacy.

What was the saddest death in Desperate Housewives?

Which character deaths had the biggest impact?

Four losses, one sentiment: fan polls consistently point to Mike Delfino’s death in Season 8 as the most gut-wrenching moment (TV Obsessive). Other contenders include:

• Edie Britt (Season 5) — electrocuted while trying to retrieve a teddy bear
• Eli Scruggs (Season 5 backstory) — a beloved handyman with a heart problem
• Rex Van de Kamp (Season 1) — Bree’s husband, felled by a heart attack (or poison?)

The pattern: the show’s most affecting deaths usually struck at the heart of Wisteria Lane’s family bonds, and Mike’s farewell in the finale carried the weight of the entire series.

For all its suburban polish, Desperate Housewives left behind a tangled legacy of pay parity, personal friction, and a fandom still hungry for more Wisteria Lane. With a potential reboot now in early development at Onyx Collective (Deadline), the question isn’t whether the street will come back—it’s whether the new residents can fill the heels of the original four. For fans, the legacy of stars like Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria ensures that Wisteria Lane’s secrets remain compelling.