James Denton, beloved for his roles in Desperate Housewives and Good Witch, recently revealed the painful cost of his participation in France’s version of Dancing with the Stars. The 61-year-old actor admitted that his stint on the reality competition, though a “huge adventure,” has left him with significant knee problems. Speaking at a Christmas Con panel, James Denton confessed he is “still paying” for the intense physical demands of DWTS, stating plainly, “both my knees are just destroyed.”
Denton elaborated that the rigorous training and competition, which spanned nearly four months, took a severe toll on his joints. “I am still trying to recover,” he explained to the audience in Edison, N.J., on December 14th. Despite the physical hardship, Denton maintained a positive outlook on the experience itself. “But it was really fun, and the people were really nice,” he added, emphasizing the enjoyable aspects of his time on the show despite the lingering pain in James Denton’s knees.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(665×0:667×2)/James-Denton-122624-f49fab24966a405fa4dd566863450bbf.jpg)
James Denton at Christmas Con 2023, discussing his experience on Dancing with the Stars France and the impact on his knees.
This wasn’t the first time Denton had been approached to join Dancing with the Stars. Interestingly, the offers weren’t from the U.S. version but consistently from France. He revealed that producers from the French DWTS had asked him “a bunch of times” to participate, owing to the immense popularity of Desperate Housewives in France where he played the iconic Mike Delfino. However, Denton had always declined, citing his lack of dance experience. “I never would’ve done the show here because I’m not a dancer,” he admitted.
The circumstances changed when Hollywood faced dual strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild in 2023. With work in Hollywood приостановлено, Denton reconsidered the French DWTS offer. The strikes, beginning with the Writers Guild in May and followed by the actors in July, provided an unexpected window of opportunity and perhaps a nudge towards an experience outside his comfort zone. “They take care of you, and it was a big adventure,” Denton said, highlighting the appeal of the opportunity amidst the industry-wide work stoppage.
Despite the adventure, Denton confessed that the prospect of competing on DWTS was daunting. “It terrified me and I knew then that I had to do it,” he emphasized, suggesting that the fear itself was a motivating factor. This fear stemmed partly from the unfamiliar format of the French show. Denton pointed out a key difference: routines on DWTS France are significantly longer than their U.S. counterparts, exceeding two minutes compared to the minute-long segments in the American broadcast. This extended performance time undoubtedly added to the physical strain and contributed to James Denton’s wrecked knees.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999×0:1001×2)/James-Denton-christmas-con-122624-10df847bb49c47f68337e923acfdcd56.jpg)
James Denton at Christmas Con 2024, sharing details about his Dancing with the Stars France experience and knee recovery.
When it came to performing live, Denton, accustomed to acting, found himself facing a different kind of pressure. “My heart was pounding so hard. I felt like a little kid. It was exciting, but really scary,” he described about his initial live performance. Despite the nerves, Denton persevered for six weeks in the competition, exceeding his initial modest goal. “I just didn’t want to be out the first week or two. I wanted to stay around a while,” he stated.
Ultimately, Denton was voted off, a result he seemed to embrace with relief. He recounted the host’s humorous observation: “‘I’ve never seen anybody so happy to get voted off.'” Denton explained his contentment with leaving, acknowledging the superior skills of the remaining contestants and attributing his longevity in the competition to fan support. “The people that were left were so much better than I was, and I just survived because the fans were really nice and they kept me alive, I think.” This self-aware and humble perspective further endears James Denton to fans, even as he candidly discusses the physical aftermath of his Dancing with the Stars France journey and the current state of James Denton’s knees.
In conclusion, James Denton’s foray into Dancing with the Stars France provided him with a memorable “adventure” during an unusual period in Hollywood. However, this adventure came at a physical price, leaving the actor to grapple with damaged knees. While he cherishes the experience and the support he received, the lasting impact on James Denton’s knees serves as a reminder of the intense physical demands of competitive dancing, even for a seasoned actor.
