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James Denton

James Denton

Actor, also producer · Born January 20, 1963 (63) · Nashville, Tennessee, USA

James Denton (born January 20, 1963) is an American film and television actor. He is best known as Mike Delfino in ABC's comedy drama series Desperate Housewives and as Dr. Sam Bradford on the Hallmark's Channel's fantasy series Good Witch. He has since starred in lead roles for numerous Hallmark Media films.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 20, 1963 (63)
From
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 12% in 30 days

What are James Denton's films like?

Across their 23 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
40%
Self
22%
Society
11%
Morality
10%
Survival
8%
Power
7%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 11 · Serious 7 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 10 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 15 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Shapeshifter
2 of 15
Ally
2 of 15
Threshold guardian
1 of 15
Shadow
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
10
Hopeful
12
Tense
9
Joyful
6
Romantic
5
Other
22

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Denton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hallmark+ (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Denton's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 12 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Grand Ole Opry Christmas(2025)

    as Von Winters

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane(2024)

    as Nelson King

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Real West(2024)

    Producer · as Aaron

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Christmas on Cherry Lane(2023)

    as Nelson King

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Perfect Harmony(2022)

    Executive Producer · as Jack Chandeller

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • A Kiss Before Christmas(2021)

    Executive Producer · as Ethan Holt

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Selfie Dad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Steve

  • Wake.(2018)

    as Joe Frederickson

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Karaoke Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Slim

  • For Love & Honor(2016)

    Executive Producer · as Tom Brennan

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Ovation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Stewart Henry

  • Good Witch(2015)

    Show 68 episodes · as Dr. Sam Radford

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Dancer and the Dame(2015)

    as Kyle · as Kyle Jackson

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • My New Best Friend(2015)

    as Cooper Brawn

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Revelation Road: The Black Rider(2014)

    as Drake

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Stranded in Paradise(2014)

    as Carter McConnell

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Hunger in America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Narrator

  • Grace Unplugged(2013)

    as Johnny Trey

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Foreclosed(2013)

    as Jake Turner

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Devious Maids(2013)

    Show 7 episodes · as Peter Hudson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • All-Star Superman(2011)

    as Superman / Clark Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Hot in Cleveland(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Kerouac Cowboy

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Killer in the Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 6 episodes · as Brian Dunne

  • Tortured(2007)

    as Agent Murphy

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Wendy Williams Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Custody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as John Sullivan

  • Masters of Science Fiction(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • Undead or Alive: A Zombedy(2007)

    as Elmer Winslow

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Ascension Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Beautiful Dreamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Dr. Kessler

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 179 episodes · as Mike Delfino

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Threat Matrix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 16 episodes · as John Kilmer

  • The Pretender: Island of the Haunted(2001)

    as Mr. Lyle

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Reba(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Morgan

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Philly(2001)

    Show 22 episodes · as Judge Augustus Ripley

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Pretender 2001 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Mr. Lyle

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Jordan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Primary Colors(1998)

    as Mitch

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Two Guys and a Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Howard Zwaneveld

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Bender

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Face/Off(1997)

    as Buzz

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • That Old Feeling(1997)

    as Keith Marks

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Dark Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 36 episodes · as Mr. Lyle

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Bruce Carmichael · as Geoffrey Roizman

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Drew Carey Show(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Daryl

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Sliders(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Thieves Quartet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ray Higgs

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles from 1993 to 2025; peak year 2012.

Biggest box office

That Old Feeling (1997)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

The Pretender: Island of the Haunted (2001)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Desperate Housewives (2004)

Film career

19932025

Peak 2012 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 48: 44 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing4 of 48: 0 only producing, 4 with another role

48 titles, 4 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1990s12 · acting2000s14 · acting2010s15 · 15 acting · 2 crew2020s7 · 7 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 8% of 13 roles
9707

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do James Denton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Wake. (2018)

93rd percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Face/Off (1997)

Midcredits 89th · 77% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is James Denton's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does James Denton work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Denton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jonathan Eskenas shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles