James Denton

s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

When “Desperate Housewives” ended, James Denton and his wife, Erin O’Brien, had a chance to think about where they wanted to raise their two children.

The family left California and moved to Chanhassen, Minnesota, where O’Brien had family. The move brought them closer to relatives and gave their children more distance from the entertainment industry.

Denton’s own upbringing was also far removed from Hollywood. Raised in Tennessee, he grew up Southern Baptist and served as a minister of music at a United Methodist church before his acting career took off.

Minnesota gave Denton and O’Brien what they wanted: a more down-to-earth daily life for their son and daughter, with extended family nearby.