Actor James Denton believes that raising children outside of Los Angeles provided a more beneficial environment, largely due to the city's pervasive "emphasis on image" and the influence of social media. Denton, known for his role on "Desperate Housewives," shared in a recent interview that he and his wife, Erin O'Brien, moved their two children, Sheppard and Malin, to the Midwest when they were young.
Denton, 63, explained that he observed the social media impact on friends' children in Los Angeles, noting the constant desire to keep up with trends in appearance, such as cosmetic procedures, elaborate nail and hair styles. He felt this was a cultural pressure his own children did not experience to the same degree in their Midwest upbringing. "I thought it was easier just to get out of it," Denton stated, referring to the Los Angeles environment.
At the time of the move, his children were 10 and 8 years old. Denton and his wife sought a location with strong public schools and proximity to O'Brien's family in Minnesota. He found that he could continue working, having secured a role on the Hallmark Channel in Toronto, which allowed him to fly home every weekend. He believes this setting provided a more "healthy" environment for his children.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Denton has encountered many admirable young people. However, he maintains that his children's upbringing around their cousins and grandparents in the Midwest was a superior choice for their formative years. He remarked that "L.A. is a tougher place because of, I think just that whole, the emphasis on image, which really is hard to escape in L.A."
Denton also discussed his one-man play, "A General's Prayer," where he portrays George Washington. The play, set during the American Revolution at Valley Forge, explores Washington's moments of doubt and reliance on prayer. Denton noted the historical figure's vulnerability and his hopes for the nation's unity, drawing parallels to contemporary challenges. He highlighted Washington's desire for the country to be bound by "familial affection" rather than geographical distinctions, and his aversion to international entanglements. The play ran at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., from June 12 to July 19.