Because of “Desperate Housewives”: Roger Bart feared end of career

Roger Bart (61) once played a crazy murderer in the series “Desperate Housewives”. In view of this character, which was unpopular with viewers, he feared a setback in his career, as he has now revealed in an interview.

“It was crazy,” he said. He thought he wouldn’t get any more roles after playing George Williams. The pharmacist became the lover of Marcia Cross’ (62) character Bree Van de Kamp after he poisoned her husband. According to Bart, his “favorite and most terrifying” moment on “Desperate Housewives” was when they were filming his character’s death scene. “I asked the director, ‘Do you think I’ll ever work again after this?’ Because just walking through the airport made me realize how powerful this is.” He got so much attention from the role “because back then everyone was tuning in on Sundays at 9:00 a.m., there were about 23 million people.”

At the beginning he did not know what role he had accepted

He was initially unaware of the impact of the character: “I had pretty much no idea what it was going to be. In fact, I shot my first scenes thinking I was something like this pharmacist, and then Mark Cherry, who created the show, came into our little trailer area and said, ‘Do you want to know what we have planned for the character?’. I said, ‘Well. Unless it hurts me,’ and he said, ‘Well, then you’re going to be a sociopathic stalker.’ So I thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be really funny.'”

His scandalous role “did not disappoint” him, and he noted: “It put me in such unbelievable situations.” He is recognized all over the world. “I’ve gone to some crazy places, but this show will be the one where someone walking across the bridge will say, ‘Is that you?’. It’s great to have been a part of it.”

On the show “The View” he was once asked after the series ended: “So you’re dead?’ And I said: ‘I am.’ That was literally the only reason I was on ‘The View.’ It was so funny.”

Remake of the series? “I don’t know”

There is speculation about a remake of “Desperate Housewives” every now and then. The actor said: “I have the feeling that the ladies might be up for it.” However, he hopes that a sequel will never be called “The Men of Desperate Housewives: The Series.” “Because that would be a farce.” However, he “really doesn’t know” whether the series will be remade.

Roger Bart appeared on “Desperate Housewives” from 2005 to 2012. The series about neighbors on Wisteria Lane was produced by ABC Studios for the US broadcaster from October 2004 to May 2012 and ran for eight seasons. His career was not over after that, as feared. He continued to act in many series and is also successful as a musical actor. He is currently nominated for the 2024 Tony Awards for his role in “Back to the Future: The Musical”, which will be presented on June 16 in New York City.