Desperate Housewives hunk Jesse Metcalfe relives getting FIRED from steamy role of Eva Longoria’s hunky gardener

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Jesse Metcalfe has spoken about being let go from his role on the popular early 2000s television series, Desperate Housewives.

In 2004, Metcalfe appeared on the show as John Rowland, Gabrielle Solis’s attractive gardener and lover. His muscular physique became a memorable part of the series.

He started as a main cast member, but was later given a smaller role. Still, he continued to appear on the show for several years.

Metcalfe recently shared his side of the story in an interview with The Daily Mail, suggesting his character’s part was intentionally reduced to allow Eva Longoria’s character more development beyond just being involved in an affair.

He explained to The Daily Mail at a Friday event that he was a main cast member during the show’s first season, but later his role was reduced to a recurring one for the rest of the series.

I returned to the show over nine seasons. They didn’t want to define my character, Gabrielle Solis, solely by an affair. Marc Cherry, the show’s creator, explained that the show was about the lives of the women, not just their romantic relationships – it was ‘Desperate Housewives,’ not ‘Desperate Gardeners.’

Between 2004 and 2012, Desperate Housewives was a hugely popular show about the lives of women and all the drama unfolding in their suburban neighborhood, Wisteria Lane.

The show instantly made Eva Longoria, who wasn’t very well-known at the time, a huge star, along with her fellow actresses Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Nicollette Sheridan.

Marcia Cross first shared the news about being let go from Desperate Housewives during an interview on the ‘Not Skinny But Not Fat’ podcast.

I was so shocked when I heard he’d been let go from ‘Desperate Housewives’! He explained in an interview that after the first season, the writers just didn’t have a clear direction for his character’s story anymore. It was a shame, because he really broke out with that role.

On the podcast, he explained that the show’s creator, Marc Cherry, told him the show was called ‘Desperate Housewives,’ not ‘Desperate House Gardeners,’ and therefore he wouldn’t be a regular cast member anymore.

Instead, he was brought back intermittently.

He remembered thinking he was on his way to stardom when he was offered the main role in the movie John Tucker Must Die by 20th Century Fox. He thought, ‘No big deal!’

Though Metcalfe is now a well-known actor in both movies and television, he’s also expanded into the skincare industry.

Last year Metcalfe launched NUTRL, a skincare line that has been on the rise.  

He shared with The Daily Mail that he started his own skincare company, NUTRL Skin, in April 2025. Currently, they sell directly to customers, but the brand is gaining popularity after being featured on Good Morning America and The View.

He said people have reacted very positively to the brand. He described it as a simple, inclusive line suitable for everyone, no matter their skin type.

Our serums are deeply hydrating and help reduce signs of aging. They contain several peptide complexes that boost collagen production.

Metcalfe and his girlfriend, Helene Immel, attended a party hosted by Clarins to launch their new Extra-Firming Energy cream.

The couple has been dating for two and a half years, and the actor recently shared on the Not Skinny Not Fat podcast that things are ‘going really well’ between them.

‘I certainly haven’t dated for my career,’ he explained about dating women who are not famous.

He shared that he’s been fortunate in love, having experienced wonderful relationships with many supportive women, but feels he’s found the very best with his current partner.

Last July, Scheana Shay, who briefly dated him, released her memoir, My Good Side, and discussed their relationship in it.

She described dating the actor in 2007 as feeling like a dream come true, explaining that she’d grown up watching him in films and on television.

He told Us Weekly he appreciated Shay saying nice things about him.

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2026-03-26 02:34