‘Desperate Housewives’ Creator Marc Cherry Testifies at Trial
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ABC, Inc.(LOS ANGELES) — The creator of Desperate Housewives said Monday that he decided to kill off Nicollette Sheridan’s character on the ABC series months before he allegedly struck her in the head.
Marc Cherry addressed the incident in a Los Angeles court Monday during an ongoing trial regarding Sheridan’s claim that she was wrongfully terminated from the show.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cherry said he was granted permission during a May 2008 meeting with the then-head producer of Touchstone to eliminate Sheridan’s character, Edie Britt, the following season. Cherry cited financial and creative reasons for the decision. Cherry said the president of ABC’s entertainment division later gave his consent as well.
Sheridan testified last week that in September 2008, a frustrated Cherry struck her “upside the head” with his right hand. He responded Monday that he hit her with his “fingers” while demonstrating to her physical humor he wanted her to perform in a scene she was rehearsing. He said he’s felt terribly about the incident “going on three and a half years now.”
According to E! Online, Cherry testified that Sheridan’s then-co-stars, Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman, were “relieved” to learn in December of 2008 that her character would be killed off.
Sheridan, who claims she was let go because she complained about the altercation, is seeking more than $6 million.
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