Why Edie Britt is out of Desperate Housewives

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anger didn’t factor into the decision to kill off Nicollette Sheridan’s (photo) role in Desperate Housewives, despite her complaints that her boss hit her on the set, the show’s creator recently testified.

Marc Cherry concluded his testimony in the actress’ wrongful termination case by denying claims from Sheridan’s attorneys that he tried to influence the statements of other employees on the show to fit his version of the dispute. A longtime executive producer on the show corroborated with Marc’s version, saying he learned that Sheridan’s role would be eliminated months before the September 2008 dispute.

Marc and other witnesses have said approval to kill off Sheridan’s character Edie Britt was given in May 2008, four months before the actress accused Marc of striking her hard in the head during a discussion of a scene. George Perkins, an executive producer who wasn’t present for the May meeting, said he learned about plans for Edie’s death the following month and had the impression it was a final decision.

George also informed human resources about the dustup between Marc and Nicollette.

Marc testified that he was simply trying to convey some direction to the actress on how to use physical humor.

Nicollette, 48, told jurors last week she was stunned and humiliated by the blow, which she described as a wallop. She testified Marc informed her that her character would be killed off in February 2009 and told her that he had just made the decision.

James Denton, who rehearsed and shot with Nicollette the day of her dispute with Marc, told jurors he didn’t learn of Edie’s death until he received a script detailing it the following year.

“I can’t say I was shocked, only because people get killed so often,” he testified.

Jurors have seen plenty of evidence about the many deaths of Desperate Housewives. They were frequently told 48 characters have been killed on the series, and were shown a montage of the various methods, including beatings, shootings, car crashes, stabbings and, in Edie’s case, electrocution.

The actor also told the jury he had great affection for both Nicollette and Marc, who have been locked in a heated court battle since she sued over her firing in April 2010.

“I don’t really think I helped or hurt anybody,” James said outside the courtroom. He had been called by Marc’s lawyers and spent only a few minutes on the stand, but described the experience as “brutal.”

He will be the only other series star to testify during the trial.