Teri Hatcher's Role as Susan Mayer
Teri Hatcher played Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives from 2004 to 2012 across eight seasons on ABC. The character was a divorced mother and aspiring writer known for her comedic misfortunes and romantic storylines. Hatcher's performance made Susan Mayer one of the most recognizable characters in the ensemble cast. Her portrayal earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2005.
The show became a cultural phenomenon, ranking as the most-watched comedy on television during its first season. Desperate Housewives consistently placed in the Nielsen Top 10 and helped establish ABC's dominance in primetime comedy-drama programming. Hatcher's salary for the role reportedly reached $400,000 per episode by the final season, reflecting her central status in the cast.
Desperate Housewives Impact and Viewership
Desperate Housewives premiered on October 3, 2004, and drew 21.6 million viewers for its first episode. The series finale on May 13, 2012, attracted 11.1 million viewers. The show ran for 180 episodes across eight seasons and was produced by Cherry Productions and Touchstone Television, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. It won multiple Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series nominations, and spawned international adaptations in over 20 countries.
The series launched several cast members into broader entertainment careers, with Teri Hatcher becoming one of the most recognizable faces from the show. Hatcher later voiced characters in animated projects and returned to television with recurring roles in series such as Supergirl on The CW. The show's creator, Marc Cherry, went on to develop other television projects, while the series remains in syndication globally.
Teri Hatcher Career After Desperate Housewives
After Desperate Housewives, Teri Hatcher continued acting in television and film, including voicing roles in animated features. She has participated in interviews and panel discussions about her time on the show, frequently cited as a defining role in her career. Hatcher has also been involved in philanthropic efforts and public speaking, maintaining a presence in the entertainment industry.
Teri Hatcher's net worth has been estimated by outlets such as Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth to be in the range of $30 million to $45 million, with Desperate Housewives as the primary source of her earnings. She has not publicly disclosed exact figures, and estimates vary based on reported salary data and other income sources. Her career trajectory illustrates how a long-running television role can sustain an actor's visibility and earning power for years after the series ends. For more information on her career, you can read her profile on Forbes.