Neal McDonough: evil Dave

LA-based actor Neal McDonough had planned a trip last summer to reconnect with his Irish roots and visit his sister in Clifden, Co Galway, when he had to change his plans at the last minute. The 43-year-old actor, landed a plum role on Desperate Housewives playing Edie Brit (Nicollette Sheridan)'s evil new husband, Dave Williams. Fans of the series will have seen Edie meet a hair-raising end last Tuesday when fleeing from her crazed husband, she stepped into a puddle and was electrocuted.

Neal's sister, Ellen McDonough, who edits newspaper The Connemara View, says that her brother– who appeared in Minority Report alongside Tom Cruise – tries to get over to Ireland as much as possible to see her and is very proud of his Irish heritage.

"Our father, Frank, hailed from Clifden and our mother Kitty grew up in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. They both emigrated to the Boston area in the 1950s where they met," explains Ellen, who is one of six children. Neal, who is married to Ruve and has two children of his own, tries to fit in a few rounds of golf whenever he's here. His sister says he's a world away from his Wisteria Lane character