Katherine Irma Mayfair is a fictional character created by Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character was portrayed by Dana Delany and first appeared in the series' fourth season premiere on September 30, 2007, as the focus of the yearly mystery.Desperate Housewives Episode: "Now You Know" . TV Guide. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
Katherine is generally characterized by her cold demeanor and impressive domestic skills. Though initially a homemaker, Katherine started a catering business with neighbor Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross), with whom she shares "a heated rivalry.""Katherine Mayfair (Dana Delany): Official Character Biography" . American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved June 16, 2010. She has been married twice, to Wayne Davis (Gary Cole) and Adam Mayfair (Nathan Fillion), but both relationships ended in divorce. Katherine has had two children; Dylan Davis (Hailee Denham), her daughter who died as a young child, and Dylan Mayfair (Lyndsy Fonseca), her adoptive daughter. The character was later paired with Mike Delfino (James Denton) in the fifth season, which later ended when he returned to and remarried Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), leading to Katherine's nervous breakdown in the sixth season. Later that season saw Katherine written into the series' first lesbian relationship with Robin Gallagher (Julie Benz). Delany left the series soon thereafter, when the character relocated to Paris indefinitely with Robin."My Two Young Men". David Grossman (director), Bob Daily (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. March 21, 2010. Season 6, no. 18. Delany returned for a guest appearance during the series finale of Desperate Housewives in 2012.
Delany's portrayal received praise from critics and audiences, with many critics attributing the improved quality of the series' fourth season to Delany's performance. The actress was a critics' favorite for a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2008.
Development and casting Delany auditioned for the series' pilot episode in 2004 for the role of Bree Van de Kamp. Creator Marc Cherry thought she delivered "a fantastic audition." Delany was offered the role but rejected it three times."Ask Desperate Housewives Part 3" . YouTube. February 21, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2010.Owen, Rob (August 17, 2007). "Tuned In: 'Desperate' measures include adding Dana Delany to cast" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 17, 2010. Delany has since insisted that she was not ready to do another television series at the time and that the character of Bree was too similar to her character on Pasadena.Brady, James (April 27, 2008). "In Step With... Dana Delany" . Parade. Retrieved June 16, 2010. The role eventually went to Marcia Cross, Cherry's second choice. Delany reportedly regretted not accepting the part.'Desperate Housewives' Creator Dishes Season Four Secrets . AOL Television. September 26, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
When Cherry was developing Katherine, a character with "a lot of Alpha female qualities and some slyness and darkness," he offered Delany the role. She accepted the role and remained on the series until the end of the sixth season. Following her multi-episode guest role on another ABC series, Castle, network executives offered Delany the lead in a new pilot for the 2010-2011 television season.Roffman, Marisa (March 22, 2010). "Dana Delany on Nathan Fillion, 'Castle' and her 'Desperate Housewives' exit" . Zap2it. Retrieved June 17, 2010. Delany filmed the pilot for Body of Proof in April 2010; her absence in Desperate Housewives was explained by having Katherine and her girlfriend, Robin Gallagher (Julie Benz), leave town indefinitely. In May, ABC picked up Body of Proof for thirteen episodes; thus, Delany did not return for the seventh season of Desperate Housewives as a series regular.Ausiello, Michael (May 14, 2010). "Breaking: ABC Picks Up 'Off the Map' and Dana Delany Drama" . Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 17, 2010.Abrams, Natalie (May 14, 2010). "ABC Orders Body of Proof, Off the Map" . TV Guide. Retrieved June 17, 2010. Delany admitted that her exit from the series was quick, but insisted that she may return to the series at some point, regardless of whether or not her new series is successful.Wightman, Catriona (May 17, 2010). "Delany 'unsure about leaving Housewives'" . Digital Spy. Retrieved June 17, 2010.Wightman, Catriona (June 16, 2010). "Delany: 'Housewives' Exit was so quick'" . Digital Spy. Retrieved June 17, 2010. She returned during the series finale in 2012.
Personality When Katherine was introduced to the series, many critics noted that she was very similar to Bree Hodge (Marcia Cross), in that both prided themselves on their domestic skills.Stack, Tim (October 2, 2007). "The Menopause Button" . Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2010. Cherry noted that Katherine "was clearly different" before her arrival in the fourth season, which Susan confirms when she claims Katherine is "not as fun as she used to be.""Free". David Grossman (director), Jeff Greenstein (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. May 18, 2008. Season 4, no. 17. Her cold exterior is noted by many characters, including Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria Parker), who remarks that Katherine is "smug and 'holier than thou'" and is "getting a reputation around [the neighbourhood] for having a stick up [her] ass!""The Game". Bethany Rooney (director), Joey Murphy (writer), John Pardee (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. October 14, 2007. Season 4, no. 3. Though Katherine immediately conflicts with the other women on the street, most notably Bree, she eventually develops close friendships with her neighbours. Nevertheless, her rivalry with Bree continues but as a natural part of their sisterly relationship."There's Always a Woman". Matthew Diamond (director), John Paul Bullock III (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. November 2, 2008. Season 5, no. 6. In the sixth season, however, Katherine "[morphs] into the person the housewives have to hate" in the absence of Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan).Martin, Denise (November 11, 2009). "Dana Delany turned down 'Sex,' got 'Desperate'" . San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
Katherine appears to be dependent on a romantic partner. Her first husband, Wayne, was abusive but she eventually left him and married Adam Mayfair. When he leaves, she tries convincing him to come home, saying that she is "lonely," despite having discovered that he had an affair."Welcome to Kanagawa". Larry Shaw (director), Jamie Gorenberg (writer), Jordon Nardino (writer). Desperate Housewives. January 6, 2008. Season 4, no. 10. Later, in the fifth season, Katherine contemplates leaving Fairview because she is single, later revisiting the option in an attempt to force Mike to realize he loves her."Connect! Connect!". Ken Whittingham (director), Jordon Nardino (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. January 11, 2009. Season 5, no. 12. She also resorts to trickery in order to ensure that Mike does not end their engagement."Bargaining". David Grossman (director), David Schladweiler (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. May 3, 2009. Season 5, no. 21."Marry Me a Little". Larry Shaw (director), Jason Ganzel (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. May 10, 2009. Season 5, no. 22. When Mike leaves Katherine for Susan, she suffers a complete nervous breakdown. When she becomes romantically involved with a woman, she puts her life in Fairview on hold indefinitely while trying to evaluate everything during an extended vacation in Paris.
History
Past Katherine was born on September 8, 1963, and married to abusive police officer Wayne Davis (Gary Cole). Together, they had a daughter named Dylan (Hailee Denham). Wayne became increasingly violent, forcing Katherine to flee with Dylan, and seek refuge with her aunt, Lillian Simms (Ellen Geer) on Wisteria Lane. While living there, Katherine befriended her neighbors, Mary Alice Young and Susan Mayer."Now You Know". Larry Shaw (director), Marc Cherry (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. September 30, 2007. Season 4, no. 1."Smiles of a Summer Night", David Grossman (director), Bob Daily (writer), Matt Berry (director). Desperate Housewives. ABC. October 7, 2007. Season 4, no. 2. One year later, she discovers that Wayne had found them after he dropped off a doll for Dylan, which Katherine takes away and puts on a dresser. That night, she discovers Dylan had tried to retrieve her doll and died when the dresser fell over and crushed her. Fearing Wayne’s wrath, Katherine and Lillian bury Dylan in nearby woods, and she leaves Wisteria Lane, adopting a girl very similar to Dylan from a Romanian orphanage.
Katherine moved to Chicago to raise her new daughter, Dylan (Lyndsy Fonseca). Later Katherine married gynecologist Adam Mayfair (Nathan Fillion). She lied to Adam that Wayne had killed her biological daughter, so he agreed to keep her secret and protect them. After a sexual harassment lawsuit involving her husband, the Mayfairs move back to Wisteria Lane to care for Lillian, now terminally ill.
Season 4 Twelve years after leaving Wisteria Lane, Katherine, Adam and Dylan move into Lillian's house. Susan introduces Katherine to Bree, Lynette and Gabrielle. Katherine immediately clashes with each of them, particularly Bree. Meanwhile, Dylan doesn't remember living on Wisteria Lane. Katherine's mysterious exterior and Dylan’s lack of memories raise the suspicions of their neighbors. Dylan questions Katherine about her birth father but Katherine only says that he is too dangerous to let back into their lives.
Lillian writes a detailed account of the original Dylan’s death in a note addressed to the current Dylan but dies before she can give it to her. Sylvia Greene (Melora Walters), the woman who accused Adam of sexual harassment in Chicago, visits him, and Adam is forced to admit to an affair with her. After Katherine kicks Adam out of the house, he finds Lillian's note while packing. He leaves after confronting Katherine, and she throws the note in the fire. However, Dylan salvages a few pieces and deduces that Katherine killed Wayne.
Meanwhile, Wayne finds out about Dylan when he sees a photograph of her. He tracks her down and the two start meeting. Hoping to drive Wayne away, Katherine tells him that Dylan is not his daughter, something Wayne confirms. Adam learns that Wayne has located Katherine and Dylan and offers to help them escape, but Wayne kidnaps Adam. Fearing Wayne has killed Adam, Katherine begs Dylan to leave, Dylan demands the entire truth. Katherine tells her, prompting Dylan to walk out. Later, Wayne corners Katherine and takes her hostage. Before he can shoot her, Adam arrives. Knowing Wayne will always track her, Katherine shoots him dead. Bree, Susan, Lynette, and Gabrielle tell the police that her actions were in self-defense and Katherine is finally integrated into their social group. Dylan returns and reunites with her mother.
Five-year jump Bree and Katherine open up a catering company, where Katherine is the head chef. briefly moves in with Bree, a recovering alcoholic who relapses when her husband, Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan), leaves for jail."Mirror, Mirror". David Grossman (director), Jeff Greenstein (writer). Desperate Housewives. ABC. October 26, 2008. Season 5, no. 5. Katherine's rivalry with Bree continues despite their shared business.
Season 5 Katherine is unhappy when she realizes that Bree has used her recipes in her cookbook and leaves her to run the business while she publicizes it. Her resentment deepens when Bree hires Orson as an employee. Meanwhile, Katherine secretly begins dating Mike Delfino (James Denton), Susan's ex-husband. When Susan finds out about the relationship, she feels betrayed but eventually gives them her blessing.