's character was the subject of the season's main mystery. The fourth season had twelve roles receiving
star billing. All eleven starring actors from the
previous season returned for this season. The series is narrated by
Brenda Strong, who portrays the deceased
Mary Alice Young, as she observes from beyond the grave the lives of the
Wisteria Lane residents and her former best friends.
Teri Hatcher portrayed
Susan Delfino, who is finally married after three seasons searching for a stable relationship.
Felicity Huffman portrayed
Lynette Scavo, who fights cancer during the first half of the season and deals with her step-daughter's behavior in the second half.
Marcia Cross portrayed
Bree Hodge, married for the second time and faking pregnancy in an attempt to protect her daughter.
Eva Longoria portrayed former model
Gabrielle Lang, now the wife of Fairview's mayor.
Nicollette Sheridan portrayed
Edie Britt, who faked suicide in the
previous season finale.
Ricardo Antonio Chavira portrayed
Carlos Solis, now divorced from Gabrielle but still in love with her while involved in a relationship with Edie.
Andrea Bowen portrayed
Julie Mayer, the responsible and caring daughter of Susan.
Doug Savant portrayed
Tom Scavo, Lynette's husband and now owner of a pizzeria.
Kyle MacLachlan portrayed
Orson Hodge, Bree's second husband and the man that ran over Mike in the
second season finale.
James Denton portrayed
Mike Delfino, now Susan's husband who starts using drugs.
Dana Delany is introduced in the role of
Katherine Mayfair, whose mysterious arc is the season's main storyline. Five out of six actors who received "also starring" billing from the previous season returned.
Shawn Pyfrom, portrayed Bree's gay son
Andrew Van de Kamp.
Lyndsy Fonseca was cast in the new role of
Dylan Mayfair, Katherine's daughter and part of the season's mystery.
Joy Lauren reappeared in the role of
Danielle Van de Kamp, Bree's pregnant daughter.
Brent Kinsman,
Shane Kinsman and
Zane Huett, played
Preston Scavo,
Porter Scavo and
Parker Scavo, Lynette's troublesome children.
Rachel Fox was promoted to regular after guest starring in several episodes in the previous season as
Kayla Huntington Scavo, Tom's mischievous daughter and the result of an affair he had before meeting Lynette. This season featured many established and new guest stars.
Kathryn Joosten portrayed
Karen McCluskey, one of the most prominent residents of Wisteria Lane,
Richard Burgi appeared as
Karl Mayer, Susan's ex-husband who is also married again,
Pat Crawford Brown played elderly neighbor
Ida Greenberg, whereas
Tuc Watkins and
Kevin Rahm made their debut in this season respectively as
Bob Hunter and Lee McDermott, a gay couple from Chicago who move to the lane. Part of Lynette's storyline were
Polly Bergen in the role of
Stella Wingfield, Lynette's mother who moves to the Scavo family home to support her daughter in her battle against cancer, and
Jason Gedrick playing
Rick Coletti, who had feelings for Lynette in the previous season and now opens his own restaurant to compete with Scavo Pizzeria. Part of Bree's storyline were
Shirley Knight returning as
Phyllis Van de Kamp, Bree's first mother-in-law, and
Dakin Matthews appearing as
Reverend Sykes, reverend at the local Presbyterian church. Part of Gabrielle's storyline were
John Slattery playing
Victor Lang, Gabrielle's new husband and the mayor of Fairview,
Mike Farrell in the role of Milton Lang, Victor's father,
Jeff Doucette portraying
Father Crowley, priest at the local Catholic church,
Justine Bateman playing Ellie Leonard, a drug dealer who rents a room in the Solises' house, and
Jesse Metcalfe reappearing as
John Rowland, Gabrielle's ex-lover and former gardener. Part of the main mystery arc were
Nathan Fillion portraying
Adam Mayfair, a doctor and Katherine's second husband,
Ellen Geer appearing as Lillian Simms, Katherine's aunt,
Melora Walters playing Sylvia Greene, Adam's former patient and ex-lover from Chicago, and
Gary Cole in the role of
Wayne Davis, a cop and Katherine's abusive first husband. Additionally,
Gale Harold was introduced as Susan's new lover
Jackson Braddock during the five-year jump featured at the end of the season. For the
14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Fillion, Joosten and Slattery were nominated along with the rest of the main cast for the
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series award due to their many appearances this season. ==Episodes==