's character returned as the subject of the season's main mystery. The seventh season had thirteen roles receiving
star billing, with eight out of twelve returning from
the previous 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 has moved out of the lane following a financial crisis.
Felicity Huffman portrayed
Lynette Scavo, who endures extreme marital problems.
Marcia Cross portrayed
Bree Van de Kamp, now divorced and starting a relationship with her contractor.
Eva Longoria portrayed
Gabrielle Solis, who discovers that her eldest daughter was switched at birth.
Ricardo Antonio Chavira portrayed
Carlos Solis, Gabrielle's husband who is close to discover the truth about his mother's death.
Doug Savant portrayed
Tom Scavo, Lynette's husband who is keeping a secret from her.
James Denton portrayed
Mike Delfino, Susan's husband who decides to take a job in Alaska in order to earn more money. Former
Ugly Betty star
Vanessa Williams joined the cast as a sort of fifth lead (following the departure of three supporting housewives over the previous two seasons) in the role of
Renee Perry, Lynette's best friend from college. Several years after leaving the contractually bound cast following the
second season,
Mark Moses returned in the role of
Paul Young, Mary Alice's widower whose mysterious arc is the season's main storyline.
Kathryn Joosten was promoted from "also starring" to a formal "starring" cast member in the role of elderly neighbor
Karen McCluskey. Former recurring guest stars
Kevin Rahm and
Tuc Watkins were also promoted to "starring" cast members respectively playing
Lee McDermott and Bob Hunter, a gay couple.
Kyle MacLachlan asked to be let go from the main cast after the sixth season to pursue other projects, but he made two guest appearances during this season as
Orson Hodge, Bree's ex-husband. Also starring were
Charlie Carver as
Porter Scavo and Joshua Logan Moore as
Parker Scavo, Lynette's sons, as well as child actors
Madison De La Garza as
Juanita Solis, Gabrielle's oldest daughter, and Mason Vale Cotton as
M.J. Delfino, Susan's son. The role of
Penny Scavo was recast, with Kendall Applegate being replaced by
Darcy Rose Byrnes.
Andrea Bowen left the "also starring" cast, but returned as a guest star during one episode as
Julie Mayer, Susan's daughter. This season featured many established and new guest stars. Part of Susan's storyline were
Lainie Kazan portraying Maxine Rosen, Susan's landlady who also hires her to model on her erotic website,
Lesley Ann Warren returning as
Sophie Bremmer, Susan's mother who is now fighting cancer,
Gregory Itzin featuring as Dick Barrows, a dialysis patient encountered by Susan,
Aaron Lustig acting as Craig Lynwood, Fairview Memorial Hospital's transplant coordinator, and
John Rubinstein in the role of
Principal Hobson, headmaster at M.J.'s school and Susan's former boss. Part of Lynette's storyline were
Max Carver playing
Preston Scavo, another of Lynette's sons,
Lois Smith portraying Allison Scavo, Tom's mother,
Polly Bergen returning as
Stella Wingfield, Lynette's troublesome mother,
Larry Hagman appearing as Frank Kaminsky, Stella's new husband, and
Brent and Shane Kinsman reprising their roles as the younger versions of Preston and Porter in flashbacks. Part of Bree's storyline were
Shawn Pyfrom and
Joy Lauren in the roles of Bree's son and daughter,
Andrew and
Danielle Van de Kamp,
Brian Austin Green appearing as
Keith Watson, Bree's contractor and lover for the first part of the season,
John Schneider and
Nancy Travis respectively playing Richard Watson and Mary Wagner, Keith's parents,
Rochelle Aytes appearing as Amber James, the mother of Keith's son,
Dakin Matthews playing
Reverend Sykes, reverend at the local Presbyterian church, and future series regular
Jonathan Cake in the role of
Chuck Vance, a detective and Bree's lover towards the end of the season. Part of Gabrielle's storyline were Daniella Baltodano portraying
Celia Solis, Gabrielle's youngest daughter,
Rolando Molina and
Carla Jimenez respectively playing Hector and Carmen Sanchez, Juanita's biological parents and the legal parents of Carlos and Gabrielle's biological daughter Grace,
Stephanie Faracy in the role of Miss Charlotte, a doll store owner, and
Tony Plana appearing towards the end of the season as
Alejandro Perez, Gabrielle's perverted stepfather. Part of the main mystery arc were
Harriet Sansom Harris returning as
Felicia Tilman, who still seeks revenge on Paul after he killed her sister,
Emily Bergl portraying
Beth Young, Paul's new wife, former series regular
Cody Kasch in the role of
Zach Young, Mary Alice and Paul's son, and
Steven Culp and
Christine Estabrook reprising their roles as
Rex Van de Kamp (Bree's deceased first husband) and
Martha Huber (Felicia's sister who was killed by Paul) in the season premiere in a series of flashbacks that explained the events that led to the development of main mystery of the season.
Orson Bean played
Roy Bender, now married to Mrs. McCluskey, while
Mindy Sterling appeared as
Mitzi Kinsky, another resident of Wisteria Lane. ==Episodes==