| Karen Walker (character) |
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Information AboutKaren Walker (character) |
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Karen Walker ( Née '''Karen Delaney''') is a Fictional Character on the American television sitcom '' Will & Grace ''. She is portrayed by actress and singer Megan Mullally . Although she tries to keep her age secret, Jack McFarland revealed that she was 42 in 2001 , meaning she was born in February 1959 . She has been married four times — her first husband's name was St. Croix, her second Popeil, her third is Stan Walker (married since 1995 ), and she was married for twenty minutes to Lyle Finster ( John Cleese ) in 2004 , although she is still married to Walker (see below). She also goes under the alias Anastasia Beaverhausen, and, by her own words, she uses the alias Pilar Palabundo to "beat up businessmen for cash in Chinatown." Her real name may not in fact be Karen, as she changes her name from time to time to throw the Feds off. (Her mother refers to her as "Kiki", which was her nickname.) Karen, originally meant to be a supporting character on the show, has emerged as a favorite of viewers and thus made more of a focal point on the show. She is a multi-millionaire thanks to her marriage to Obese and extremely wealthy husband Stan Walker. To entertain herself, Karen took a job as personal assistant to Grace Adler (of the show's title.) Though she never accomplishes any work (she cannot name a Computer or a Fax Machine ), she does not quit because it keeps her "down to earth;" Grace does not fire her because her business benefits from Karen's social contacts; Karen also pays for Grace's health insurance. Through her job, Karen has managed to integrate herself into the social lives of Grace and her best friend Will , and by extension has formed a best-friendship with Jack McFarland , an effeminately gay struggling actor. Karen is mostly popular for her one-liners and zingers. She is an emotionally complex character wrapped in a facade of disinterest, selfishness and greed. Often indulging in pills and booze, Karen makes observations on those of lower stature with an emotionless and often cruel eye. (For instance, when introduced to the concept of a Laundromat , she is informed that "Poor people reuse their clothes," to which she replies, "Poor people are so clever!"; once she said to Jack "Honey, you know what's really funny? Poor people with big dreams.") Compared to the pilot episode, Karen now has a much higher-pitched manner of speaking. She is also known for the excessive use of the word "honey" in her speech and her "killer rack". Karen's childhood was a rocky road thanks in part to her unstable relationship with her mother, Lois Whitley , a Con Artist who incorporated the young Karen into her schemes. She is often cruel to her help but somehow this comes across as acts of affection. Karen met Stan Walker in 1985 , brushing off three simultaneous relationships (with Martina Navratilova , Sultan Habibi Shoshani Padush Al-Kabir, and a gentleman named Clayton) to be with him only to learn that he was married. After going through two other marriages, she finally got together with Stan ten years later. At some point before this, she also agreed to appear non-naked as the star of the Fetishistic Porn film, ''Next to Godliness'' - a Dominatrix flick. There have been a few hints that Karen may have Lesbian or Bisexual tendencies, as she has no sexual feelings for her husband whatsoever and rarely seems attracted to men at all, while she occasionally has semi-sexual encounters with Grace (mostly kissing and touching). She also had the abovementioned relationship with Navratilova (who was apparently Straight before they met) and was once mocked by a roommate (played by Madonna ) for her "weird, creepy bisexual vibe." It is possible, however, that she is merely Bi-curious . Her closest relationship is probably with her maid and not "goodbye." When Rosario was first seen on-camera at the end of the first season, it was revealed that she spoke English quite well, and that Karen was being patronizing. With other staff and help, Karen is deliberately patronizing, referring to them solely by their title both in conversation and to their face: "Driver", "Butler", "Pharmacist", "Back-up Pharmacist" etc. Sometimes Karen unintentionally reveals to her friends a softer side that is carefully hidden. In one such incident, Karen's husband has a heart attack and may die. Karen discovers that her friends have placed a bet to see who can get her to cry first, so she elaborately punishes each of them by leading them on to think she might break down in their presence. In the end, she has an actual break-down over the incident, which Grace stumbles in on and consoles her during. For the first few seasons of the show, Karen lived with husband Stan Walker. An obese man whose business possibly keeps Taco Bell and Pizza Hut afloat and who has been wearing a Toupee since his teens, Stan was an Unseen Character during the show's run, despite being mentioned in many episodes. His two children, Mason (known to Karen as "the fat one") and Olivia , by Stan's previous wife (described by Karen in one episode as "that bitch Kathy!"), were often in the incompetent care of Karen. In the fourth season, Stan was jailed for tax evasion and told Karen to date other men. She could not bring herself to do so until she met rich bachelor Lionel ( Rip Torn ) but just as their affair began, Stan was released from jail. However, after Karen caught him with his mistress Lorraine Finster ( Minnie Driver ) - a cafeteria worker at the prison - the couple separated and Karen moved into a ritzy hotel. After beginning Divorce proceedings at the end of the fifth season, Stan died suddenly. During season six, Karen pursued romantic liaisons and ended up marrying Lyle Finster ( John Cleese ), Lorraine's father. However, after twenty minutes of marriage - a sudden ceremony in Las Vegas — she asked for a divorce. Karen has been the head of Walker, Inc. since her husband's death. However, at the end of season seven, it was revealed that Stan faked his death and had been in hiding. Karen began dating Malcolm ( Alec Baldwin ), a government agent who had helped Stan do this. However, she ultimately reconciled with Stan, and Malcolm left on a government mission to Sri Lanka . Later in the eighth season, however, Karen and Stan experienced significant marriage difficulties. KAREN'S STAFF This list is not complete.
She also includes Will as a member of her staff ("Lawyer") at times, and has also had Picasso working for her. |
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