Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young

Mary Alice Young, on the television series Desperate Housewives, is played by Brenda Strong. Mary Alice is the deceased wife of Paul Young. Her suicide greatly shocked her friends and neighbors, who had always known her to be a happy, generous and loving person. She and her husband, Paul, were obviously devoted to each other and to their only son, Zach. Additionally, their small family appeared intact and secure, which is why her untimely demise compelled her friends to dig deeper into her mysterious passing. As they investigated, they slowly uncovered a story characterized by revenge, murder and deceit, and the real reason as to why Mary Alice took her own life.

Before Mary Alice moved to Wisteria Lane, she was known by her real name, Angela Forrest. She had been working as a nurse and was happily married to Todd Forrest (who would eventually adopt the name Paul Young). However, their relationship was often tested by Mary Alice’s inability to conceive. One day, while working at the rehabilitation center, Deirdre Taylor, a known heroin addict, was admitted after going into labor. Mary Alice seized the opportunity and illegally bought Deirdre’s baby. She and her husband then moved to Wisteria Lane, where they introduced themselves as the Young family.

Several years later, Deirdre showed up at their footstep, sober and asking for her baby back. Not wanting to give up Zach, Mary Alice fought and then stabbed Deirdre, to the horror of Paul and Zach. Following the murder, Mary Alice and Paul chopped up Deirdre’s body and stuffed into Zach’s toy chest. Their family then went on living undisturbed for several more years, until Martha Huber, whose sister Felicia previously worked with “Angela,” attempted to blackmail Mary Alice with the information. Not knowing what else to do, Mary Alice took her own life with a revolver.



(Photo courtesy of ABC)