Betty Applewhite

Betty Applewhite
Alfre Woodard as Betty Applewhite
Desperate Housewives character
Portrayed by	Alfre Woodard
Duration	2005–06
First appearance	"Goodbye for Now" 1x22, May 15, 2005
Last appearance	"Remember (Part 2)" 2x24, May 21, 2006
Created by	Marc Cherry
Profile
Occupation	Housewife Former Concert Pianist
Residence	Chicago - pre series to the end of season 1 4351 Wisteria Lane in Fairview, Eagle State - end of season 1 and all of season 2 only
Spouse Virgil Applewhite (ex-husband) Children Matthew Applewhite (son; deceased) Caleb Applewhite (son)

Betty Applewhite is a fictional character played by actress Alfre Woodard on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is introduced in the last episodes of the series' first season, and becomes the center of the mystery of the second season, along with her two sons, Matthew and Caleb.

Regarding Betty Applewhite and the mystery storyline of her family, series creator Marc Cherry stated: "They come on the street; they seem like nice people — but they've got a secret. And it's pretty gothic. It's real and human and awful all at the same time." Woodard commented that her character "never means harm... Let's just say she has flaws. She had to make some really tough decisions quick and if the law ever catches up with her, she'll have to serve time... But they'll never catch her." The final scene in which Betty and Matthew bring food to the prisoner in their basement was originally intended for the first season finale but saved for "Next" instead. While the Applewhites are regarded as the first major black characters on the series, Cherry stated that the role of Betty was originally offered to two white film actresses, both of whom turned it down due to financial and time commitment issues. He clarified: "There's nothing strategically black about her character. Her color is incidental." Woodard stated that she had never seen the show before accepting the role, something that led the producers to send her fifteen episodes of the show, which she divided amongst various family members. After they compared storylines, Woodard recalled that she became "instantly hooked" on the series.

Betty Applewhite is the first African-American housewife to be a major character on Desperate Housewives, and is described as a "deeply religious, overbearing single mother". Betty grew up in a very religious household, and is a gifted pianist. Betty married young to a man named Virgil Applewhite. Betty and Virgil had two sons named Matthew and Caleb Applewhite. Virgil started being abusive which led to Betty leaving him. She took Matthew and Caleb with her. Matthew lied to Bree and Danielle Van de Kamp saying that Virgil was dead when the Applewhites first meet the Van de Kamps. While living in Chicago, Matthew had an off and on relationship with a girl named Melanie Foster. One night he broke up with her for good. Melanie wanted to make it a real goodbye so they decided to meet in a lumberyard. Caleb got there first and said that he could be her boyfriend. After Melanie laughed in his face, he started beating her with an axe. He ran away covered in blood. Matthew killed her for real when she threatened to send Caleb away forever. Matthew had Caleb blamed.