Renee Perry

Renee Perry
Vanessa Williams as Renee Perry
Desperate Housewives character
Portrayed by	Vanessa Williams
Duration	2010 - 12
First appearance	"Remember Paul?" 7x01, September 26, 2010
Last appearance	"Finishing The Hat" 8x23, May 13, 2012
Created by	Marc Cherry
Profile
Occupation	Interior designer
Residence	New York City - before season 7 4362 Wisteria Lane in Fairview, Eagle State - since beginning of season 7 4354 Wisteria Lane - briefly in middle season 8 Right after Bree tried to kill herself in motel room.
Parents Unnamed mother (died by suicide) Siblings Unnamed sister Spouse Doug Perry (ex-husband) Ben Faulkner (husband)

Renee Perry is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Vanessa Williams, and is the second African-American housewife to be a major character.

The addition of Vanessa Williams to the cast was announced after the close of the series' sixth season, as well as the finale of the ABC series Ugly Betty, in which Williams starred as Wilhelmina Slater. The character, who was originally named Renee Filmore-Jones, was conceived as a trouble-making vixen, similar to the Edie Britt character (Nicollette Sheridan), who appeared on the series until the fifth season. Following the casting announcement, Williams admitted to having been a fan of the series during its first year, but stopped watching because of the racially insensitive second season mystery storyline. It focused on Betty Applewhite (Alfre Woodard), the series' first black main character. Williams explained to Entertainment Weekly, "[Betty] had her son in chains in the basement. It was like, 'Really? Do we have to go there with our first Black character?' I honestly fell off the show after that. I think it was just so implausible and just an image that Black folks don't want to see their child chained and shackled in the basement." Cast member Felicity Huffman commented on Williams' addition to the cast, saying "She's such a great dash of vinegar to Wisteria Lane! It's going brilliantly—she's a wonderful woman, she's really smart, she's really strong, a real team player. She's a great addition."