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Karen Walker (Character)Karen Walker (ne Karen Delaney) is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Will & Grace. She is portrayed by actress and singer Megan Mullally. Her first husband's name was St. Croix, her second Popeil. Karen, originally meant to be a supporting character on the show, has emerged as a favourite of viewers and thus made more of a focal point on the show. She is a millionaire thanks to her marriage to obese husband Stan Walker, now deceased. Stan, who spent a period of time in jail, and whose two children were often in the incompetent care of Karen, was an unseen character during the show's run, despite being mentioned in many episodes. To entertain herself, Karen took a job as personal assistant to Grace Adler (of the title.) Though she hardly accomplishes any work, 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. 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 drugs 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!") Compared to the pilot episode, Karen now has a much higher-pitched manner of speaking. She is also known for the excessive use of "honey" in her speech. Karen's childhood was a rocky road thanks in part to her unstable relationship with her mother, 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. In particular she has a close relationship with her maid Rosario, whom she even arranged a marriage for to help her remain a U.S. citizen. In the beginning of the series, it seemed that Rosario didn't speak much English, and Karen had a hard time communicating with her. Karen's way of giving Rosario orders was to add the letter "O" to the end of every word she'd say (example: "Enougho with the April Fresho. *hangs up the phone* Right now she's calling me a bitcho"). In another example of miscommunication, Karen used to end phone calls with Rosario by saying "hola," which means "hello" in Spanish 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. 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. Karen's husband died at the end of the fifth season, leaving her open to romantic liasons. She ended up remarrying, to Lyle Finster (played by John Cleese.) It just so happens that he is the father of the young woman with whom her former husband, Stan, was having an affair, Lorraine (Minnie Driver). Walker, Karen
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