Karl Mayer is a fictional character portrayed by Richard Burgi and created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. He was the ex-husband of housewife Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) and father of Julie Mayer (Andrea Bowen), as well as a successful practitioner of family law. The character was also romantically involved in the series with two of other housewives: Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan) and Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), both of whom he was engaged to. Karl died in Season 6, Episode 11 after injuries sustained when a plane crashed into Wisteria Lane during the Christmas Festival.