''Desperate Housewives'' star dies

[GoldenLeaf]

‘Desperate Housewives’ star dies

http://tvguide.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7CC3502A-777D-4EAB-8D03-3F90404353AB/358562/Kathryn_Joosten224.png

 

By Melissa Hank

 

2012-06-02

Kathryn Joosten played Karen McKluskey on the ABC series

 

Karen McKluskey’s death in Desperate Housewives may have helped make for a tearful series finale, but unfortunately her real-life portrayer has also passed away. Actress Kathryn Joosten died Saturday morning from lung cancer in Westlake Village, Calif. She was 72.

 

"Kathryn passed away this morning after a valiant fight against her cancer," Joosten’s rep, Nadine Jolson, told E! News. "Her family was with her. Funeral arrangements are pending. This is a terrible loss, and she fought as hard as she could."

 

Joosten joined Desperate Housewives in Season 1, playing the nemesis of Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) with apparent gossipy, mischievous delight. She won Emmys in 2005 and 2008 in Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy category.

 

Aside from her role on the primetime ABC soap, Joosten has appeared in shows including Dharma and Greg, My Name is Earl, Scrubs and Ally Mc Beal. Recently, she has also popped up in guest roles on The Mentalist, The Cleveland Show and soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

 

Her most popular role before Desperate Housewives was as Mrs. Landingham, secretary to president Bartlet (Martin Sheen), on The West Wing.

 

Joosten was originally a psychiatric nurse before making the switch to acting at the age of 42.

http://tvguide.ca/TVNews/Articles/120602_k...ten_dies_MH.htm

Edited June 3, 2012 at 07:26 PM by Calypso

[CelineAndRene]

OMG! I didn't know she had cancer in real life as well! How terribly sad. She was one of my favorite characters. It makes Desperate Housewives' finale that much more moving now.