Kathryn-Joosten-Obituary

Kathryn Joosten

Obituary

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kathryn Joosten, a character actress best known as the crotchety, yet loveable, Karen McCluskey on "Desperate Housewives" and the president's secretary on "The West Wing," has died. She was 72.

Joosten, who had battled lung cancer for 11 years, died Saturday at her home in Los Angeles, her publicist Nadine Jolson said.

Joosten "was surrounded by love and humor 'til the end," her family said in a statement. "We are laughing through our tears."

Joosten won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of Mrs. McCluskey, who kept a close eye on her Wisteria Lane neighbors on "Desperate Housewives." The hit show ended its eight-year run on ABC last month with a series finale in which Joosten's character passed away. Her character's battle with cancer was a story line in the show.

Joosten's "Desperate Housewives" co-stars took to Twitter to express their condolences.

"Rest in peace, she was an amazing woman and a wonderful actress," Felicity Huffman wrote.

Brenda Strong said in a tweet: "Wisteria Lane won't be the same without you."

Joosten was a psychiatric nurse and single mother in suburban Chicago when she began her acting career at 42. She wrote on her website that she pursued her childhood dream of acting after getting involved with her hometown theater in Lake Forest, Ill.

She said she received her first break when she was hired to be a street performer at Disney World in Orlando. She worked odd jobs to make ends meet and moved to Hollywood in 1995. She said she landed her first small role within months on the comedy "Family Matters."

Over the years, she found steady work appearing in such popular shows as "Dharma & Greg," ''Ally McBeal" and "Scrubs." She became a familiar face to fans of NBC's "The West Wing" when she appeared as Dolores Landingham, President Jed Bartlet's trusted secretary.

"Some people in Hollywood think of me as a model for dramatic midlife transitions: suburban housewife to Emmy-winning actress," she wrote on her website. "But I never plotted a master plan for following my dreams."

Joosten was an advocate for lung cancer awareness and research and sat on the board of governors for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

She is survived by her sons, Jonathan and Timothy.

Plans for a memorial service were pending.

DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press



Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

God is a God of all Comfort and he will Comfort the family's..

I am a fan binge watching Desperate Housewives. Great actress and an inspiration to all women. You are missed.

May you have peace

Earn Paradise!

Integrity is watching and learning, and then teaching by example!
What a tremendous teacher in living and in your portrayals.
A Good Life Lived!
What's next, Mrs. Landingham!
Terry L York II

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. Godspeed.

She had the power to reach through the television screen to connect with her audience on a level seldom seen. What a gift, what a woman. Vale Kathryn

Two careers, who can say that ? Your smile says it all. Thank God we can see you ONCE again on reruns. Your sons are very fortunate to have had you for their mom.