Actress Kathryn Joosten [Karen McCluskey] 1939-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-02-2012, 03:44 PM

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Emmy winner Kathryn Joosten, whose emotional death scene as Karen McKluskey gave Desperate Housewives‘ recent series finale its biggest emotional punch, died yesterday of lung cancer in Westlake Village, CA. She was 72.

Joosten won her Emmys in 2005 and 2008 in the Oustanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her portrayal of Wisteria Lane’s crankiest (but still loveable) resident.

Prior to her Housewives success, Joosten was best known for playing Mrs. Landingham, secretary to Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet, on The West Wing.

She also had roles on such shows as Scrubs, My Name Is Earl, Joan of Arcadia, and Dharma & Greg.

Joosten, who didn’t begin her acting career until she was 42, famously told interviewers through the years that Housewives‘ creator Marc Cherry had promised never to kill off Mrs. McCluskey, seeing how many of her prior characters hadn’t survived to their shows’ series finales.

According to her rep, Joosten was surrounded by family at the time of her death.

Marvo301 · 06-02-2012, 04:34 PM

Kathryn Joosten

AB · 06-02-2012, 05:07 PM

Rest in peace.

McGillicuddy · 06-02-2012, 07:01 PM

I'm thinking it should be considered a blessing she survived long enough and was able to be there for the end of the series!

Ms. Joosten.

catlover79 · 06-03-2012, 03:04 AM

Awww...I really liked her. She was also hilarious as a guest star in Providence.

Coffeecup · 06-03-2012, 07:40 AM

Gee I read so many people dying in their 60's and 70's and I feel I have to make life worth living. So sad everyone has to die.

mets82 · 06-03-2012, 12:36 PM

RIP. I really liked her in Desperate Housewives.

skoonix · 06-04-2012, 06:50 PM

I always liked her but only because Im a huge Sarah Vowell fan and read her Wordy Shipmates did I find that Vowell LOVED this weird little sitcom that CBS aired back in 2000 called THANKS. And I searched it out and loand behold, there is Kathryn Joosten stealing every scene she was in as a crabby Puritan. Her and Cloris Leachman were brilliant together - two old pros playing! R.I.P.

sabrelucynut · 06-05-2012, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

RIP. I really liked her in Desperate Housewives.

She will be rememberd on DH, but I remember her well from a episode of The Nanny and she also guested on The Bold and The Beautiful when Stephanie was also a lung cancer survivor adn she was part of a therapy group with real survivors.

She will be missed.

Willbo · 06-05-2012, 01:31 PM

She was also on an episode of Seinfeld as the warden in the women's prison when George was dating the girl in the prison. Funny episode. Loved Mrs. McClusky though. She had the best lines.

06-02-2012, 03:44 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,391	Actress Kathryn Joosten [Karen McCluskey] 1939-2012 Link Emmy winner Kathryn Joosten, whose emotional death scene as Karen McKluskey gave Desperate Housewives‘ recent series finale its biggest emotional punch, died yesterday of lung cancer in Westlake Village, CA. She was 72. Joosten won her Emmys in 2005 and 2008 in the Oustanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her portrayal of Wisteria Lane’s crankiest (but still loveable) resident. Prior to her Housewives success, Joosten was best known for playing Mrs. Landingham, secretary to Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet, on The West Wing. She also had roles on such shows as Scrubs, My Name Is Earl, Joan of Arcadia, and Dharma & Greg. Joosten, who didn’t begin her acting career until she was 42, famously told interviewers through the years that Housewives‘ creator Marc Cherry had promised never to kill off Mrs. McCluskey, seeing how many of her prior characters hadn’t survived to their shows’ series finales. According to her rep, Joosten was surrounded by family at the time of her death.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-02-2012, 04:34 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Kathryn Joosten
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

06-03-2012, 03:04 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Awww...I really liked her. She was also hilarious as a guest star in Providence.
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06-03-2012, 12:36 PM	#7
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	RIP. I really liked her in Desperate Housewives.
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06-02-2012, 05:07 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Rest in peace.

06-02-2012, 07:01 PM	#4
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I'm thinking it should be considered a blessing she survived long enough and was able to be there for the end of the series! Ms. Joosten.

06-03-2012, 07:40 AM	#6
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	Gee I read so many people dying in their 60's and 70's and I feel I have to make life worth living. So sad everyone has to die.

06-04-2012, 06:50 PM	#8
skoonix Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2003 Posts: 6	I always liked her but only because Im a huge Sarah Vowell fan and read her Wordy Shipmates did I find that Vowell LOVED this weird little sitcom that CBS aired back in 2000 called THANKS. And I searched it out and loand behold, there is Kathryn Joosten stealing every scene she was in as a crabby Puritan. Her and Cloris Leachman were brilliant together - two old pros playing! R.I.P.

06-05-2012, 01:31 PM	#10
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 863	She was also on an episode of Seinfeld as the warden in the women's prison when George was dating the girl in the prison. Funny episode. Loved Mrs. McClusky though. She had the best lines.