June 02, 2012

Emmy Winner Kathryn Joosten Succumbs to Lung Cancer

Beloved actress Kathryn Joosten – widely known for her roles on Desperate Housewives and The West Wing, among others – died of lung cancer on June 2. The former psychiatric nurse, who also served as a governor of the Television Academy, headed to Hollywood in her forties to pursue her acting dreams, ultimately winning two Primetime Emmys.



Kathryn Joosten, a two-time Primetime Emmy-winning actress, died June 2, 2012, in Los Angeles. Joosten, also a longtime governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Performers Peer Group, was 72. The cause was lung cancer.



Although she was a familiar face in films and on television for more than a decade, Joosten did not pursue a professional acting career until age 42 — and arrived in Hollywood just 15 years ago.



For the role of Karen McCluskey on ABC's Desperate Housewives, Joosten received three Primetime Emmy Awards as outstanding guest actress in a comedy series, and won twice — in 2005 and 2008.



Read full story and see more Kathryn Joosten tribute coverage here at Emmys.com.


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