Kathryn Joosten (1939-2012) portrayed “Karen McCluskey” for eight years on ABC series Desperate Housewives – a role for which she won two Primetime Emmy® Awards. A former psychiatric nurse, Joosten switched gears into acting at the age of 42. She has made guest appearances in such popular television series as Home Improvement, Dharma & Greg, Las Vegas, The Drew Carey Show, Frazier, Just Shoot Me!, ER and Seinfeld. Joosten appeared alongside Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers and as “Aunt Jackie” in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
Joosten, who succumbed to lung cancer on June 1, 2012, also served as a governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. (See the official Television Academy statement acknowledging Joosten's passing.)
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