Kathryn Joosten (Mrs. McCluskey) Died

[mnvegas]

I loved her in The West Wing

www.people.com/people/article/0,,20600683,00.html

KATHRYN JOOSTEN DIES AT 72

Emmy winner Kathryn Joosten died of lung cancer Saturday. She was 72.

The actress, best known for her role on Desperate Housewives as plucky neighbor Karen McCluskey and as The West Wing's secretary Mrs. Landingham, was surrounded by family and friends in Westlake Village, Calif., at the time of her death.

"Kathryn passed away this morning after a valiant fight against her cancer," Nadine Jolson, Joosten's rep, 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 was a former smoker, who survived a bout with lung cancer in 2001, and had a another cancerous growth successfully removed from her lung in 2009 as she prepared for her fifth season of Housewives.

"She'll be back to her feisty old self, chasing her old man down the street any day now," her rep told PEOPLE at the time. Joosten was also a vocal advocate for lung cancer awareness and research.

Kicking off her career as an actor at the age of 42, she was first a psychiatric nurse. Scoring small roles on Dharma and Greg, My Name is Earl, Ally McBeal, it was her comedic contributions to Wisteria Lane that her earned the Outstanding Guest Actress Emmy in 2005 and 2008. Housewives ended its run on ABC last month – Joosten's character passed away in the series finale.

Her costar Felicity Huffman Tweeted Saturday, "All my prayers and love to Katherine (sic) Joosten's family. Rest in peace, she was an amazing woman and a wonderful actress."

[daringmiss]

I think I will have to watch that West Wing episode again...

She was a fun actress to watch.

[rella1098]

I heard that on the radio this morning. Very sad. I loved her on Desperate Housewives.

[thatgirlang]

Sad/

[simpsongal]

Very sad.

She was on a very memorable episode of Scrubs - it was like episode 2 or 3. She was trying to tell JD to get over the fact that she was dying.

[jigsy]

I feel like I have watched her die so many times, its too bad that its for real now

Her death on the West Wing (Two Cathedrals was it?) had to have been one of the best episodes of the show...and of tv. Martin Sheen yelling in latin in the church was just bone chillingly awesome.

Goodbye Mrs.Landingham

[noodleoo]

Awwww, man I loved her! Yes, I remember that West Wing episode (get chills thinking about it, it was one of the BEST episodes of anything on TV). Also loved her on Scrubs, that episode made me cry. She will be missed!