'Desperate Housewives' star Kathryn Joosten dies, aged 72

Published Jun 2 2012, 19:40 BST  |  By Paul Martinovic

Desperate Housewives and West Wing star Kathryn Joosten has died at the age of 72.

Joosten passed away yesterday in Westlake Village, California, reports TVLine. She had previously suffered from lung cancer, but at present her cause of death is unknown.

The actress portrayed Karen McCluskey on the hit ABC series, and appeared in all eight seasons of the show.



She received Emmys in 2005 and 2008 for 'Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy' for her role as Wisteria Lane's trouble-making babysitter, with Joosten claiming that people found the character "relatable to every family".

> Kathryn Joosten 1939-2012: Her career in video

Co-star Dana Delaney, who played Katherine Mayfair on Desperate Housewives, paid tribute after the news was announced by tweeting: "Very sad to hear of @KathyJoosten's death. She was a salt-of-the earth nurse who became a brilliant actor. Her comic timing was nonpareil."

Felicity Huffman, who starred alongside Joosten as Lynette Scavo, also wrote on Twitter: "All my prayers and love to Katherine Joosten's family. Rest in peace, she was an amazing woman and a wonderful actress."

Joosten was also famous for her role on The West Wing as Delores Landingham, secretary to Martin Sheen's President Josiah Bartlett.

> Kathryn Joosten 1939-2012: Her career in pictures

A latecomer to show business, Joosten did not begin taking acting classes until the age of 42, after previously working as a psychiatric nurse.

Her TV career saw her take roles in Roseanne, Home Improvement, ER, Seinfeld, Frasier, Just Shoot Me!, Scrubs and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Watch an interview with Kathryn Joosten below: