Kathryn is best known for her portrayals of "Karen McCluskey" on Desperate Housewives (2004) on ABC and of "Mrs. Landingham", secretary to the President (Martin Sheen), on the critically-acclaimed NBC drama, The West Wing (1999). She has also recurred on Dharma & Greg (1997), and guest-starred on many hit television series, such as Becker (...
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Movies
Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Bedtime Stories, The TV Set, Wedding Crashers, Hostage, Breaking Dawn, Combustion, Hellraiser: Inferno, Phoenix, Best Men, The Gold Lunch
TV Shows
Desperate Housewives, Thanks
Star Sign
Sagittarius
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Quote
1
My fans are people... kinda... youngsters who look at me as a grandmother. People who wanna make a change, people who are on the edge of saying - this is not the life I chose and I wanna do something about it.
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Fact
1
Did not start acting until she was 42 years old.
2
Died of lung cancer on the morning of June 2, 2012. Her death happened 20 days after the onscreen death (also of cancer) of her character Karen McCluskey on the final episode of Desperate Housewives.
3
Following her death she was promptly cremated. Her ashes were scattered.
4
Mother of two boys.
5
Underwent surgery for lung cancer in 2001.
6
In his autobiographical novel, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" (p.33, "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making), Dave Eggers revealed that Kathryn Joosten hung the wallpaper in his bedroom when he was a child.
Carol, woman in dance class / Supermarket customer
ER
1996
TV Series
Lois
The Making of a Hollywood Madam
1996
TV Movie
Mrs. Oshotz
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996
TV Series
Cafeteria Lady
Grace Under Fire
1995
TV Series
Ida Reilly
Chicago Hope
1995
TV Series
Cleaning woman
Picket Fences
1995
TV Series
Waitress
The Stranger Beside Me
1995
TV Movie
Judge
Pointman
1995
TV Series
Lois
Family Matters
1995
TV Series
Grocery Checker
The Package
1989
Waitress
Sable
1987
TV Series
Waitress
Lady Blue
1985
TV Movie
Margo
Grandview, U.S.A.
1984
Mrs. Clark
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Escort Service
in loving memory of announced
Searching
2013
TV Movie in memory of
The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards
2012
TV Special in memory of
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Desperate Housewives: I Guess This Is Goodbye
2012
Video documentary short
Herself
The Bold and the Beautiful
2011
TV Series
Herself
The Talk
2011
TV Series
Herself
ACME Saturday Night
2010
TV Series
Herself - Guest host
The View
2007-2009
TV Series
Herself
I Know Things Now: Desperate Housewives Celebrates 100
2009
Video short
Herself
Annul Victory
2009
Documentary
Herself
The Bonnie Hunt Show
2008
TV Series
Herself
12th Annual Prism Awards
2008
TV Special
Herself
The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards
2008
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
2008 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
2008
TV Special
Herself - Winner: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
2005 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
2005
TV Special
Herself - Winner: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
2005
TV Special
Herself - Winner: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series and Co-Presenter: Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program & Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
SoapTalk
2003
TV Series
Herself
The Test
2001
TV Series
Herself - Panelist
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2013
TV Special
Herself - In Memoriam
Desperate Housewives Special: Secrets and Lies
2007
TV Movie
Karen McCluskey
Desperate Housewives Special: The Juiciest Bites
2007
TV Movie
Karen McCluskey
Desperate Housewives Special: The More You Know, the Juicier It Gets
2006
TV Movie
Karen McCluskey (uncredited)
Desperate Housewives Special: All the Juicy Details
2006
TV Movie
Karen McCluskey (uncredited)
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2008
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives (2004)
2005
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives (2004)
2005
Camie
Character and Morality in Entertainment Awards
Secret Santa (2003)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2012
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives (2004)
2010
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives (2004)
2008
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Desperate Housewives (2004)
2007
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series