Housewives actress Joosten dies (From Southend Standard)

Housewives actress Joosten dies

11:01pm Saturday 2nd June 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Kathryn Joosten, a veteran character actress who played the crotchety, nosey Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives, has died aged 72.

Publicist Nadine Jolson said Joosten, who had battled lung cancer for years, died on Saturday in Los Angeles.

A veteran Emmy-winning character actor, Joosten was lauded for her portrayal of Mrs McCluskey, who kept a close eye on her Wisteria Lane neighbours.

Joosten also appeared in The West Wing as Mrs Landingham, the president's secretary.

Over the years, she had roles in a number of other popular shows, including a recurring one on Dharma & Greg and guest spots on shows including Ally McBeal and Scrubs.

Active in animal rights causes, she appeared with other celebrities at a 2008 news conference in Los Angeles to ask the city to abandon a project for a 40 million dollar elephant enclosure at Los Angeles Zoo.