Desperate Housewives' Joosten Dies at 72

JUNE 3, 2012 - TV's Desperate Housewives co-star Kathryn Joosten has died of lung cancer. She was 72.

She died just weeks after playing an emotional death scene as Karen McCluskey on the Desperate Housewives series finale.

Joosten (left), an Emmy-winning actress, died Saturday morning surrounded by family and friends, E! News reported.

"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 fixture on Desperate Housewives playing the gossipy neighbour. She was originally introduced in Season One as Lynette Scavo's nemesis. She won Emmys in 2005 and 2008 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for her role on the show.