Karen McCluskey is a fictional character from the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The role was played by Kathryn Joosten, who won the Primetime Emmy Award twice for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2008. In the series finale, Karen succumbs to cancer. This was agreed upon between Marc Cherry and Kathryn since she was battling cancer in real life as well. Kathryn Joosten died 20 days after the series finale aired.
Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey
Desperate Housewives is an American comedy-drama mystery television series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired for eight seasons on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012, for a total of 180 episodes. Executive producer Marc Cherry served as showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season included Bob Daily, George W. Perkins, John Pardee, Joey Murphy, David Grossman, and Larry Shaw.
The Applewhite house, focus of Desperate Housewives' season-long mystery from 2005 to 2006
The house of Katherine Mayfair on Wisteria Lane, as seen on Desperate Housewives from 2007 to 2010
The residence of Mary Alice Young (as seen in the premiere episode of Desperate Housewives), on Wisteria Lane
L–R: Dana Delany, Teri Hatcher, Brenda Strong and Andrea Bowen at the 20th GLAAD Media Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California on April 18, 2009
