---
name: "Kathryn Joosten"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kathryn-joosten"
fi1m_id: "kathryn-joosten"
imdb_id: "nm0429760"
tmdb_id: 106935
wikidata_id: "Q232511"
roles: []
born: "20 December 1939"
died: "2 June 2012"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-23T11:48:48.343153+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Kathryn Joosten

## Identity

Kathryn Joosten

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kathryn-joosten
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kathryn-joosten
- **IMDb ID:** nm0429760
- **TMDB ID:** 106935
- **Wikidata ID:** Q232511
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Joosten, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232511, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0429760/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/106935

Actor. Born 20 December 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Died 2 June 2012.

## Details

- **Born:** 20 December 1939, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- **Died:** 2 June 2012
- **Active:** 2000–2005
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won)
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Comedy 1, Horror 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Joosten, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232511, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0429760/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/106935

## Biography

Kathryn Joosten was an American actress. Born Kathryn Rausch in Chicago, Illinois, on 20 December 1939, she worked as a psychiatric nurse at Michael Reese Hospital before her 1980 divorce. She began acting in community theatre in 1982, at the age of 42, and later studied at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.

She moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s and gained recognition for recurring roles as Dolores Landingham on *The West Wing* (1999–2002) and Karen McCluskey on *Desperate Housewives* (2005–2012). For the latter she won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, in 2005 and 2008. Joosten appeared in numerous other television series and films, including *Hellraiser: Inferno* (2000), *Wedding Crashers* (2005) and *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel* (2009).

She died of lung cancer on 2 June 2012 in Westlake Village, California, aged 72.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), Fi1m 68, as Stephanie Drake — [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), Fi1m 78, as Karen McCluskey — [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Hellraiser: Inferno* (2000), Fi1m 54, as Mother — [page](https://film.one/film/hellraiser-inferno.md)

## Complete filmography (84)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Wish Wizard* (2014), as Mrs. Inkwell
- *Mega Python vs. Gatoroid* (2011), as Angie
- *Harry's Law* (2011), series, as Maisie Joyce
- *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel* (2009), as Aunt Jackie
- *The Cleveland Show* (2009), series, as Hazel (voice)
- *Bedtime Stories* (2008), as Mrs. Dixon
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as Gloria Williams — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Rails & Ties* (2007), as Mrs. Brown
- *The TV Set* (2007), as Lois
- *Jane Doe: Ties That Bind* (2007), as Cara Goodman
- *Dark Mind* (2006), as Nurse
- *Cheaper by the Dozen 2* (2005), as Theatre Patron
- *Love, Inc.* (2005), series, as Doris
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Donny's Mom
- *Wedding Crashers* (2005), as Chazz's Mom
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Nurse Townsend
- *Fathers and Sons* (2005), as Gene's Mom (uncredited)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Stephanie Drake — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody* (2005), series, as Marilyn
- *Hostage* (2005), as Louise
- *Combustion* (2004), as Miss Knight
- *Breaking Dawn* (2004), as Neighbor
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Karen McCluskey — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Father of the Pride* (2004), series, as (voice)
- *Secret Santa* (2003), as Winifred
- *Red Roses and Petrol* (2003), as Nurse
- *10-8: Officers on Duty* (2003), series, as Mrs Unterberger
- *Joan of Arcadia* (2003), series, as Old Lady God
- *Hope & Faith* (2003), series, as Funeral Guest
- *Las Vegas* (2003), series, as Robby
- *Wasabi Tuna* (2003), as Erma
- *Less than Perfect* (2002), series, as Old Lady
- *Life with Bonnie* (2002), series, as Phyllis
- *Everwood* (2002), series, as Mrs. Hammerhill
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Neysa Gordon, Nurse Stampel
- *Cojones* (2002), as Old Lady
- *Reba* (2001), series, as Director
- *Raising Dad* (2001), series, as Mrs. Paultis
- *Scrubs* (2001), series, as Mrs. Tanner
- *The Division* (2001), series, as Constance 'Connie ' Langtry
- *Hellraiser: Inferno* (2000), as Mother — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/hellraiser-inferno.md)
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Jenny — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Maisy Fortner — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Strong Medicine* (2000), series, as Mrs. Nolan
- *Even Stevens* (2000), series, as Edna Manning
- *Titus* (2000), series, as Betty
- *Malcolm in the Middle* (2000), series, as Claire
- *Kiss Toledo Goodbye* (1999), as Wheelchair Lady
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Dolores Landingham — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Judge Drabowsky
- *Thanks* (1999), series, Actor
- *Providence* (1999), series, as Miss O'Meara, Mrs. Nielsen
- *Becker* (1998), series, as Mrs. Goldsmith
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, as Maureen
- *Will & Grace* (1998), series, as Felicia
- *Phoenix* (1998), as Esther
- *Best Men* (1997), as Edie
- *Dharma & Greg* (1997), series, as Claire
- *Brooklyn South* (1997), series, as Mariah Westbrook
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Sister Alice
- *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997), series, as Genevive Holt — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer.md)
- *Just Shoot Me!* (1997), series, as Mrs. Pierce
- *Profiler* (1996), series, as Morganna Styles
- *Men Behaving Badly* (1996), series, as Saleswoman
- *Spin City* (1996), series, as Sister Agnes
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Kirby's Mother
- *Boston Common* (1996), series, as Mrs. Schuster
- *The Making of a Hollywood Madam* (1996), as Mrs. Oshatz
- *3rd Rock from the Sun* (1996), series, as Cafeteria Lady
- *The Stranger Beside Me* (1995), as Judge
- *The Drew Carey Show* (1995), series, as Ruth, Natalie
- *ER* (1994), series, as Lois — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Cleaning woman (uncredited)
- *The Nanny* (1993), series, as Ward Nurse
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), series, as Mrs. Prows — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Vera — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Agent Edie Boal — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *Home Improvement* (1991), series, as Thelma McCready
- *Family Matters* (1989), series, as Grocery Checker
- *The Package* (1989), as Waitress
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Betsy — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Secretary #83 — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Roseanne* (1988), series, Actor — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)
- *Grandview, U.S.A.* (1984), as Mrs. Clark

## Gallery

- ![Actress Kathryn Joosten at the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards.](https://film.one/media/person/480120/gallery-4be0f9cdc7c5.jpg) Actress Kathryn Joosten at the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards. — Greg Hernandez, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Kathryn_Joosten_at_2009_Primetime_Emmy_Awards.jpg/1280px-Kathryn_Joosten_at_2009_Primetime_Emmy_Awards.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Kathryn Joosten](https://film.one/media/person/480120/gallery-40cacd8e1a63.jpg) Kathryn Joosten — Kristin Dos Santos, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Kathryn_Joosten_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won

- 2008: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Desperate Housewives*
- 2005: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Desperate Housewives*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/kathryn-joosten