(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Desperate Housewives actress Kathryn Joosten has died.

The actress portrayed irritable Karen McCluskey in the US TV show, which recently ended.

She passed away in Westlake Village, California, yesterday aged 72.

The star had battled lung cancer, although her official cause of death has not been determined.

Kathryn won two Emmy Awards for her work on Desperate Housewives, scooping the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy prize in 2005 and 2008.

The star was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001 and it returned in 2009. She was treated and given the all clear the following year and spent time promoting cancer awareness.

Desperate Housewives actress Dana Delany has paid tribute to Kathryn on Twitter.

"Very sad to hear of @KathyJoosten's death. She was a salt-of-the earth nurse who became a brilliant actor. Her comic timing was nonpareil," she wrote.

"Kathryn spoke openly and passionately about her fight with lung cancer. It is our loss that she is gone (sic)." (C) Cover Media