Oh, this one is sad for me. I fell in love with Kathryn Joosten when she played Mrs. Landingham on The West Wing. Though she was only on for a couple of years, she made an indelible impression as the president's assistant. After they wrote her off, she landed on her feet on Desperate Housewives as the irascible old lady down the street. A bit part became a central character, whose death scene was the center of the finale of the 8-season series. Joosten may not have become an actress until her forties, but she made a lot of people happy later in life. Like I said in the Richard Dawson installment, I'm not religious. . .but if there is anything to "life after death?" I hope Kathryn Joosten has a very happy one.
[Excerpt]
'Housewives' actress Kathryn Joosten dies
Kathryn Joosten, a character actress best known as the crotchety, yet loveable, Karen McCluskey on "Desperate Housewives" and the president's secretary on "The West Wing," has died. She was 72. . .
Celebrities get a lot of heat when they speak out politically. Unless they're Republicans. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger (now a Governor), Ronald Reagan (Republican deity), Sonny Bono (I don't know, he was something), or the other megawatt stars who support John McCain like. . .um, Janine Turner?
So, when people say that entertainers should just sing, or just act, and leave the politics out of it, they are clearly speaking to left-leaning celebrities. But why do we care what celebrities think, anyway? I don't know, but they do have an effect. There's something very cool about seeing Kathryn Joosten--"Mrs. Landingham" on The West Wing and "Karen McCluskey" on Desperate Housewives--forcefully speaking out for gay rights, and her gay friends. Classy lady.
