Kathryn is currently appearing as Mrs. McClusky on the popular, award winning series Desperate Housewives. In 2005, she won an Emmy for her portrayal of the crotchity, gossipy neighbor on the hit ABC comedy. Kathryn was also nominated for a 2007 SAG Award.

Prior to joining the Desperate Housewives cast, she is probably best known as Mrs. Landingham, secretary to President Bartlett, Martin Sheen, on the critically acclaimed NBC drama, The West Wing. Kathryn appeared on Joan of Arcadia as the “old lady God.” She has also recurred on "Dharma and Greg", and guest-starred on many hit television series including My Name Is Earl, Becker, Arli$$, Ally Mcbeal, Providence, Scrubs, General Hospital and over twenty other prime time shows. Her credits are impressive for any actor, let alone as part of a career that only began at age 42.

Her first career was as a psychiatric nurse in a medium security unit of Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. Through that job she met and married a psychiatrist, gave birth to two boys and settled down as a suburban housewife in Lake Forest, Illinois, a well-to-do suburb of Chicago. In 1980, her husband's alcoholism led Kathryn to a divorce and a difficult situation; a single mother with two young sons. Kathryn rediscovered her childhood dream of acting after becoming involved with the Community Theater in her home town of Lake Forest.  Kathryn never forgot the anger and bitterness her mother expressed on her death bed for having put aside dreams and plans for the future that would never be.  After a few successes at Community Theater Kathryn decided to see if she could follow her dream.

She supported her family hanging wallpaper and painting the mansions of Lake Forest, working as a sales person for a Welcome Wagon company and using her contacts to book film and print locations in the houses she was painting. By night Kathryn was improving her skills and moving from Community Theater to semi-professional theater.

Her first break was in 1992. Disney held a cattle call for street performers for Disney World. After standing in line for five hours, Kathryn got the part and moved shop to Orlando, Florida. Though she was living behind an adult arcade in the “tourist unfriendly” part of Orlando, Kathryn was finally earning her living through performance and loving it. The part only lasted for a year and once again Kathryn was forced to supplement her acting income with other work -- bartending and catering during the day, theater at night. Though the acting gig was over, the move to Florida proved one thing to Kathryn...she had the talent to make it as an actor. She did it once and she could do it again. Unfortunately, it took her two and half years to realize it wouldn't happen in central Florida.

In December 1995, Kathryn again packed a truck and drove to Hollywood. Although she didn't have an agent and had no contacts, Kathryn never hesitated following her dream. In only five months she landed her first part...two lines in "Family Matters". In the years since then, she has appeared in over a dozen plays, movies, national television commercials, pilots, drama series and  sitcoms. From her many roles Kathryn is recognized as one of Murphy Brown's secretaries, Frazier's agent's mother and the bingo buddy to Drew Carey's girlfriend. But it is her portrayal of Mrs. Landingham, the foil, friend and secretary to Martin Sheen's President Barttlet on The West Wing that has propelled her into the spotlight. A recurring role on Dharma and Greg, followed by recurring as Old Lady God on Joan of Arcadia has led to the delightful old curmudgeon, Karen Mc Clusky, on Desperate Housewives.

2007 - Nomination - Screen Actor Guild Award. Outstanding performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, “Desperate Housewives"

2005 - Emmy Award Outstandng Actress in a Comedy Series, “Desperate Housewives"

2004 - Governor, Performer Peer Group, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

2001 - Screen Actor Guild Award. Outstanding performance by an ensemble in a Dramatic Series, “The West Wing"

2000 - Ovation Award. Best Featured Actress in a play, “Ladies of the Coridor”

2000 - Screen Actor Guild Award. Outstanding performance by an Ensemble in a Dramatic Series, “The West Wing”

1997 - Founding member Theatre Neo