LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress who starred opposite Rock Hudson in “McMillan & Wife” and alongside Jane Curtin in the CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie,” died Monday, October 26, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 80.
Saint James’ death was confirmed to People magazine by a representative. Her family remembered her as a generous woman who valued giving her time and energy to others and instinctively gravitated toward people who needed encouragement.
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“She never met a stranger,” the family said in a statement shared with the magazine. They recalled how she made every person she encountered feel like the most important person in the room, whether she was speaking with a fellow board member or a clerk at a shoe store.
The family also reflected on how Saint James supported her loved ones after the November 28, 2004, plane crash that killed her youngest son, Teddy. Weeks after the tragedy, she delivered his eulogy as a personal note to each of her other children and her husband, former NBC executive Dick Ebersol, offering words intended to help them heal.
Days after the crash, Saint James sat down with journalist Tim Russert to thank those who had reached out to the family and reassure them that they were doing okay. Her family described the gesture as an example of how she continued to put others first even while experiencing profound grief.
Saint James became a television fixture in the late 1960s when she played research assistant Peggy Maxwell in NBC’s anthology drama “The Name of the Game.” The role earned her three Emmy nominations and a win for supporting actress in a drama series in 1969.
She went on to star as Sally McMillan opposite Hudson in “McMillan & Wife,” portraying the wife of a San Francisco police commissioner from 1971 to 1976. Her performance brought further Emmy recognition and established her as a leading television actress of the era.
In 1984, Saint James returned to series television in “Kate & Allie.” She played Kate McArdle opposite Curtin, who portrayed Allie Lowell. The sitcom followed two divorced mothers who shared a Manhattan apartment and raised their children together.
The CBS series ran for six seasons, concluding in 1989. Saint James received two additional Emmy nominations for her performance, adding to the recognition she had earned for her earlier television work.
Her film credits included “Outlaw Blues” in 1977, the vampire comedy “Love at First Bite” in 1979 and “How to Beat the High Cost of Living” in 1980.
Born Susan Jane Miller in Los Angeles on August 14, 1946, Saint James grew up in Rockford, Illinois. She began modeling as a teenager before pursuing acting, eventually becoming a familiar face to television audiences across the country.
Following the conclusion of “Kate & Allie,” Saint James largely retired from Hollywood to focus on her family and other interests. She made occasional television appearances in later years, including roles on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Suits.”
Outside acting, Saint James was a longtime advocate for Special Olympics. Her involvement included volunteer work and service supporting the organization. In 2008, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of her television career.
Saint James is survived by Ebersol, their four children, seven grandchildren and her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey. Her family also remembered her beloved service dog, Lola.
Saint James was born in Los Angeles and received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star at 1645 Vine Street in Hollywood. The address identifies the public landmark associated with her career, not her private residence.
Google Maps: Susan Saint James’ Hollywood Walk of Fame star, 1645 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA
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