Susan Saint James' Children Reveal Her Strength in Grief After Son's 2004 Plane Crash Death
The actress's family shared how she prioritized others even amidst her "deepest grief" following the loss of her 14-year-old son, Teddy.
Actress Susan Saint James' children have shared how she demonstrated remarkable resilience and prioritized her family in the wake of her youngest son Teddy's death in a 2004 plane crash. Saint James died at age 80 on Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Teddy died in November 2004 at the age of 14 when a charter jet carrying him, his father, former NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol, and his older brother Charlie crashed during takeoff in Colorado. The pilot and a flight attendant also perished in the incident. Ebersol, Charlie, and the co-pilot survived with injuries.
In a statement to People, Saint James' family revealed that she delivered a eulogy for Teddy and made a point of thanking those who supported her during that difficult period. "Her defining act: Weeks after losing her youngest son, Teddy, in the Nov. 28, 2004, plane crash, she delivered his eulogy as a note to each of her other children and her husband, giving them words to heal," the family said. "Even in the deepest grief of her life, she put everyone else first."
Days after the crash, she reportedly met with Tim Russert to express gratitude to those who had reached out and to assure them the family was coping.
During a 2006 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saint James, Ebersol, and their sons Charlie and Willie discussed the tragedy and how they supported each other as a family. Saint James mentioned at the time that she had not moved any of Teddy's belongings, stating, "I've never touched his clothes, I've never been able to move his things."
Ebersol recounted his son Charlie's bravery, noting that Charlie helped him out of the burning wreckage before running back into the flames to search for his younger brother. Teddy's body was later discovered beneath the aircraft.
Despite the profound loss, Saint James told Winfrey that the family found a way to move forward together, reflecting, "the amazing thing is, you get up the next day, you brush your teeth, you comb your hair... life is so powerful, you just go on living."
Saint James, who married Ebersol in 1981, also had two older children, Sunshine and Harmony, from a previous marriage. She is survived by her husband, her four children, seven grandchildren, and her sister.
Her career highlights include her role as Sally McMillan in the series McMillan & Wife from 1971 to 1976, for which she received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She also starred as Kate McArdle in the 1980s sitcom Kate & Allie, earning two Emmy nominations for her performance. Saint James received an Emmy award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008. Her acting credits also include roles in Fame Is the Name of the Game, Love At First Bite, and guest appearances on shows such as Suits and Law & Order: SVU. Her last credited role was in the series Upload from 2020 to 2022.
Her friend and Kate & Allie co-star Jane Curtin remembered Saint James as "a decent person who made Kate and Allie a joy." Curtin added, "She juggled a really full life from the Ed Sullivan Theater in between working on stage and being the Mom on set. She worked tirelessly for organizations she believed in like the Special Olympics. All the while raising children and going through the horrors of losing a child. Susan was my friend, and working with her brought such laughter, community and family to the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater. I’ll miss her."