Susan Saint James, Star of 'Kate & Allie' and 'McMillan & Wife,' Dies at 80
The beloved television actress passed away Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, her family confirmed.
Susan Saint James, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in the television series "Kate & Allie" and "McMillan & Wife," died on Monday. She was 80.
A representative for the actress confirmed her death to People magazine on Tuesday, stating that she had been undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Saint James' family remembered her in a statement as someone who was "generous with her time and energy" and "instinctively drawn to whoever needed lifting up." The statement added, "She taught her children to pause, be kind and look out for other people." Her family also noted her ability to connect with everyone she met, saying, "She never met a stranger. Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment... who usually walked away knowing her entire life story."
Born Susan Jane Miller, she changed her last name to Saint James and moved to Hollywood at the age of 20 to pursue her acting aspirations. She soon secured a contract with Universal Studios and appeared in films such as "Where Angels Go" and "Trouble Follows."
Her television career gained significant momentum in 1968 when she landed a role on the series "The Name of the Game." For her performance, Saint James received three Emmy nominations, winning once.
She is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol, her four children—Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol, and Willie Ebersol—seven grandchildren, her sister Mary Mercedes Dewey, and her service dog, Lola.