LOS ANGELES (AP) — Susan Saint James Has Died at 80

Susan Saint James, who rose to fame for her roles in the 1970s crime series “McMillan & Wife” alongside Rock Hudson, and later in the 1980s sitcom “Kate & Allie” with Jane Curtin, has passed away. She was 80 years old.

According to a statement from her representative shared by People magazine, she died on Monday after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Her family described her as someone who “never met a stranger,” emphasizing her ability to make everyone feel important, whether it was a fellow board member or a store clerk, often sharing her life story with all whom she encountered.

Born Susan Jane Miller on August 14, 1946, in Los Angeles, she grew up in Rockford, Illinois, after her father moved there for work. She started her modeling career as a teenager in Paris.

At 20, Saint James returned to Los Angeles and signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios, marking her television debut in the 1966 movie “Fame is the Name of the Game” alongside Tony Franciosa.

She really hit her stride in 1968 when the movie became the series “The Name of the Game,” featuring lead characters played by Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack. Saint James played Peggy Maxwell, a research assistant who connected the leads, and she won an Emmy Award for this role in 1969.

Prior to this, she appeared in the crime series “It Takes a Thief” with Robert Wagner and had guest roles in shows like “Ironside,” “McCloud,” and “Alias Smith and Jones.” In 1980, she made a guest appearance on “M(asterisk)A(asterisk)S(asterisk)H.”

Saint James, known for her distinctive voice, took on a supporting role in the 1968 film “Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows,” which starred Rosalind Russell and Stella Stevens.

Breakthrough Role in ‘McMillan & Wife’

Her most significant role came as Sally McMillan, the spirited wife of Hudson’s character, in the popular series “McMillan & Wife” from 1971 to 1976. For her performance, she received three Emmy nominations.

Saint James departed the NBC show prior to its sixth and final season due to a contract dispute, which resulted in her character being killed off in a plane crash. She then shifted her focus to films.

She starred opposite Peter Fonda in “Outlaw Blues” in 1977 and featured with George Hamilton in the 1979 parody “Love at First Bite.” Additionally, she acted alongside Jessica Lange and Curtin in the 1980 comedy “How to Beat the High Cost of Living,” and appeared in the 1981 romantic comedy “Carbon Copy,” which marked Denzel Washington’s film debut.

After a season of mixed success in film, she teamed up again with Curtin in the CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie,” running from 1984 to 1989, where she earned two more Emmy nominations for her portrayal of the carefree Kate.

In a twist of fate, while guest-hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 1981, Saint James met Dick Ebersol, the show’s then-executive producer. They married just six weeks after their first meeting and had three sons: Charlie, Willie, and Teddy.

Tragically, Teddy died at the age of 14 in a devastating plane crash in 2004, which also claimed the lives of the pilot and flight attendant. Ebersol and Charlie survived but were seriously injured. The family had recently spent Thanksgiving in Los Angeles and were on their way home when the aircraft crashed shortly after taking off in snowy conditions.

In her family’s statement regarding her passing, they reflected on her incredible resilience, noting her decision to deliver Teddy’s eulogy just weeks after his death, choosing to comfort her other children and husband as she navigated her grief.

In 2002, Saint James filed for divorce from Ebersol, but they reconciled later that same year. She expressed her happiness upon reflecting on their renewed connection, saying, “I’m amazingly happier, so that’s a good sign.”

In Ebersol’s 2022 memoir, he described her as “the greatest partner I’ve ever had by far.”

After ‘Kate & Allie’

Following the conclusion of “Kate & Allie,” she stepped back from acting to focus on her younger children in Litchfield, Connecticut, while Ebersol took on a role at NBC Sports.

Saint James made some guest appearances in later years, including on “The Drew Carey Show” as her niece’s mother, and also appeared in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Suits.” In 1999, she performed in a production of “The Miracle Worker” in Torrington, Connecticut.

In 1998, she co-founded Seedling and Pip, a baby gift basket business that emphasized literature, alongside her sister and a friend.

She actively supported the Special Olympics throughout her life, dedicating time to volunteering and serving on its board of directors.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Sunshine and son Harmony from her second marriage to makeup artist Tom Lucas, along with her sons Charlie and Willie from her marriage to Ebersol. Her niece Christa Miller, who got her start on “Kate & Allie,” also remains part of her legacy. Saint James’ first marriage, to Richard Neubert, ended in divorce.