Emmy-Winning Actress Susan Saint James Dies at 80 After Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Emmy Award-winning actress Susan Saint James, known for her roles in McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, has died at the age of 80 following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

A representative for Saint James confirmed her death to People, prompting tributes to the actress, whose television career spanned several decades.

In a statement provided to the publication, her family remembered her as someone who prioritised helping others and valued personal connections over material wealth.

“She never met a stranger,” the statement said, describing how Saint James made people feel important, whether they were colleagues or employees she encountered in everyday life.

Family Pays Tribute to Her Kindness and Generosity

Saint James’ family said she was generous with her time and energy and was instinctively drawn to people who needed support.

They added that she taught her children to pause, show kindness and look out for others.

The statement also recalled how she responded to the death of her youngest son, Teddy, in a plane crash on November 28, 2004.

Weeks after the tragedy, Saint James delivered his eulogy as a personal message to her husband and other children, offering them words intended to help them through their grief.

Her family said she continued to support others despite her own loss. Days after the crash, she appeared with journalist Tim Russert to thank those who had contacted the family and reassure them that they were coping.

Saint James is survived by her husband, television executive Dick Ebersol; her children Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol; seven grandchildren; her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey; and her service dog, Lola.

Breakthrough Roles Established Her Television Career

Born in Los Angeles in 1946, Saint James began modelling as a teenager. She spent a year working in France before returning to Los Angeles and pursuing acting.

At 19, she secured a contract with Universal Pictures through an agent who knew one of her friends.

In a past interview with Yahoo Beauty, she recalled being asked to read for a role after arriving at the studio. Nervous, she delivered the lines quickly, prompting the director to tell her to read even faster.

The part was Peggy Chan in the 1966 television film Fame Is the Name of the Game, which marked an early step in her acting career.

Saint James later appeared in the television series The Name of the Game, which ran from 1968 to 1971. She starred alongside Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry and Robert Stack.

Her performance earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She also appeared in episodes of It Takes a Thief, the ABC series starring Robert Wagner.

McMillan & Wife Made Her a Recognised Television Star

Saint James became widely known for playing Sally McMillan, the wife of Rock Hudson’s character, in the NBC police procedural McMillan & Wife.

She appeared in the series from 1971 to 1976, earning both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her performance.

Hudson was a prominent Hollywood actor whose film credits included Giant (1956), Pillow Talk (1959) and Send Me No Flowers (1964).

Leonard B. Stern, the creator of McMillan & Wife, previously praised Saint James in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, describing her as “a delight”.

Stern also recalled that Hudson felt comfortable working with her.

After leaving the series in 1976, Saint James continued acting in film and television. Her subsequent projects included the 1977 film Outlaw Blues, alongside Peter Fonda, and the 1979 comedy horror film Love at First Bite, starring George Hamilton and Richard Benjamin.

Kate & Allie Earned Further Emmy Nominations

In 1984, Saint James returned to a leading television role in the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie, appearing alongside Jane Curtin.

The series followed two divorced mothers who began living together and raising their children in the same home.

Saint James played Kate McArdle, a role that earned her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

After the sitcom, the mother of five largely stepped away from regular acting, although she continued to make occasional television appearances.

Her credits included The Drew Carey Show in 1996, as well as guest roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Suits.

Her final acting credit was in the science-fiction comedy series Upload, in which she appeared in three episodes between 2020 and 2022.

Actress Spoke About Ageing and Maintaining Her Wellbeing

In a previous interview with Yahoo Beauty, Saint James discussed her approach to ageing and the habits she used to maintain her wellbeing.

She mentioned reading, keeping up with current developments, practising yoga and getting enough sleep.

She also acknowledged that ageing could be difficult when looking at photographs or seeing changes in the mirror, while describing her determination to continue looking after herself.

Saint James had been married to Ebersol, a television executive, since 1981. The couple had three children together: Charlie, Willie and Teddy. She also had two older children, Sunshine and Harmony, from her previous marriage to Thomas Lucas, which ended in divorce in 1977.

Youngest Son Died in 2004 Plane Crash

Saint James’ family previously experienced a major tragedy when her youngest son, Teddy, died in a charter jet crash in Colorado on November 28, 2004. He was 14.

The aircraft crashed during take-off while carrying Teddy, his father and his brother Charlie. Teddy was killed in the accident.

In their tribute following Saint James’ death, her family recalled how she continued to support those around her in the weeks and days after losing her son, including through the eulogy she delivered for him and her message to those who had reached out to the family.

The family said her commitment to kindness and helping others remained a defining part of her life.