Susan Saint James, Iconic 'Kate & Allie' Star, Dies at 80 After Battle with Pancreatic Cancer
Susan Saint James, best known for her roles in the TV series “Kate & Allie” and “McMillan & Wife,” has died. She was 80.A rep for the actress confirmed her death to People Tuesday, sharing she passed away on Monday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.In a statement shared with the outlet, her family remembered Saint James as someone who was “generous with her time and energy, which she valued more than money, and instinctively drawn to whoever needed lifting up. She taught her children to pause, be kind and look out for other people.”Susan Saint James (pictured in 1986), best known for her roles in TV series “Kate & Allie” and “McMillan & Wife,” has died. CBS via Getty ImagesHer family confirmed that the 80-year-old (pictured in February 2025) died on Monday following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Jamie McCarthy/NBC via Getty ImagesThey continued, “She never met a stranger. Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment, from a fellow board member to the clerk at the shoe store, who usually walked away knowing her entire life story.”“She brought that same fire and positivity to everything that followed, and never lost it. She is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol, her four children – Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol – her seven grandchildren; her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey, as well as her beloved service dog, Lola,” the statement concluded.The late sitcom star, born Susan Jane Miller, changed her last name to Saint James and moved to Hollywood at 20 years old to pursue an acting career.In a statement to People, her family said they remembered Saint James (pictured in 2009) as a woman who was “generous with her time and energy.” Getty Images“She brought that same fire and positivity to everything that followed, and never lost it,” they gushed of the sitcom star (pictured in 1985). Getty ImagesSoon after, she signed a weekly contract with Universal and began appearing in films such as “Where Angels Go” and “Trouble Follows.” In 1968, she landed a role on the TV series “The Name of the Game.” Saint James received three Emmy nominations for the series, winning once.Three years later, she signed on to “McMillan & Wife.” Rock Hudson played the former role, and she the latter. Saint James received three more Emmy nominations for the part.Saint James stayed with the show for five seasons until her character’s death.Saint James moved to Hollywood at 20 years old to pursue an acting career and made a few film appearances before landing her leading role on “The Name of the Game.” (Pictured: Saint James on the series.) Courtesy Everett CollectionShe later signed on to “McMillan & Wife” alongside Rock Hudson (seen above) and played his wife for five seasons, scoring three Emmy nominations. ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection“We did a pilot one year and then worked together almost five and a half years, except that they went on a year without me,” she told Yahoo in 2015. “My character died. It was very sad, but [Hudson’s] character didn’t waste any time having any other girlfriends either!” she quipped.As for her personal life, Saint James was married to scriptwriter Richard Neubert from 1967 to 1968.In 1971, she married makeup artist Tom Lucas. They welcomed two children, daughter Sunshine and son Harmony. Lucas was also her manager until they divorced in 1977.After wrapping that show, Saint James starred in several films including “Outlaw Blues” (seen above) and also went through a divorce. Courtesy Everett CollectionThe actress (pictured in “Outlaw Blues”) married makeup artist Tom Lucas in 1971 after her divorce from Richard Neubert. She and Lucas welcomed two kids. Courtesy Everett CollectionIn the years that followed, she starred in a slew of films, including “Outlaw Blues” (1977) with Peter Fonda and “How to Beat the High Cost of Living” (1980) with Jane Curtin and Jessica Lange.In 1981, while hosting “Saturday Night Live,” Saint James met NBC executive Dick Ebersol. They went on a date after a rehearsal and quickly fell for each other.The pair wed about six weeks after meeting and welcomed three children together: Charles, William and Edward, known as Teddy.In 1984, Saint James landed her most defining role in “Kate & Allie” alongside Jane Curtin (seen above). ©CBS/Courtesy Everett CollectionThe sitcom (pictured here) followed two divorced best friends who move in together, with their children in tow. ©CBS/Courtesy Everett CollectionIn 1984, Saint James landed her role on sitcom “Kate & Allie” alongside Curtin. In the series, the women played two divorced best friends who move in together, with their children in tow.“This is not a statement saying, ‘Girls, leave the guys and go live with your best friend,’” Saint James told People in 1984 of the show’s premise. “Kate and Allie didn’t plan this. It’s just the best solution they could think of, and their friendship sustains them.”Although Saint James was initially hesitant to sign on to the project, she explained how she “could relate to the problems of a divorced woman.”Saint James (pictured with Curtin in 1986) was initially hesitant to sign on to the project, but “could relate to the problems of a divorced woman.” Getty Images“Kate and Allie didn’t plan this. It’s just the best solution they could think of, and their friendship sustains them,” Saint James told People in 1984. Getty ImagesShe received two more Emmy nominations before the series ended in 1989.Saint James took a step away from Hollywood at the end of the ‘80s. In November 2004, a private jet carrying Ebersol, Charles and Teddy crashed in Montrose, Colorado, killing 14-year-old Teddy. The family had been celebrating Thanksgiving in Los Angeles.Her third and final marriage was to NBC executive Dick Ebersol in 1981. The couple welcomed three sons: Charles, William and Edward, known as Teddy. (Pictured: Ebersol and Saint James with Charles in 1987.) Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesThe couple’s youngest son, Teddy (pictured with his parents in 2004) tragically died in a plane crash at just 14. Getty Images“There’s so many ways that these things can happen,” Saint James told People in 2022, reflecting on the tragic death of her youngest son. “You can have an argument the night before, or you’re far away or working. It’s a whole another experience that we had, because we could just remember the hilarious time that we had in L.A. Everybody has a really fond memory of that, and everybody said, ‘Oh, I love you. See you at Christmas. Goodbye.’”Years later, she returned to the screen for some TV appearances on “The Drew Carey Show,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” in 2006 and one on “Suits” in 2011.Over the years, Saint James (pictured receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008) kept Teddy’s memory alive. Getty ImagesIn the months before her passing, Saint James (pictured with friend Maria Shriver) spent time with her children and grandchildren. Getty ImagesShe received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.Back in August, Saint James celebrated turning 80 by seeing the Doobie Brothers the night before her birthday with all of her children and grandchildren.On her actual birthday, her kids, grandkids, Ebersol and close friends celebrated in her backyard. Her family told People that the actress gushed it “was one of the best two days of her entire life.”
