Susan Saint James, ‘Kate & Allie’ Star, Dies at 80 After Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis
Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her roles in Kate & Allie and McMillan & Wife, has died at the age of 80.
Saint James died on Monday, October 26, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from her representative to People magazine.
Her family remembered her as a compassionate woman who devoted her time and energy to helping others, often putting their needs before her own.
“She never met a stranger,” her family said, describing how she made people feel valued, whether they were close friends or people she had just met.
They also reflected on her strength following the death of her youngest son, Teddy, in a plane crash in November 2004. Despite her profound grief, Saint James delivered a eulogy that included personal messages to her husband and each of her other children.
Even during the most painful period of her life, her family said, she continued to think about the people around her.
From Modeling to Television Stardom
Born Susan Jane Miller in Los Angeles in 1946, Saint James grew up in Rockford, Illinois. She began her career as a model before moving to Hollywood at the age of 20.
Her breakthrough arrived with the television series The Name of the Game, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1969.
She went on to star alongside Rock Hudson in McMillan & Wife, playing Sally McMillan for five seasons.
However, many viewers came to know her best as Kate McArdle in the popular comedy series Kate & Allie. The show followed two divorced mothers who shared a home while raising their children together. It ran for five seasons, from 1984 to 1989.
After the series ended, Saint James gradually stepped away from the entertainment industry to devote more time to her family.
In a 1993 interview with The Baltimore Sun, she explained why she had chosen to reduce her acting commitments.
“The biggest part of my retirement from films and television is because my kids are at that age now where they need to be the stars of our family,” she said.
Marriage to Dick Ebersol and Family Life
Saint James met Dick Ebersol, an executive producer of Saturday Night Live, in 1981 when she hosted the show.
The pair quickly fell in love and married just 42 days after meeting.
Together, they had three sons: Charles, William and Edward, known as Teddy. Saint James also had two children, Sunshine and Harmony, from her previous marriage to Tom Lucas.
Although her acting career brought her widespread recognition, family life increasingly became her priority.
That commitment was tested by a devastating tragedy in November 2004.
The Plane Crash That Changed Her Family Forever
A private plane carrying Ebersol and their sons Charles and Teddy crashed during takeoff in Colorado. Teddy, who was just 14, died in the accident, while his father and brother survived with serious injuries.
The loss devastated the family, but Saint James tried to help her surviving children understand and process their grief.
According to People, she told them they could grieve without allowing anger to overwhelm their sadness. She also reminded them that the pilots had not wanted the tragedy to happen.
At Teddy’s funeral, she delivered a eulogy that included personal words of comfort for her husband and children.
The family later recalled how she continued to support others even while coping with her own heartbreak. After receiving thousands of letters of condolence, Saint James reportedly responded to approximately 15,000 people with handwritten notes.
Her actions reflected the generosity and thoughtfulness her family would later describe as central to her character.
A Lifelong Commitment to Charity
Away from Hollywood, Saint James devoted significant time to charitable work, particularly with Special Olympics.
She became involved with the organization in the late 1960s and later served on its international board.
She also organized charity events and pursued a variety of interests outside acting, including running a radio station and launching a business selling baby gifts and books.
Her life after television fame was shaped by a desire to remain involved in her community and support people who needed help.
Celebrating Her 80th Birthday With Loved Ones
In August 2026, Saint James celebrated her 80th birthday surrounded by her children, grandchildren and close friends.
According to her family, she described the celebrations as “one of the best two days of her entire life.”
The occasion brought together the people who had remained at the center of her life long after she stepped back from acting.
Saint James is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol; her four surviving children; seven grandchildren; and her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey.
Remembered for her television career, devotion to her family and decades of charitable service, she leaves behind a legacy that extended well beyond her work on screen.