Emmy-winning actress Susan Saint James, best known for her roles in McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, has died at the age of 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Her death was confirmed Monday in a statement shared by her family, who described her as a woman of extraordinary warmth and generosity. The statement, first reported by People magazine, highlighted her ability to make every person she encountered feel valued. ‘Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment,’ the family wrote, recalling how she engaged deeply with individuals from all walks of life, including a shoe store clerk who often left with her entire life story shared.
Saint James’ career spanned nearly six decades, beginning with her breakthrough role as Peggy Maxwell in NBC’s The Name of the Game in the late 1960s. She earned her first Primetime Emmy Award in 1969 for her performance. Her most iconic television roles followed: Sally McMillan in McMillan & Wife (1971–1977), where she starred opposite Rock Hudson as the wife of a San Francisco police commissioner, and Kate McArdle in Kate & Allie (1984–1989), a groundbreaking sitcom about two divorcées co-parenting their children under one roof.
Beyond acting, Saint James was recognized for her philanthropic efforts, including her advocacy for the Special Olympics. Her family also shared a deeply personal reflection on her resilience, noting her ‘defining act’ in the aftermath of a personal tragedy. Just weeks after losing her youngest son, Teddy Saint James, in a plane crash on November 28, 2004, she composed a eulogy for each of her other children and her husband, offering words of healing during their grief.
Saint James’ professional journey included a mix of television, film, and stage work. After leaving McMillan & Wife in 1976 due to a contract dispute—her character was killed off in a plane crash—she transitioned to film roles such as Love at First Bite and The Kid from Nowhere. She later returned to television with Kate & Allie, which earned her additional Emmy nominations and cemented her legacy as a comedic and dramatic performer.
Her family’s statement emphasized her commitment to kindness and community, noting that she valued time and energy over money and instinctively sought to uplift others. ‘She taught her children to pause, be kind, and look out for other people,’ they wrote. Saint James is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol, and their children.