Susan Saint James dead at 80 is the headline classic TV fans are sharing today. The Emmy-winning star of Kate & Allie and McMillan & Wife died on Monday, October 26, after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Her representative confirmed the news to People, the Associated Press reported.
Her family also shared a heartfelt tribute. Meanwhile, tributes keep growing for an actress who led two very different hit shows.
Fast Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Susan Saint James (born Susan Jane Miller) |
| Age | 80 |
| Born | August 14, 1946, Los Angeles |
| Died | Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| Reported cause | Pancreatic cancer diagnosis |
| Best-known shows | McMillan & Wife (1971–76), Kate & Allie (1984–89) |
| Emmy win | 1969, for The Name of the Game |
| Husband | Dick Ebersol |
| Children | Five (four surviving) |
Susan Saint James Dead at 80: What We Know
Her representative told People that she died on Monday after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Variety also confirmed the news. However, no one has shared further medical details.
Meanwhile, her family paid tribute to her kindness. In their statement, they said she never met a stranger and made everyone feel like the most important person in the room.
Why Is Susan Saint James Remembered for ‘McMillan & Wife’ and ‘Kate & Allie’?
First, she broke through as Peggy Maxwell, the research assistant on The Name of the Game. She won an Emmy for that role in 1969. Next, she starred opposite Rock Hudson as Sally McMillan in NBC’s McMillan & Wife from 1971 to 1976, which earned her three Emmy nominations.
Later, in 1984, she reunited with Jane Curtin for the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie. The show followed two divorced friends raising their kids together in New York, and Saint James played free-spirited Kate McArdle. In fact, she appeared in all 122 episodes of the six-season run, which earned her two Emmy nominations.
Why Did Susan Saint James Leave ‘McMillan & Wife’?
A contract dispute ended her run. She left the NBC series after five seasons, and the writers then removed her character with a plane-crash storyline. As a result, she turned to movies, including Outlaw Blues in 1977, Love at First Bite in 1979 and Carbon Copy in 1981.
However, her film success stayed modest. So she returned to television with Kate & Allie, which became her second signature role.
How Old Was Susan Saint James in Her Biggest Roles?
Saint James was in her mid-20s when McMillan & Wife began in 1971. She was 37 when Kate & Allie premiered in 1984. Finally, she turned 80 this August, and Page Six shared rare photos of her birthday celebration.
How Many Children Did Susan Saint James Have?
She had five children. With her second husband, makeup artist Tom Lucas, she had a daughter, Sunshine, and a son, Harmony. Then, with TV executive Dick Ebersol, she had three sons: Charlie, Willie and Teddy.
Sadly, Teddy died at 14 in a private plane crash in Colorado on November 28, 2004. The pilot and a flight attendant also died, while Ebersol and Charlie survived with serious injuries. Saint James had left the flight at an earlier stop, so she was not on board when it crashed. Her family says that, weeks later, she delivered Teddy’s eulogy as a note of comfort to her husband and children.
What Was Susan Saint James Doing in Recent Years?
After Kate & Allie ended in 1989, she retired to raise her younger children in Litchfield, Connecticut. Still, she made occasional guest appearances on The Drew Carey Show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Suits. In 1998, she also co-founded Seedling and Pip, a baby gift-basket business focused on books.
Meanwhile, she supported Special Olympics for years, volunteering and serving on its board. In 2008, she also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
People are also searching for Tetsuya Chiba Dead at 87: Ashita no Joe Creator Who Reshaped Sports Manga
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Susan Saint James still alive?
No. She died on Monday, October 26, 2026, at age 80.
What was Susan Saint James’s cause of death?
Her representative said she died after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. However, no further medical details have been shared.
Who survives Susan Saint James?
Her husband, Dick Ebersol, and four children: Sunshine, Harmony, Charlie and Willie. TV Insider also lists seven grandchildren.
What are Susan Saint James’s most famous shows?
The Name of the Game, McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie. She also starred in the 1979 vampire comedy Love at First Bite.
Conclusion: Susan Saint James Dead at 80
With Susan Saint James dead at 80, television loses a performer who led two very different eras of network TV. First came the playful mystery of McMillan & Wife, and later came the warm friendship comedy Kate & Allie. Above all, her family remembers her for her kindness, and her shows still give fans plenty to revisit.
Faizullah Baig
Entertainment & Digital Culture Writer at WordPlay2018
Faizullah Baig is a writer at WordPlay2018 covering entertainment, celebrity news, movies, television, pop culture, and digital trends.
His work focuses on explaining current entertainment stories in a clear and reader-friendly way, with attention to the details behind trending headlines.
Areas of Coverage
Faizullah primarily covers:
Celebrity news and profiles
Movies and television
Entertainment industry developments
Celebrity relationships and public appearances
Trending pop-culture stories
Digital culture and online trends
Editorial Approach
Faizullah aims to distinguish confirmed information from reports, estimates, and speculation. For developing stories, information may be updated as additional reliable details become available.
Articles published under his name are intended to provide readers with useful context rather than simply repeat a headline or social-media claim.
Contact
For corrections, questions, or feedback about an article published under Faizullah Baig’s name, please contact:
Publication: WordPlay2018
Role: Entertainment & Digital Culture Writer
