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Susan Saint James, the actress known for “McMillan & Wife” and “Kate & Allie,” has died.
Saint James, 80, died Monday of pancreatic cancer, People magazine reported.
“She never met a stranger. Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment, from the board member to the shoe store clerk, who usually left knowing her entire life story,” a rep told People.
“Her defining act: A few weeks after losing her youngest son, Teddy, in the November 28, 2004 plane crash, she delivered her eulogy as a note to each of her other children and her husband, giving them words to heal. Even in the deepest grief of her life, she put everyone first. A few days after the crash, she sat down with Tim Russert to thank the people who had reached out to him and tell them that the family was fine.”
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She won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1969 for her role as Peggy Maxwell in “The Name of the Game.” (Charley Gallay/Getty Images)
Susan Saint James died Monday at age 80 from pancreatic cancer. (CBS/Getty Images)
“She brought the same fire and positivity to everything that followed, and she never lost it,” the statement continued.
Saint James began her career as a model before turning to television. Her breakthrough came in 1968 when she landed the role of research assistant Peggy Maxwell on NBC’s “The Name of the Game.” Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1969 and established her as one of television’s rising stars.
She gained her greatest fame playing Sally McMillan, the spunky wife of Rock Hudson’s San Francisco Police Commissioner Stewart McMillan, on the hit series “McMillan & Wife” from 1971 to 1976.
Susan Saint James played the role of Sally McMillan on “McMillan & Wife” from 1971 to 1976. (NBCU/NBCUniversal Photo Bank via Getty Images)
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She left the NBC series before its sixth and final season due to a contract dispute, with her character being killed in a plane crash.
Saint James then enjoyed renewed success alongside Jane Curtin in the popular CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie,” which aired from 1984 to 1989.
She is also known for her roles on “Love at First Bite,” “How to Beat the High Cost of Living,” “M*A*S*H,” “Law & Order: SVU,” and “Suits.”
Susan Saint James co-starred with Jane Curtin in the CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie,” which aired from 1984 to 1989. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
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Off-screen, Saint James was married to longtime NBC executive and former “Saturday Night Live” producer Dick Ebersol, whom she met while hosting the comedy show in 1981. The family suffered a devastating tragedy in 2004 when their 14-year-old son, Teddy, died in a private plane crash in Colorado.
She was previously married to Richard Neubert and makeup artist Tom Lucas.
Susan Saint James and her husband, Dick Ebersol, lost their 14-year-old son, Teddy, in a private plane crash in 2004. (Ron Galella Collection/Ron Galella via Getty Images)
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Saint James is survived by her husband, four children – Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol – her seven grandchildren and her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey.
She is also survived by her beloved service dog, Lola.
After “Kate & Allie” ended, Saint James largely stepped away from Hollywood to focus on her family and her charitable work, particularly her longtime involvement in the Special Olympics.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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