Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning American actress celebrated for her roles in McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, has died at the age of 80.
Saint James died on October 26, 2026, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to reports citing her family and a representative. Her death marks the loss of a television star whose career spanned several decades and whose work helped shape popular American television from the 1960s through the 1980s.
Her family remembered her as a woman who made people feel valued. In a statement shared with People magazine, they said she had a special ability to connect with strangers, making each person she encountered feel like the most important person in the room.
A television career that reached generations
Born Susan Jane Miller on August 14, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, Saint James grew up in Rockford, Illinois. She began modelling as a teenager and spent time working in Paris before returning to the United States to pursue acting.
Her television breakthrough came with The Name of the Game, where she played Peggy Maxwell, a research assistant. The performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1969.
She became widely recognised for playing Sally McMillan opposite Rock Hudson in the crime drama McMillan & Wife, which aired from 1971 to 1976. Her performance earned several Emmy nominations and established her as one of television’s familiar faces.
Saint James later reached another generation of viewers through the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie. She played Kate McArdle alongside Jane Curtin, portraying two divorced women raising their children together in New York. The series ran from 1984 to 1989 and brought her further Emmy recognition.
Her film credits included Love at First Bite, Outlaw Blues and Carbon Copy. After Kate & Allie ended, she largely stepped away from acting to focus on family life.
A legacy beyond entertainment
Saint James was also a longtime supporter of Special Olympics, serving in leadership and fundraising roles. Her commitment to inclusion and support for athletes became an important part of her public life.
She was married to television executive Dick Ebersol. Their family experienced profound loss in 2004 when their 14-year-old son, Edward “Teddy” Ebersol, died in a plane crash. Saint James is survived by her husband, children and grandchildren.
As tributes emerge, Saint James is being remembered for a lasting body of television work and a life of service beyond the screen.