Susan Saint James, the Emmy Award-winning actress known for her lively spirit, warm smile, and unique charm, died on October 26, 2026, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was eighty. A representative confirmed her passing, and her family remembered her for her generosity and warmth that reached far beyond television. For over twenty years, Saint James was a familiar face in American homes. She became a star in The Name of the Game, entertained viewers with Rock Hudson in McMillan & Wife, and later found new success with Jane Curtin in Kate & Allie.
By Allan R. Ellenberger
Susan Saint James was born Susan Jane Miller on August 14, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Charles Daniel Miller, worked in the motion picture camera industry, and her mother, Constance Geiger Miller, was a schoolteacher. The family later moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Susan spent much of her childhood. She loved movies from a young age and especially admired Hollywood glamour, once recalling that she saw The King and I (1956) 31 times. She attended Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, Illinois, then went to Connecticut College before starting a modeling career in the United States and France.
At twenty, she returned to Los Angeles, took the stage name Susan Saint James, and signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios. She made her television debut in the 1966 film Fame Is the Name of the Game, starring Tony Franciosa. When the film became NBC's series The Name of the Game in 1968, Saint James stood out as a regular performer. She played Peggy Maxwell, a smart and resourceful editorial assistant, working with Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack. Her lively performance brought continuity to the series and earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1969.
Saint James quickly stood out from typical television ingenues. Her expressive eyes, playful smile, and slightly husky voice gave her a modern, approachable style that audiences enjoyed. She managed to be glamorous yet relatable, and funny without losing her intelligence. Early in her career, she appeared in shows like Ironside, It Takes a Thief, McCloud, and Alias Smith and Jones. She was also in the comedy film Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968) with Rosalind Russell and Stella Stevens. While she acted in many films, television best showcased her unique personality.
Saint James became especially popular in 1971 when she starred with Rock Hudson in NBC's McMillan & Wife, part of the NBC Mystery Movie series. Hudson played Stewart McMillan, San Francisco's police commissioner, and Saint James played his lively wife, Sally. Their playful teasing, funny arguments, and strong chemistry turned the show into a mix of mystery and romantic comedy. Viewers enjoyed watching their marriage as much as the cases they solved, making the pair one of the most memorable television partnerships of the time.
Offscreen, Saint James and Hudson became real friends, and their close bond helped make the show a success. She was nominated for three Emmys for playing Sally McMillan and stayed with the show until 1976. When contract talks broke down, she left before the sixth season, and her character was written out with an offscreen plane crash. The show continued for a short time as McMillan, but much of its warmth and humor left with her. Even years later, she spoke fondly of Hudson and their time working together.
After leaving McMillan & Wife, Saint James focused more on movies. She starred with Peter Fonda in Outlaw Blues (1977), played George Hamilton's love interest in the comedy Love at First Bite (1979), and joined Jane Curtin and Jessica Lange in How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980). She was also in Carbon Copy (1981) with George Segal and in Denzel Washington's first film role. Even with these different roles, her film career never matched her television fame, and people still remembered her best for the lively, independent women she played on television.
In 1984, Saint James made a strong return to television with CBS's Kate & Allie, starring alongside Jane Curtin. The show, set in New York City, followed two divorced women sharing an apartment and raising their children together. Saint James played the outgoing and spontaneous Kate McArdle, while Curtin played the more careful and traditional Allie Lowell. Their friendship was the heart of the show and reflected changing views on marriage, divorce, motherhood, and women's independence. Kate & Allie ran for six seasons until 1989, earned Saint James two more Emmy nominations, and introduced her to a new generation of viewers.
Saint James's personal life was just as full as her career. She married Richard Neubert, an aspiring writer and director, in 1967, but they divorced the next year. In 1971, she married makeup artist Tom Lucas, and they had two children, Sunshine and Harmony. They divorced in 1977 but stayed on good terms. In 1981, while guest-hosting Saturday Night Live, she met the show's executive producer, Dick Ebersol. They quickly fell in love and married just weeks later. Together, they had three sons: Charlie, Willie, and Edward (called Teddy). Although Saint James and Ebersol separated for a time in 2002, they got back together and stayed married for the rest of her life.
After Kate & Allie ended in 1989, Saint James mostly stepped away from acting to focus on her family and charity work. She spent much of her time in Litchfield, Connecticut, and became very involved with the Special Olympics, which she had supported since 1972 by volunteering and taking on leadership roles. Her humanitarian work was recognized when she was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame in 1994. She also started a business, Seedling and Pip, which made baby gift baskets and children's books. She made occasional television appearances on shows like The Drew Carey Show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Suits.
The most difficult time in her life came on November 28, 2004, when a private plane carrying her husband and two of their sons crashed during takeoff from Montrose Regional Airport in Colorado. Ebersol and their son Charlie survived, but their youngest son, Teddy, died at age 14, along with the pilot and a flight attendant. Saint James had left the plane earlier and was not on board when the crash happened. The loss deeply affected the family, but she later spoke openly about her grief and the need to keep living with compassion and purpose.
Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Her family remembered that at Teddy's memorial, she comforted her surviving children and husband even while facing her own deep sorrow.
On June 11, 2008, Saint James received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1645 Vine Street, recognizing her outstanding contributions to television. She remained a recognizable and affectionate figure in Hollywood, occasionally attending entertainment events while otherwise enjoying a quieter life. Among her later public appearances was the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary celebration in New York on February 16, 2025. On August 14, 2026, she celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends at her Los Angeles home, a joyful gathering that became one of the final glimpses of the actress who had charmed generations of television viewers.
Saint James died on October 26, 2026, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her family remembered her as someone who treated everyone with kindness, whether they were old friends or people she had just met. She is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol; her four children, Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol, and Willie Ebersol; seven grandchildren; and her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey. Her son Teddy passed away before her. She is also survived by her much-loved service dog, Lola.
For many who watched American television during its best years, Susan Saint James was a mix of beauty, intelligence, humor, and independence. Whether she was playfully arguing with Rock Hudson or showing the ups and downs of friendship and motherhood with Jane Curtin, she made her characters feel real. Her greatest achievement may have been the warmth she brought into millions of homes—a warmth that, as those close to her said, was not just acting but a true part of who she was.
Susan Saint James brought warmth, humor, and unforgettable charm to television screens for generations. From McMillan & Wife to Kate & Allie, her performances left a lasting impression. What are your favorite memories of this beloved actress? Please share your thoughts in the comments, rate this tribute, and share it with fellow classic television fans as we remember her remarkable life and career.
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