Susan Saint James, 'McMillan & Wife' star, dies at 80

Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her roles in the television series "McMillan & Wife" and "Kate & Allie," has died. She was 80. A representative for the actor told People magazine that she passed away on Monday. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Saint James was born Susan Jane Miller on Aug. 14, 1946, in Los Angeles. She grew up in Rockford, Illinois, after her father moved there for work. She began her career as a model in Paris while still a teenager. At age 20, she returned to Los Angeles 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" alongside Tony Franciosa.

Her career took off in 1968 when she joined the series "The Name of the Game." She played research assistant Peggy Maxwell, a role that provided continuity for the show's rotating lead characters. She won an Emmy Award for that performance in 1969. Before that role, she had recurring parts in series such as "It Takes a Thief," "Ironside," and "McCloud."

Saint James achieved her greatest fame in the 1970s as Sally McMillan in the NBC crime drama "McMillan & Wife." She co-starred with Rock Hudson, who played her husband, San Francisco police commissioner Stewart McMillan. The series ran from 1971 to 1976. She received three Emmy nominations for the part. She left the show before its final season due to a contract dispute. Her character exited the story in a plane crash.

Following her exit from the series, she moved to feature films. She appeared in "Outlaw Blues" with Peter Fonda in 1977. She co-starred with George Hamilton in the 1979 vampire comedy "Love at First Bite." She also worked with Jessica Lange and Jane Curtin in the 1980 film "How to Beat the High Cost of Living." In 1981, she starred in "Carbon Copy," which marked the film debut of Denzel Washington.

She reunited with Curtin for the CBS sitcom "Kate & Allie," which aired from 1984 to 1989. Saint James played the free-spirited Kate, while Curtin played the more reserved Allie. She received two additional Emmy nominations for this role. She retired from acting when the show ended to focus on raising her children in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Saint James met Dick Ebersol, then an executive producer for "Saturday Night Live," while guest-hosting the show in 1981. They married six weeks after meeting and had three sons: Charlie, Willie, and Teddy. In 2004, their youngest son, Teddy, died at age 14 in a private plane crash. The accident also killed the pilot and a flight attendant. Ebersol and Charlie survived with serious injuries. The plane had landed in Colorado for a refueling stop before crashing during takeoff in snowy weather.

In a statement to People, her family described her as someone who never met a stranger. They noted that everyone she interacted with, from board members to store clerks, became the most important person in the room at that moment. The family also highlighted her resilience, noting that she delivered her son's eulogy weeks after his death. She framed the speech as a note to her other children and husband, offering them words to help them heal.

After her acting career, Saint James remained active in the community. She and her sister Mercedes Dewey founded the baby gift business Seedling and Pip in 1998. The company focused on books and was based in Litchfield. She served on the board of directors for Special Olympics for many years. She made occasional guest appearances on shows like "The Drew Carey Show" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" after her retirement.

Saint James is survived by her husband, Ebersol; her daughter Sunshine and son Harmony from her second marriage to makeup artist Tom Lucas; and her sons Charlie and Willie. She also is survived by her niece, actress Christa Miller. Her first marriage to Richard Neubert ended in divorce. Ebersol called her "the greatest partner I've ever had by far" in his 2022 memoir.