Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress remembered for McMillan & Wife, Kate & Allie and The Name of the Game, died on October 26, 2026, at the age of 80. Her representative confirmed her death to PEOPLE on October 27, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
For generations of viewers, Saint James was a familiar presence whose performances combined humor, intelligence and warmth. Away from television, she devoted herself to her family and to causes that gave others opportunities to shine.
Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty
A Memorable Presence on Television
Born Susan Jane Miller on August 14, 1946, in Los Angeles and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Saint James began her career in modeling before pursuing acting.
Her breakthrough came as research assistant Peggy Maxwell in The Name of the Game. The role earned her an Emmy in 1969 and established her as a rising television talent.
In 1971, she began playing Sally McMillan opposite Rock Hudson in McMillan & Wife. Her lively performance helped make the mystery series memorable, earning her three Emmy nominations during her years on the show.
She later found another defining role as Kate McArdle in Kate & Allie. Alongside Jane Curtin’s Allie Lowell, she portrayed a divorced mother building a shared household with her best friend. The comedy made room for friendship, parenting and the complications of starting over, with Saint James bringing an engaging sense of spontaneity to Kate.
A Career Filled With Range and Recognition
Saint James also appeared in films including Outlaw Blues, Love at First Bite, How to Beat the High Cost of Living and Carbon Copy. Her work moved between mystery, comedy and family stories, giving audiences several different ways to know her.
After Kate & Allie ended in 1989, she stepped away from regular television work to concentrate on raising her children. Occasional appearances in The Drew Carey Show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Suits brought her back to the screen.
In 2008, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing a career that had made her a familiar face in American homes.
A Life Dedicated to Family and Service
Her family’s remembrance described a woman who gave her attention freely, noticed people who needed encouragement and taught her children to treat others with kindness.
That commitment extended to her decades of involvement with Special Olympics. Through volunteering, board service and fundraising, she supported athletes and helped advance opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Saint James is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol; four children, Sunshine, Harmony, Charlie and Willie; seven grandchildren; and her sister. Her youngest son, Teddy, died in a plane crash in 2004.
Remembering Her Legacy
Susan Saint James leaves behind performances that continue to offer laughter, companionship and the pleasure of watching an actress entirely at ease with her craft.
Her family’s tribute adds another dimension to that legacy: a life measured in the care she offered other people. Alongside the television characters audiences remember, that generosity deserves to be remembered, too.