Susan Saint James, beloved ‘Kate & Allie’ actress, dies at 80

‘Kate & Allie’ star Susan Saint James dies at 80 after pancreatic cancer diagnosis, leaving behind a celebrated legacy

Susan Saint James, ‘Kate & Allie’ and ‘McMillan & Wife’ star, dies at 80

Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her roles in Kate & Allie and McMillan & Wife, has died at the age of 80.

A representative confirmed to PEOPLE that Saint James died on Monday, October 26, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The actress, who celebrated her 80th birthday in August, leaves behind a legacy spanning television, film and charitable work.

In a statement, her family remembered her as a generous and compassionate person who prioritised helping others over personal gain. They said she had a natural ability to make people feel valued and supported, even during difficult times.

Born Susan Jane Miller in Los Angeles in 1946, Saint James grew up in Rockford, Illinois. She pursued modelling before moving to Hollywood at the age of 20 to begin her acting career. One of her early television roles came in The Name of the Game, for which she received three Emmy nominations and won once.

In 1971, she joined McMillan & Wife, starring alongside Rock Hudson. She remained with the series for five seasons and earned three additional Emmy nominations for her performance.

Saint James later achieved further success in the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie, which premiered in 1984. Co-starring Jane Curtin, the series followed two divorced women who shared a home while raising their children. The show ran until 1989 and earned Saint James two more Emmy nominations.

She gradually stepped away from Hollywood towards the end of the 1980s, making occasional television appearances, including roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Suits. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.

Beyond acting, Saint James devoted decades to supporting the Special Olympics, serving on its international board and helping raise funds for the organisation.

She was married to NBC executive Dick Ebersol, with whom she had three children. Their son, Edward “Teddy” Ebersol, died aged 14 in a 2004 plane crash. Saint James is survived by her husband, four children, seven grandchildren and sister Mary Mercedes Dewey.