Quick answer: Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress best known for McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, died on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, a representative confirmed to People. She was born Susan Jane Miller and took the surname "Saint James" when she moved to Hollywood at 20 to start her acting career (Page Six, Oct. 27, 2026).
Why Susan Saint James is trending
"Susan St James" jumped onto Google's US trending searches on Oct. 27, 2026, as People, Page Six and Just Jared reported her death. Many searchers spell her name "St. James," but she was credited as Susan Saint James.
In a statement shared with People, her family said she was "generous with her time and energy, which she valued more than money, and instinctively drawn to whoever needed lifting up." They added, "She never met a stranger."
She is survived by her husband, former NBC executive Dick Ebersol; her children Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol; seven grandchildren; her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey; and her service dog, Lola, according to the family statement.
From Susan Jane Miller to Susan Saint James
After changing her name and moving to Hollywood, she signed a weekly contract with Universal and appeared in films such as Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows. Her big break was the 1968 series The Name of the Game, which earned her three Emmy nominations and one win, per Page Six.
In 1971 she joined McMillan & Wife opposite Rock Hudson, playing Sally McMillan for five seasons and picking up three more Emmy nominations. "My character died. It was very sad," she joked to Yahoo in 2015, "but [Hudson's] character didn't waste any time having any other girlfriends either!"
From 1984 to 1989 she co-starred with Jane Curtin in the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie, about two divorced best friends raising their kids under one roof. The role brought her two more Emmy nominations. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.
Love, loss and family
Saint James met Dick Ebersol when she hosted Saturday Night Live in 1981; they married about six weeks later and had three sons. In November 2004, a private jet carrying Ebersol and two of their sons crashed in Montrose, Colorado, killing their youngest son, Teddy, who was 14 (Page Six).
Her family said she celebrated her 80th birthday this past August with her children and grandchildren, calling it "one of the best two days of her entire life."
FAQ
What was Susan Saint James's real name? She was born Susan Jane Miller and changed her last name to Saint James when she began acting in Hollywood.
How did Susan Saint James die? Her representative told People she died on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 80.
What is Susan Saint James best known for? McMillan & Wife (with Rock Hudson), Kate & Allie (with Jane Curtin) and The Name of the Game, which won her an Emmy.
Who was Susan Saint James married to? Former NBC Sports and SNL executive Dick Ebersol, from 1981 until her death. She was earlier married to Richard Neubert and to makeup artist Tom Lucas.
Is it Susan St. James or Susan Saint James? She was credited as Susan Saint James; "St. James" is a common search spelling.
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Names covered in this post
Susan Saint James (Susan Jane Miller), Dick Ebersol, Rock Hudson, Jane Curtin, Teddy Ebersol, Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol, Willie Ebersol, Tom Lucas, Richard Neubert, Mary Mercedes Dewey