Susan Saint James, Emmy-winning actress, dies at 80

tvOct 27, 202616159

Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress best known for McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, died Monday at age 80 after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, People magazine said, citing a representative. Born Susan Jane Miller on Aug. 14, 1946, in Los Angeles and raised in Rockford, Illinois, she began modeling in Paris as a teenager and signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios at age 20. Saint James won an Emmy in 1969 for her role as Peggy Maxwell on The Name of the Game and earned three Emmy nominations for playing Sally McMillan on McMillan & Wife from 1971 to 1976. She left McMillan & Wife before its final season over a contract dispute and her character was killed in a plane crash on the show. After several film roles, Saint James reunited with Jane Curtin for the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie from 1984 to 1989, receiving two Emmy nominations for her turn as the free-spirited Kate. While guest-hosting Saturday Night Live in 1981 she met Dick Ebersol; they married six weeks later and had three sons, Charlie, Willie and Teddy. Her family said, "She never met a stranger," in a statement to People.

Jesse Hawken

@jessehawken.bsky.social

RIP Susan Saint James (more like Susan Saint Babes imho)

273h ago

Stephen James

@stephen5150.bsky.social

Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning star of "Kate & Allie" and "McMillan & Wife," has died at 80 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. 💔

143h ago

pattyanne49.bsky.social1

RIP Ms Saint James, loved you in McMillan and Wife. Condolences to her family and friends.

ptpdrhirosru1

I watched both of those shows! 🙏

Graeme

@graeme1982.bsky.social

Gosh, the memories of watching Kate and Allie are flooding back. I loved that show. RIP. www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/cul...

193h ago

CatDad™️ Zombie 🇨🇦🎃🇫🇮👻🏳️‍🌈20

I recall watching K&A on Sunday nights right before I’d have to return to the base I was stationed at. Feeling all gay and happy while mentally preparing for being butch for the coming week

Mark McCondach1

Not many get the good fortune to have popular series in the 60s, 70s and 80s. She was always a welcome presence on TV.

Kenneth Eisenberger1

Loved Kate & Allie. That aired at the same time as Newhart. Both great smart comedies.

🏳️‍🌈 Dolly Darren 🏳️‍⚧️1

Gosh, I'd totally forgotten about that prog.

Cary Moy

@donaldhollinger.bsky.social

Susan Saint James always a delight. Kate & Allie easily 1 of my 3 favorite TV series of all time. Loved her contributions to Special Olympics which was reflected in a handful of episode storylines & sweatshirt of her alma mater Connecticut College which she occasionally wore. Thank you. #RIP

"Would you excuse me. I think I have something in my eye." Susan Saint James as Kate McArdle intentionally sticking tip of her right index finger in her right eye after hearing socialite dating her father stating her preference for buying a fish rather than catching one in "Lovely Rita," Season 2 sixteenth episode of CBS sitcom Kate & Allie which originally aired on Monday 18 February 1985. The series ran for six seasons from 1984 to 1989.

212h ago

Winnipeg Free Press

@winnipegfreepress.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Susan Saint James, who co-starred with Rock Hudson in the 1970s TV crime series “McMillan & Wife” and later co-starred with Jane Curtin in the sitcom “Kate & Allie” in the 1980s, has died. She was 80.

104h ago

Bowiesongs (C. O'Leary)

@bowiesongs.bsky.social

RIP Susan Saint James, seen here dancing to "I Love the Nightlife" with George Hamilton as Dracula---a scene that fascinated me as a child when i saw clips of it on TV ("Love at First Bite" seemed to be in regular rotation as the "late movie") www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvgM...

102h ago

GunnyJKJ

@gunnyjkj.bsky.social

Susan Saint James, Emmy-winning actor of 'McMillan & Wife' and 'Kate & Allie,' dies at 80 apnews.com/article/susa...

133h ago

The TV Cave

@thetvcave.bsky.social

🖤 Television has lost a beloved star. Susan Saint James, known for Kate & Allie and McMillan & Wife, has died at 80. Remembering her remarkable legacy. #SusanSaintJames #KateAndAllie #RIP www.thetvcave.com/post/susan-s...

105h ago

Susan Pennington

@spennington.bsky.social

Susan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Star of ‘Kate & Allie’ and ‘McMillan & Wife,’ Dies at 80 Source: Variety share.newsbreak.com/jz358pvj

53h ago

Dave Olbrich

@daveolbrich.bsky.social

RIP Susan Saint James. Thanks for making my life a little better.

63h ago

I'm V and Sunny is my ❤️ 🐾🐾🖌️🎨🚴🏻🧘🏻🏋🏻

@veronicasam13.bsky.social

So sad. I loved her through the years she was acting. Rest in peace, sweet Susan.🕊️🥺 people.com/susan-saint-...

54h ago

MK Forever Blue

@mkforeverblue.bsky.social

RIP Susan Saint James, Kate & Allie and McMillan & Wife Star, Dies at 80 people.com/susan-saint-...

44h ago

Lakeloonatic

@lakeloonatic.bsky.social

I see where Susan Saint James has died. I loved her on McMillan and Wife. I fell in love with her on Kate and Allie. Hey Grim Reaper, they are other people to take. May she RIP.

42h ago

Hall Monitor 🎃 Amber

@hallmonitor.bsky.social

This one hits hard. She's been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. Loved Kate & Allie. It's still one of my go to comfort shows. RIP #SusanSaintJames 🕊https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/susan-saint-james-dead-kate-and-allie-mcmillan-and-wife-1236932008/

43h ago

Stephen Graham King🍉

@stephengrahamking.com

RIP Susan Saint James. Always loved her. From MacMillan and Wife to Kate and Allie.

44h ago

3 sources

variety.comSusan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Star of ‘Kate & Allie’ and ‘McMillan & Wife,’ Dies at 80 nbcnews.comSusan Saint James, Emmy-winning actor of 'McMillan & Wife' and 'Kate & Allie,' dies at 80 apnews.comSusan Saint James, Emmy-winning actor of 'McMillan & Wife' and 'Kate & Allie,' dies at 80

Susan Saint James, Emmy-winning actress, dies at 80tv Noah Wyle named People’s 2026 Sexiest Man Alivetv

Susan Saint James, Emmy-winning actress, dies at 80

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