Susan Saint James, recognized for her acclaimed performances in the television series McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, has passed away at the age of 80.
The actress's family and official representative have confirmed to People magazine that Saint James died on Monday. She had been previously diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The Hollywood Reporter has similarly verified the confirmation of Saint James' death.
Susan Saint James issues statement
In a statement provided to PEOPLE, her family describes Saint James as “someone who was generous with her time and energy, which she valued more than money, and instinctively drawn to whoever needed lifting up. She taught her children to pause, be kind and look out for other people.”
"She never met a stranger. Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment, from a fellow board member to the clerk at the shoe store, who usually walked away knowing her entire life story. Her defining act: weeks after losing her youngest son, Teddy, in the November 28, 2004 plane crash, she delivered his eulogy as a note to each of her other children and her husband, giving them words to heal. Even in the deepest grief of her life, she put everyone else first. Days after the crash she sat with Tim Russert to thank the people who had reached out and to tell them the family was okay.”
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{{/usCountry}}“She brought that same fire and positivity to everything that followed, and never lost it."
She is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol, her four children–Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol–her seven grandchildren; her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey, as well as her beloved service dog, Lola.
Susan Saint James's career
Susan achieved prominence through her earlier role as Sally McMillan in the Emmy-nominated television series McMillan & Wife, which featured Rock Hudson as her co-star.
This program comprised 40 episodes and aired between 1971 and 1977.
Later, she took on a leading role in the sitcom Kate & Allie, where she portrayed the main character, Kate McArdle, performing alongside Jane Curtin.
The program ran for six seasons spanning 1984 to 1989 and established itself as one of her most significant career achievements.