Actress Susan Saint James, who struck television gold on two popular series, Kate & Allie with Jane Curtin and McMillan & Wife with Rock Hudson, has died at the age of 80. Per People, a rep for Saint James said that she passed away on October 26. She had pancreatic cancer. Her wholesome charm, unfussy beauty, and easygoing manner won over legions of fans in anything she was in. Despite her fame and popularity, Saint James also prioritized her family.
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Saint James' Family Released a Loving and Affectionate Tribute
Per the outlet, her family issued this statement. Saint James 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."
Saint James knew heartbreaking tragedy as well as immense triumph. In fact, one of her children, Teddy, died in the crash of a private plane in 2004. According to the statement, "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."
Furthermore, the statement mentioned, "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."
The Actress Was a Hit in 'McMillan & Wife'
During the 1970s, Susan Saint James starred opposite Rock Hudson in McMillan & Wife. Per Yahoo eleven years ago. she said, "We did a pilot one year and then worked together almost five and a half years, except that they went on a year without me. My character died. It was very sad, but his [Hudson's] character didn't waste any time having any other girlfriends either!
She Was Initially on the Fence About Doing 'Kate & Allie'
The '80s sitcom was one of Susan Saint James' signature achievements. Nevertheless, she hesitated about committing to it. The show focused on a pair of divorced woman who live together, along with their kids.In 1984, the actress shared with People, "This is not a statement saying, 'Girls, leave the guys and go live with your best friend.' Kate and Allie didn't plan this. It's just the best solution they could think of, and their friendship sustains them."
She added, "I could relate to the problems of a divorced woman, but I didn't want to play a show with glib kid actors."
