Susan Saint James, 'Kate & Allie' star, dead at 80

Susan St. James, best known for her roles in the TV series Kate and Allie and McMillan and Wife, has died. She was 80. A rep for the actress confirmed her death to People, sharing that she passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. In a statement shared with the outlet, her family remembered St. 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. They continued, 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. The late sitcom star born Susan Jane Miller changed her name to St. James and moved to Hollywood at 20 years old to pursue an acting career. She starred on the TV series Macmillan and Wife with Rock Hudson for five seasons until her character's death. In 1984, St. James landed her role on the sitcom Kate and Allie alongside Jane Curtin. In the series, the women play two divorced best friends who move in together with their children in tow. This is not a statement saying, girls, leave the guys and go live with your best friend, St. James told People in 1984 of the show's premise. Kate and Allie didn't plan this. It's just the best solution they could think of, and their friendship sustains them. Although St. James was initially hesitant to sign on to the project, she explained how she could relate to the problems of a divorced woman. She received two more Emmy nominations before the series ended in 1989, and then took a step away from Hollywood. As for her personal life, St. James was married to scriptwriter Richard Newbert from 1967 to 1968. In 1971, she married makeup artist Tom Lucas. They welcomed two children, daughter Sunshine and son Harmony. Lucas was also her manager until they divorced in 1977. In 1981, while hosting Saturday Night Live, St. James met NBC executive Dick Ebersole. They went on to date after a rehearsal and quickly fell for each other. The pair wed about six weeks after meeting and welcomed three children together, Charles, William, and Edward, known as Teddy. In November 2004, a private jet carrying Ebersole, Charles and Teddy crashed in Montrose, Colorado, killing the 14-year-old Teddy. The family had been celebrating Thanksgiving in Los Angeles. Years later, she returned to the screen for some TV appearances on The Drew Carey Show, Law & Order Special Victims Unit in 2006, and Suits in 2011. In 2008, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This past August, St. James celebrated turning 80 by seeing the Doobie Brothers the night before her birthday with all of her children and grandchildren. On her actual birthday, her kids, grandkids, Ebersole, and close friends celebrated in her backyard. Her family told People that the actress gushed it was one of the best two days of her entire life.