Susan Saint James, the actress who was known for the shows McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie has died at the age of 80. That has a lot of fans wondering about her cause of death.
How did Saint James die? She died after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Saint James is survived by her husband of 45 years, the NBC executive Dick Ebersol, and four kids. The couple lost a child, Teddy, 14, in a 2004 plane crash.
People posted tributes to Saint James on social media. “A lovely woman by every definition. My wife and I got to know her when our kids were in college at same time,” a man wrote. “She was an instant-friend type of person, bouyant, funny, full of life. The loss of Teddy was brutal, but her nature sustained. Blessed to have known her. RIP.”
Added a fan: “What a treasure she was! Always so adorable and spunky in every role he played! Rest in peace, beautiful lady!” Wrote another person on social media, echoing the thoughts of others: “Loved this woman. The world lost another great.”
Susan Saint James Was Remembered by Her Family as ‘Generous With Her Time & Energy’
In a statement to People, Saint James’ family paid tribute to her, remembering the actress as “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,” they said. “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.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, the family’s statement continued, “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.”
Susan Saint James Had 4 Kids With Her Husband, Dick Ebersol
Saint James had five kids and numerous grandchildren. She is survived by four of her children and her husband.
“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,” the family’s statement said, according to EW.
The plane crash that killed Teddy Ebersol also injured his dad and brother. The tragedy “killed two crewmen and left the injured executive and another of his sons begging bystanders for help,” according to ESPN. The plane crashed in a snowstorm not far from Denver, ESPN reported. They were flying home from California after a football game.
Susan Saint James Cause of Death: How Did the Actress Die?