
Susan Saint James’ cause of death confirmed
November 5, 2026, 4:58 p.m. ET
The cause of death of “Kate & Allie” star Susan Saint James has been confirmed.
The death certificate for the Emmy-winning actress, who died at age 80 on October 26, shows that the primary cause of her death was metastatic pancreatic cancer, People reported on Thursday, November 5. The document said she died months after her diagnosis.
The certificate confirms what his representative previously told the magazine when sharing the news of Saint James’ death.
Metastatic cancer, also often called stage 4 cancer, means that cancer cells have spread from their original site to other parts of the body.
Saint James, who starred opposite Rock Hudson in one of his best-known roles in “McMillan & Wife” in the ’70s, built a television career that included crime dramas and comedies and received eight Emmy nominations. She won in 1969 for her supporting role as Peggy Maxwell in the NBC drama series “The Name of the Game,” with additional nominations for the series in 1970 and 1971.

Born Susan Jane Miller in Los Angeles, she grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and began modeling as a teenager before becoming an actress, according to her biography on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 1984, Saint James joined Jane Curtin in “Kate & Allie”, playing Kate McArdle in a sitcom about two divorced friends merging their families and raising children together. Saint James received Emmy nominations for comedy lead actress in 1984 and 1985, according to the Television Academy.
She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June 2008.
Saint James’ son, Edward “Teddy” Ebersol, was 14 when he died in a November 2004 plane crash during takeoff in Montrose, Colorado. The actress’ husband and their son, Charlie, were also on board the flight but survived the crash.
Saint James is survived by her husband, television executive Dick Ebersol, four children and seven grandchildren.
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