Susan Saint James defined a specific brand of sharp, witty television comedy and drama across the 1970s and 1980s. Born Susan Jane Miller in Los Angeles on August 14, 1946, she evolved from a teenage model into an Emmy-winning actress who balanced independent career women roles with natural comedic timing. Her work alongside icons like Rock Hudson and Jane Curtin cemented her status as a television staple, while her off-screen life showcased resilience through profound personal challenges.
Understanding her impact requires looking beyond generic nostalgia. Her career offers a masterclass in how television portrayals of women shifted during the latter half of the twentieth century. From dramatic mystery series to groundbreaking domestic sitcoms, she shaped characters that audiences trusted and remembered.
Early Life and the Road to Hollywood
Growing up partly in Rockford, Illinois, Saint James spent her adolescence exploring creative avenues, including a stint modeling in France during her youth. Returning to the United States, she moved to California at age twenty and adopted the professional moniker Susan Saint James.
Her transition into acting happened rapidly. She secured early television credits before landing a breakthrough role in the 1966 television movie Fame Is the Name of the Game, which paved the way for the hit series The Name of the Game. Playing research assistant Peggy Maxwell, Saint James brought an intellectual sharpness and energetic presence to the screen. That performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1969 for Outstanding Supporting Actress, launching her into national prominence at just twenty-three years old.
Defining Decades: McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie
Following her success in The Name of the Game, Saint James stepped into the role that solidified her as a household name: Sally McMillan in the NBC mystery series McMillan & Wife. Starring opposite Rock Hudson from 1971 to 1977, she played the inquisitive, humorous wife of a San Francisco police commissioner. The chemistry between Saint James and Hudson drove the show's popularity, earning her multiple Emmy nominations.
After stepping away from full-time television to focus on family and film projects—such as the vampire comedy Love at First Bite—she returned to television in 1984 for her second iconic television vehicle: Kate & Allie.
Airing on CBS until 1989, the sitcom paired Saint James with Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers sharing a home in New York City. The show broke traditional sitcom molds by centering on female friendship, economic independence, and co-parenting without a patriarchal head of household. Her portrayal of Kate McArdle brought nuance to the struggles and joys of modern womanhood, garnering additional Emmy nods.
Stepping Back from Hollywood
When Kate & Allie wrapped in 1989, Saint James made a conscious choice to walk away from regular television commitments. Living in Litchfield, Connecticut, with her husband, television executive Dick Ebersol, she turned her energy toward raising her children, engaging in philanthropic endeavors, and supporting the Special Olympics.
While she occasionally accepted minor guest roles in later years—appearing on shows like The Drew Carey Show, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Suits—she prioritized her personal life over career longevity. Her contributions to the medium were formally recognized in 2008 when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Susan Saint James's most famous television roles?
She is best known for playing Peggy Maxwell in The Name of the Game, Sally McMillan in McMillan & Wife opposite Rock Hudson, and Kate McArdle in the sitcom Kate & Allie alongside Jane Curtin.
How many Emmy Awards did Susan Saint James win?
She won one Primetime Emmy Award in 1969 for her supporting role in The Name of the Game and received several additional nominations throughout her career for McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie.
Why did Susan Saint James leave acting at the height of her career?
Following the conclusion of Kate & Allie in 1989, she chose to step away from regular television work to focus on her family, her home in Connecticut, and charitable causes.
Who was Susan Saint James married to?
She was married to television executive Dick Ebersol from 1981 until her passing. She was previously married to Tom Lucas and Richard Neubert.
