Susan Saint James is a former American actress and activist, best known for her television roles in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She gained popularity for her performances in the detective show McMillan & Wife (1971-1976) and the comedy series Kate & Allie (1984-1989).
Early Life & Education
Susan Saint James was born into a Connecticut family to parents Constance (Geiger) Miller, a teacher, and Charles Daniel Miller, who was employed by Mitchell Camera and eventually became the president of the Testor Corporation.
Saint James grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and started her career as a model during her teenage years. During her early education, she went to Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, Illinois. She then went on to study at Connecticut College.
Susan Saint James’ Filmography
Susan Saint James made her screen debut in the TV film Fame Is the Name of the Game (1966) alongside Tony Franciosa. Her career took off when the movie was turned into a series two years later.
In addition to other early television roles, she appeared in two episodes of the first season of Ironside (“Girl in the Night” in December 1967 and “Something for Nothing” two months later, in a different role). She also had a minor part in Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows (1968), the follow-up to The Trouble with Angels.
After her debut in Fame Is the Name of the Game, Saint James was cast as a recurring character on The Name of the Game from 1968 to 1971. Her portrayal of research assistant Peggy Maxwell earned her an Emmy Award in 1969 and solidified her status as a beloved up-and-coming actress.
In 1967, Susan Saint James made a brief appearance in the first episode of It Takes a Thief, a crime show starring Robert Wagner. This resulted in her being cast as a recurring character, Charlene “Chuck” Brown, who was a fellow thief and romantic interest of Alexander Mundy.
She appeared in four episodes of the series from 1968 to 1970. She also guest-starred in the pilot episode of the western series Alias Smith and Jones in 1971.
After that, she landed her initial lead role as Sally McMillan, the supportive and younger wife of Rock Hudson, in the beloved and comedic crime show, McMillan & Wife (1971-1976). This earned her four Emmy Award nominations.
After a disagreement over her contract, Saint James departed from the show. However, she continued to advance her acting career by appearing in movies like Outlaw Blues (1977) alongside Peter Fonda.
She gained considerable acclaim for her role in the vampire comedy Love at First Bite (1979) and then appeared in the comedy How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980) with Jessica Lange and Jane Curtin.
In her mid-40s, Saint James retired after Kate & Allie ended. She has been an active volunteer with the Special Olympics since 1972. She has served on the Special Olympics board and was a celebrity chairperson for their involvement. She’s also a board member of the Telluride Foundation.
In 1998, Susan Saint James and two friends started a baby gift basket business called “Seedling and Pip”. Sometimes, she has come out of retirement to act in TV shows. She played the mother of Christa Miller, her real-life niece, in The Drew Carey Show. She also played a defense attorney on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2006.
Additionally, she played a leading role in The Miracle Worker at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, Connecticut in 1999. On June 11, 2008, Saint James received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as recognition for her contributions.
Family
During her appearance as a guest host on Saturday Night Live in 1981, Susan Saint James crossed paths with Dick Ebersol, the show’s executive producer.
They tied the knot shortly after and welcomed three sons, Charles, William, and Edward (also known as Teddy). In March 2002, Saint James initiated divorce proceedings against Ebersol, but they ultimately reconciled in the summer of that same year.
A private aircraft carrying Dick, Charles, and Teddy crashed while attempting to take off from Montrose Regional Airport in Colorado on November 28, 2004. Teddy, 14, and the pilot, Luis Alberto Polanco Espaillet, and the flight attendant, Warren T. Richardson III, died in the accident. Fortunately, Dick and his son Charles survived the incident.
Net Worth
Susan Saint James, a well-known American actor and advocate, has accumulated a net worth of $60 million. She gained recognition for her role on the television show Ironside, which she appeared in from 1967 to 1968.
Additionally, she starred in It Takes a Thief from 1968 to 1970 and The Name of the Game from 1968 to 1971, portraying the character of Peggy Maxwell.
