Susan Saint James, the actress celebrated for her roles in “McMillan & Wife” and “Kate & Allie,” has died. She was 80, as reported by Fox News.

Saint James died Monday after battling pancreatic cancer, according to a report from People magazine. A representative remembered her as someone who formed meaningful connections wherever she went.

“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 representative told People.

Susan Saint James, Emmy-winning actor of ‘McMillan & Wife’ and ‘Kate & Allie,’ dies at 80 https://t.co/SjAQbxbyZC

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The representative also recalled Saint James’ response to the death of her youngest son, Teddy. He died in a plane crash on November 28, 2004.

“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.”

The statement described how Saint James addressed the public shortly after the tragedy. “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.”

“She brought that same fire and positivity to everything that followed, and never lost it,” the statement continued.

Before becoming a television star, Saint James began her career as a model. Her major breakthrough arrived in 1968, when she was cast as research assistant Peggy Maxwell on the NBC series “The Name of the Game.”

Her performance brought her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1969 and established her as one of television’s rising stars. Even greater fame followed when she joined the hit series “McMillan & Wife.”

Saint James portrayed Sally McMillan, the spirited wife of San Francisco police commissioner Stewart McMillan, played by Rock Hudson. She appeared on the series from 1971 through 1976.

The actress left the NBC program before its sixth and final season because of a contract dispute. Her character was subsequently killed in a plane crash.

Saint James later returned to major television success alongside Jane Curtin in the popular CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie.” The series ran from 1984 through 1989 and became another defining part of her acting career.

Her additional screen credits included “Love at First Bite,” “How to Beat the High Cost of Living,” “M*A*S*H,” “Law & Order: SVU,” and “Suits.” After “Kate & Allie” ended, she largely stepped away from Hollywood.

Saint James focused instead on her family and charitable work, including her longtime involvement with the Special Olympics. Her life away from the screen also included her marriage to longtime NBC executive and former “Saturday Night Live” producer Dick Ebersol.

Saint James met Ebersol while hosting the comedy show in 1981. Their family endured devastating tragedy in 2004 when their 14-year-old son, Teddy, died in a private plane crash in Colorado.

Before marrying Ebersol, Saint James had been married to Richard Neubert and makeup artist Tom Lucas. She is survived by Ebersol and her four children, Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol.

Her survivors also include seven grandchildren and her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey. Saint James is additionally survived by her beloved service dog, Lola.

Across her career, Saint James moved from modeling to celebrated roles in drama and comedy, earning an Emmy and becoming widely known through two successful television series. The Associated Press contributed to the report and provided a video obituary looking back at her work.

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