Susan Saint James, the actress who charmed a generation as Kate McArdle on the 1980s sitcom“Kate&Allie,”has died of pancreatic cancer at 80. Her rep confirmed the news to People. Saint James earned two Emmy nominations for the role, and she’s survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol, and four children.
Jane Curtin, her co-star and close friend, shared a brief and powerful statement with Page Six:“We lost a decent person today.”Curtin also reflected on what it was like to work alongside her, saying it“brought such laughter, community and family to the stage.”Since“Kate&Allie”followed two divorced moms sharing a home, that sense of family was the whole point.
Beyond the screen, Saint James was a devoted mom and a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics. She also endured deep personal tragedy: her youngest son Teddy died at 14 in a 2004 plane crash. Curtin’s words make it clear that her kindness was never a performance. What’s your favorite memory of“Kate&Allie”?
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Local Lawton
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