Updated: October 28, 2026
Susan Saint James, the Emmy-winning actress best remembered for McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, lived a full life both on screen and off. Born Susan Jane Miller on August 14, 1946, in Los Angeles, she passed away on October 26, 2026, at age 80 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Fans often search for details about her personal life, especially her marriages. She wed three times, with two earlier marriages ending in divorce and a long-lasting third partnership that continued until her death. Here is a clear, respectful overview of her ex-husbands and the relationships that shaped her family.
Table of Contents
First Marriage: Richard Neubert
Susan Saint James married aspiring writer-director and screenwriter Richard Neubert in 1967 when she was just 21. The union was brief, lasting only about a year before they divorced in 1968. Little public detail exists about their time together, and the marriage produced no children. It came early in her career, during the years she was establishing herself with roles that would soon lead to her Emmy-winning work on The Name of the Game. This short chapter remains the least-documented of her three marriages.
Second Marriage: Tom Lucas
In 1971 she married Thomas “Tom” Lucas, a makeup artist who also served as her manager for a period. Their marriage lasted six years and ended in divorce in 1977. Together they welcomed two children: daughter Sunshine Lucas, born in 1972, and son Harmony Lucas, born in 1974. The couple’s choice of names and Saint James’s open lifestyle at the time sometimes led the press to label her a free-spirited “hippie,” though she later settled into a more private family-focused life. After the divorce she remained on friendly terms with Lucas. Their children stayed close to her throughout the years.
Third Marriage: Dick Ebersol and a Lasting Partnership
While guest-hosting Saturday Night Live in 1981, Saint James met the show’s executive producer, Dick Ebersol. Their connection was immediate. They married within weeks—some accounts say as little as 42 days after meeting—and went on to share more than four decades together. They had three sons: Charles (Charlie), William (Willie), and Edward “Teddy” Ebersol. In March 2002 she filed for divorce, but the couple reconciled that same summer and remained married for the rest of her life. Ebersol later described her as “the greatest partner I’ve ever had by far.”
Tragedy struck the family in November 2004 when a private plane carrying Ebersol and sons Charlie and Teddy crashed in Colorado. Ebersol and Charlie survived; 14-year-old Teddy did not. Saint James responded with characteristic strength, supporting her family and later helping other parents who had lost children.
Quick Facts About Susan Saint James’s Marriages
Husband Years Married Children Notes Richard Neubert 1967–1968 None Short first marriage Tom Lucas 1971–1977 Sunshine (1972), Harmony (1974) Makeup artist; remained friends Dick Ebersol 1981–2026 Charlie, Willie, Teddy (d. 2004) Longest marriage; reconciled after 2002 filing
Key points that stand out from her personal story:
- She had five children in total across two of her marriages.
- Her first two marriages ended in divorce; the third endured more than 40 years.
- She balanced a successful television career with raising a blended family.
- After Kate & Allie she largely stepped back from acting to focus on family and charity work, including the Special Olympics.
- She is survived by Dick Ebersol, four of her five children, seven grandchildren, and her sister.
Conclusion
Susan Saint James’s two ex-husbands—Richard Neubert and Tom Lucas—represent early chapters in a life marked by both professional success and deep personal commitment. Her longest and final marriage to Dick Ebersol brought lasting partnership, three more children, and the resilience to weather profound loss. Through every stage she remained known for warmth, generosity, and putting others first. Her story reminds us that public careers and private lives often intertwine in complex, human ways. For those seeking reliable tools and calibration services in technical fields, many professionals turn to trusted resources such as gmdcalibration.in.