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Susan Saint James was honored by her friend and “Kate & Allie” co-star Jane Curtin after she died of cancer at the age of 80.
“We lost a decent person today,” the actress wrote in a statement to Page Six Tuesday.
“Susan St. James was a decent person who made ‘Kate and Allie’ a joy,” she continued. “She juggled a really full life from the Ed Sullivan Theater in between working on stage and being the Mom on set.”
“She worked tirelessly for organizations she believed in like the Special Olympics,” Curtin, 79, added.
“All the while raising children and going through the horrors of losing a child,” the “Coneheads” star continued, referring to James’ youngest son, Teddy, who died in a private jet crash at the age of 14 in 2004.
“Susan was my friend, and working with her brought such laughter, community and family to the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater. I’ll miss her.”
James and Curtin starred alongside each other on the 1980s TV series they starred in together, portraying two divorced mothers, Kate McArdle and Allie Lowell, respectively.
In the series, the women and their children all move in with each other. Before signing on to the series, James was admittedly hesitant, telling People in 1984, “This is not a statement saying, ‘Girls, leave the guys and go live with your best friend.”
“Kate and Allie didn’t plan this. It’s just the best solution they could think of, and their friendship sustains them,” she explained at the time.
James received two Emmy nominations for her role as McArdle before the show ended.
“The Name of the Game” alum’s rep confirmed her death to People via a statement on Tuesday following her battle with pancreatic cancer.
The spokesperson highlighted the actress’ generosity “with her time and energy, which she valued more than money, and instinctively drawn to whoever needed lifting up.”
“She taught her children to pause, be kind and look out for other people,” the statement read.
“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.”
James is survived by her husband, Dick Ebersol, whom she wed in 1981, and her children: Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol and Willie Ebersol.