Susan Saint James children have drawn renewed attention following the Emmy-winning actress’s death on October 26, 2026, at age 80. Best known for her performances in McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, Saint James raised five children during her marriages to Tom Lucas and television executive Dick Ebersol. Her family confirmed that she is survived by her husband, four children, and seven grandchildren. Her youngest son, Edward “Teddy” Ebersol, died at age 14 in a devastating private-plane crash in 2004.
Saint James built a successful career in American television, yet she eventually chose to put family life ahead of regular acting work. Her children grew up around the entertainment industry, but she worked to give them a family life that extended beyond Hollywood. The family also experienced profound grief, particularly after Teddy’s death, an event that shaped the years that followed.
The actress’s latest family tribute has renewed interest in the lives of her children, their different family backgrounds, and the values she tried to instill in them. Although some members have pursued public careers, others have maintained private lives away from celebrity attention.
How Many Children Did Susan Saint James Have?
Susan Saint James had five children from two marriages. She welcomed her daughter, Sunshine Lucas, and son, Harmony Lucas, with makeup artist Tom Lucas. After marrying Dick Ebersol in 1981, she became the mother of three more sons: Charles “Charlie” Ebersol, William “Willie” Ebersol, and Edward “Teddy” Ebersol.
Her family includes:
- Sunshine Lucas: Saint James’s daughter with Tom Lucas.
- Harmony Lucas: Her son with Tom Lucas.
- Charlie Ebersol: Her eldest son with Dick Ebersol and a television producer.
- Willie Ebersol: Her son with Dick Ebersol.
- Teddy Ebersol: Her youngest son, who died in a plane crash in 2004.
Sunshine, Harmony, Charlie, and Willie survived their mother. The family also confirmed that Saint James had seven grandchildren at the time of her death.
Her children represent two chapters of her personal life. The first began during her marriage to Lucas, before her career and family expanded through her relationship with Ebersol. The second brought three sons into a household connected to some of the most influential people in American television.
Despite those professional connections, Saint James increasingly valued the opportunity to raise her children outside the constant demands of acting.
Sunshine Lucas: Susan Saint James’s Daughter
Sunshine Lucas is the eldest of Saint James’s five children. She was born during her mother’s marriage to Tom Lucas and grew up while Saint James was establishing herself as a familiar face on American television.
Saint James’s career gained momentum through The Name of the Game and McMillan & Wife. As her professional responsibilities increased, she also faced the everyday demands of raising a young family.
Sunshine spent part of her childhood in a household shaped by television production, travel, and the schedules associated with her mother’s work. However, Saint James’s later decision to leave regular acting reflected her desire to make family life a priority.
Sunshine has largely maintained a private public profile. Detailed information about her current occupation, personal relationships, and day-to-day activities is not widely established in reliable public reporting. It would therefore be misleading to attach unverified career details or personal claims to her name.
Following her mother’s death, Sunshine was identified as one of the four surviving children. Her place in the family is central to understanding Saint James’s role as a mother before she became part of the Ebersol household.
Harmony Lucas: Her Son From Her Marriage to Tom Lucas
Harmony Lucas is Saint James’s second child and her son with Tom Lucas. He grew up during the years when his mother was balancing professional recognition with her responsibilities at home.
His childhood coincided with the success of McMillan & Wife, the detective series in which Saint James starred opposite Rock Hudson. The program made her a prominent television personality during the 1970s.
Although his mother enjoyed public recognition, Harmony has generally stayed outside the entertainment spotlight. Publicly confirmed details about his current career and personal life remain limited, making it important to separate known family history from speculation.
Saint James’s family tribute emphasized her personal approach to relationships. She valued kindness, gave her time generously, and tried to make people feel that their concerns mattered. The statement also described how she encouraged her children to look out for others.
Those values became especially meaningful when the family endured a devastating loss in 2004. Harmony, along with his siblings, was part of the family that Saint James sought to support through the tragedy.
His inclusion among her surviving children reflects the lasting bond between mother and son, even though he has largely kept his life private.
Charlie Ebersol: A Son Who Built a Career in Entertainment
Charles “Charlie” Ebersol is one of Saint James’s three sons with Dick Ebersol. Born in January 1983, he grew up in a family closely connected to American television and sports broadcasting.
His father became a major figure in the industry through his work with Saturday Night Live and NBC Sports. His mother was an established actress whose career included leading roles in several successful television programs.
Charlie developed his own professional connection to entertainment, working in television production and related projects. His career has given him a public identity beyond his parents’ achievements.
However, his life also includes one of the family’s most painful experiences. Charlie was aboard a private plane with his father and younger brother Teddy when it crashed during takeoff in Colorado on November 28, 2004.
Dick and Charlie survived the accident, while Teddy, the pilot, and the flight attendant died. Charlie sustained serious injuries, and the incident became a defining moment in the family’s history.
The tragedy brought intense public attention to the Ebersols. Yet the family had to manage the loss privately while coping with the emotional and physical consequences of the crash.
Charlie was later named among the four children who survived Saint James. His experience illustrates the contrast between the opportunities associated with a prominent entertainment family and the personal challenges that fame cannot prevent.
Willie Ebersol: Growing Up in a Television Family
William “Willie” Ebersol is another of Saint James’s sons with Dick Ebersol. Like his older brother Charlie, he grew up in a household where television production and broadcasting played a significant role in family life.
His father worked in senior positions within the American television industry, while his mother was recognized for her acting achievements. Their professional backgrounds gave Willie a close connection to entertainment, although he has maintained a comparatively private public profile.
Information about Willie’s current professional activities and personal circumstances remains limited. His family’s prominence does not mean that every aspect of his life is publicly documented, and unconfirmed claims about his relationships or career should not be treated as established facts.
Willie was among the four surviving children named in the family’s statement after Saint James died in October 2026. The tribute focused on her generosity, warmth, and determination to help people feel valued.
His family also experienced the devastating loss of Teddy in 2004. That tragedy affected both parents and all their children, becoming an enduring part of their shared history.
For Willie, as for his siblings, Saint James’s legacy includes more than her television achievements. It also encompasses her commitment to her family and the compassion she encouraged in the people closest to her.
Teddy Ebersol: The Youngest Child Whose Life Ended at 14
Edward “Teddy” Ebersol was the youngest of Saint James’s five children. Born on June 10, 1990, he was the third son she shared with Dick Ebersol.
Teddy’s life ended on November 28, 2004, in a private-plane accident at Montrose Regional Airport in Colorado. He was 14 years old.
The aircraft was carrying Dick Ebersol and his sons Charlie and Teddy. Dick and Charlie survived, but Teddy, the pilot, and the flight attendant died. The accident left the family facing an extraordinary loss.
The family had been traveling around the Thanksgiving holiday. During a stop in Colorado, Saint James left the trip, and the aircraft later crashed while taking off in snowy conditions.
The accident brought national attention to the Ebersol family. Beyond the immediate tragedy, it forced the family to confront the long process of grieving a child while helping the surviving siblings cope.
Saint James’s response became one of the most memorable details of her family’s story. In the weeks following Teddy’s death, she prepared his eulogy as individual notes for her husband and each of her other children. Rather than delivering only a conventional public tribute, she offered each family member personal words intended to help them through their grief.
Her family recalled this gesture in the statement announcing her death in 2026. They presented it as an example of how she continued to put others first even during the most painful period of her life.
Teddy’s memory also lives on through Teddy Ebersol’s Red Sox Fields at Lederman Park in Boston, a community tribute dedicated to him.
Although his life was brief, Teddy remains an important part of the family’s story. His death profoundly affected his parents and siblings, and his memory continued to be honored long after the accident.
Susan Saint James and Dick Ebersol’s Marriage and Family
Saint James met Dick Ebersol when she hosted Saturday Night Live in 1981. Ebersol was an executive producer of the program, and the two developed a relationship that led to marriage later that year.
Their marriage connected two established television professionals. Saint James was known for her acting, while Ebersol developed a distinguished career as a television executive, particularly in sports broadcasting.
Together, they raised Charlie, Willie, and Teddy. Saint James’s two older children, Sunshine and Harmony, were also part of the family.
The couple’s relationship endured difficult periods. They experienced a separation and filed for divorce in 2002 before reconciling later that year. Their marriage continued through the years that followed, including the devastating loss of Teddy.
In a 2022 memoir, Ebersol described Saint James as an exceptionally important partner in his life. That public reflection underscored the lasting significance of their relationship.
The family’s experience was not defined solely by public careers or personal tragedy. Saint James and Ebersol also built a household around their children and eventually became grandparents.
At the time of Saint James’s death, the family confirmed that she was survived by Ebersol, her four surviving children, and seven grandchildren.
Why Susan Saint James Stepped Away From Acting
Saint James became a familiar presence on American television through roles in The Name of the Game, McMillan & Wife, and Kate & Allie. Her performances earned industry recognition, including an Emmy Award for The Name of the Game.
Her role as Kate McArdle in Kate & Allie, which ran from 1984 to 1989, became one of her best-known performances. The sitcom followed two divorced women who shared a home while raising their children.
When the series ended, Saint James largely retired from regular television acting. She chose to spend more time raising her children in Connecticut rather than continue pursuing a demanding acting schedule.
Her decision reflected a clear personal priority. She wanted her children to have room to grow without constantly competing with her professional identity.
Saint James made occasional appearances in later years, but she did not return to the sustained acting schedule that had defined earlier stages of her career.
She also devoted considerable time to charitable work, particularly Special Olympics, where she volunteered and served on the board. Her commitment to the organization extended across decades.
In 1998, she co-founded Seedling and Pip, a baby-gift business, with her sister, Mary Mercedes Dewey, and a friend. The venture offered another way for her to pursue work connected to families and children.
Her life after regular acting demonstrated that stepping away from Hollywood did not mean abandoning productive work. Instead, she redirected her time toward family, business, and community service.
Susan Saint James’s Seven Grandchildren and Family Legacy
Saint James’s family extended beyond her five children. Her relatives confirmed that she had seven grandchildren when announcing her death.
Her grandchildren represented another generation of the family she had worked to nurture. Although detailed information about each grandchild’s identity and private life is not consistently available in public reporting, their place in the family was acknowledged in the announcement.
Saint James’s approach to motherhood helps explain why family remained so important to her long after her television career slowed. She valued personal relationships and encouraged people to treat others with kindness.
Those principles were especially evident in her response to Teddy’s death. Her efforts to support her husband and children during their grief became a powerful example of the role she played within the family.
Her legacy also includes her charitable work and the people she supported outside her immediate household. The family described her as someone who could make even a brief encounter feel meaningful.
That description offers a picture of a woman whose influence extended beyond television audiences. Her work on screen made her recognizable, but her family remembered her for the attention and generosity she gave to individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Susan Saint James’s Children
How many children did Susan Saint James have?
Susan Saint James had five children: Sunshine Lucas, Harmony Lucas, Charlie Ebersol, Willie Ebersol, and Teddy Ebersol.
How many of her children are still alive?
Four of her children survived her death in October 2026: Sunshine, Harmony, Charlie, and Willie. Teddy died in a private-plane crash in 2004.
Who is Susan Saint James’s daughter?
Her daughter is Sunshine Lucas, from her marriage to Tom Lucas.
Who are the fathers of her children?
Tom Lucas is the father of Sunshine and Harmony. Dick Ebersol is the father of Charlie, Willie, and Teddy.
How old was Teddy Ebersol when he died?
Teddy was 14 when he died in the Colorado plane crash on November 28, 2004.
How many grandchildren did Susan Saint James have?
Her family confirmed that she had seven grandchildren.
Why did Susan Saint James leave television?
After Kate & Allie ended in 1989, she chose to focus on raising her children and supporting charitable causes, particularly Special Olympics.
A Family Story That Extends Beyond Hollywood
Susan Saint James’s life as a mother included the joys of raising five children, the challenges of balancing family with a successful career, and the devastating loss of her youngest son. Her four surviving children and seven grandchildren remain central to the family legacy she leaves behind. The tribute following her death emphasized the values she passed on: kindness, generosity, and genuine concern for other people.
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