5 Ways Susan St. James And Her Family Found Hope After The Tragic Plane Crash: A 2025 Update

The name Susan St. James is synonymous with classic 70s and 80s television, from her breakout role in McMillan & Wife to the beloved sitcom Kate & Allie. However, for over two decades, her life has been defined by an event far more personal and heartbreaking: the 2004 plane crash that tragically took the life of her youngest son, Teddy Ebersol. As of late 2025, the actress, now 79, continues to live a private life focused on family and activism, with the enduring legacy of her son serving as a powerful, positive force in the world.

This article provides the most current, up-to-date information on Susan St. James, the details of the devastating Colorado crash, and the remarkable ways her family—including her husband, Dick Ebersol, and son, Charles Ebersol—have channeled their profound grief into a lasting, public philanthropic mission that continues to thrive today.

Susan St. James: A Brief Biography and Profile

Susan St. James, born Susan Jane Miller, is an iconic American actress whose career spanned four decades before she stepped away from Hollywood to focus on her family and charitable work. Her life and career highlights are extensive:

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• Full Name: Susan Jane Miller
• Born: August 14, 1946 (Age 79 in 2025)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
• Spouse: Dick Ebersol (Married 1981)
• Children: Harmony, Sunshine, Zachary, Charles, and Teddy (deceased)
• Notable Roles: Sally McMillan in McMillan & Wife (1971–1976), Kate McArdle in Kate & Allie (1984–1989), and various appearances in The Name of the Game.
• Awards: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Kate & Allie).
• Current Status (2025): Former actress, activist, and philanthropist, residing in Connecticut.

The Montrose Tragedy: The Plane Crash That Changed Everything

The event that forever altered the Ebersol family’s life occurred on November 28, 2004. The family was traveling in a private plane, a Dassault Falcon 900, which was headed from Montrose, Colorado, to New York. The details of the crash are crucial to understanding the subsequent narrative of healing and legacy.

Susan St. James was not on the flight. She had been dropped off in Montrose, Colorado, moments before the plane was scheduled to depart for the East Coast. Her husband, NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, and two of her sons, Charles (then 21) and Teddy (then 14), were aboard the aircraft.

The plane skidded off the runway during takeoff, hit a de-icing truck, and burst into flames. The impact was catastrophic. The crash resulted in three fatalities: the pilot, the flight attendant, and the Ebersols’ youngest son, Teddy Ebersol.

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Both Dick Ebersol and Charles Ebersol survived the horrific accident, though they sustained serious injuries. Dick Ebersol suffered a fractured sternum and severe burns, while Charles Ebersol sustained a broken back and other internal injuries. Their survival, coupled with the tragic loss of Teddy, became the defining moment for the entire family.

Susan St. James Now: 5 Ways the Ebersol Family Forged a Positive Legacy

In the aftermath of the 2004 tragedy, Susan St. James stepped almost entirely out of the public eye, dedicating her time to family and her long-standing commitment to charitable causes. The family’s journey from profound grief to public healing is marked by several significant, enduring efforts that reflect their resilience and Teddy’s spirit.

1. The Enduring Power of Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields

The most public and lasting tribute to Teddy Ebersol is the creation of Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields in Boston, Massachusetts. Teddy was an avid and devoted Boston Red Sox fan.

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This philanthropic project, developed in partnership with the Red Sox Foundation, Hill House, and the Esplanade Association, transformed a dilapidated area along the Charles River Esplanade into a series of state-of-the-art baseball and soccer fields.

Dedicated in 2006, the fields serve as a vibrant community hub, ensuring that Teddy’s love for sports and his home team continues to benefit thousands of young people in the Boston area every year. This physical, public legacy is a powerful testament to the family's ability to create something positive out of unimaginable loss.

2. Charles Ebersol’s Continued Success and Entrepreneurial Spirit

Susan St. James’s son, Charles Ebersol, who survived the crash, has gone on to become a highly successful entrepreneur and filmmaker, with his career frequently making headlines well into 2025. This continued public success is a key part of the family’s current narrative.

Charles is the co-founder of the sports technology company Tempus Ex Machina, which focuses on revolutionizing how sports data is used in media. He was also the founder of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). His work in sports and media is a direct echo of his father’s long and celebrated career at NBC Sports, demonstrating a family commitment to excellence and innovation that has persevered through trauma.

3. Susan St. James’s Philanthropic Focus and Activism

Having essentially retired from acting, Susan St. James has devoted her life to activism and charity work, a commitment that predates the crash. She and Dick Ebersol have supported numerous causes.

While she maintains a low profile, her dedication to various charitable organizations, including those focused on education and community development, is a quiet but central part of her life in Connecticut. The family also established the Teddy Ebersol's Family Foundation, a private foundation that further channels their efforts toward philanthropic giving, keeping Teddy's memory active through good works.

4. Dick Ebersol's Memoir and Public Healing

Susan St. James’s husband, Dick Ebersol, has been more public in sharing the family's healing journey. His autobiography, which covers his decades-long career in television and the personal highs and lows, offers intimate details about the plane crash and the subsequent years of recovery.

These public reflections, often shared in interviews, have provided a window into the family's enduring strength and the way they have coped with the loss of Teddy, emphasizing the importance of family support and shared grief. The couple remains married and continues to reside in their Connecticut home, representing a partnership that has withstood an unimaginable tragedy.

5. The Enduring Strength of a Hollywood Marriage

In a world where celebrity marriages often falter, Susan St. James and Dick Ebersol have been married for over four decades since meeting in 1981 when she hosted Saturday Night Live (which Dick Ebersol was the executive producer of).

Their continued marriage and shared commitment to their surviving children and Teddy’s legacy is perhaps the most powerful answer to the question of "What is Susan St. James doing now?" She is a survivor, a mother, and a partner whose life is a testament to finding purpose and hope after profound loss. Her quiet life in Connecticut, away from the Hollywood spotlight, is dedicated to upholding the values she prioritized over her career decades ago: family and philanthropy.