|
California First Lady and Special Olympics Board Member Maria Shriver Speaks at the Event
 |
Emmy winner and longtime Special Olympics volunteer, Susan St. James. Photo courtesy of Alex Berliner ©Berliner Studio/BEImages |
Emmy winner and longtime Special Olympics volunteer and supporter Susan Saint James received the 2,364th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring a career best known for her roles in the television series "McMillan and Wife" and "Kate & Allie." The ceremony happened on Wednesday, 11 June 2008.
Saint James was joined by friends and family as she was honored for her television career. California First Lady and Special Olympics International Board Member Maria Shriver spoke at the late-morning ceremony on Vine Street, near Hollywood Boulevard , in Los Angeles, California (USA).
Shriver said she first met Saint James when Shriver was a teenager and they were working on a Special Olympics event. "She's really been a pioneer in the Special Olympics movement," Shriver said. "She's a brave woman."
Like Shriver, Saint James has been a longtime volunteer for Special Olympics, which was founded by Shriver's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 40 years ago this summer. Saint James’ dedication to the Special Olympics movement began in 1972 , and she has been one of the movement’s most valued volunteers. She served on the Board of Special Olympics Connecticut since 1983 and now is an Honorary Board Member. From 1994 through 2002, Saint James also served on the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. Through the years she has brought awareness to Special Olympics by traveling throughout the world to spread the message of acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
 |
Susan St. James and First Lady of California and Special Olympics Board Member, Maria Shriver. |
Saint James received three Emmy nominations for her role as Sally McMillan, wife of San Francisco Police Commissioner Stewart McMillan (Rock Hudson), on NBC's "McMillan and Wife" from 1971-76. After appearing in nine made-for-television films and the theatrical films "Love at First Bite" and "How to Beat the High Cost of Living" from 1976- 1983, Saint James returned to series television in 1984 as divorcee Kate McArdle in the CBS comedy "Kate & Allie," receiving Emmy nominations in each of its first two seasons.
When "Kate & Allie" ended its run in 1989, Saint James retired from acting to devote herself to her family and philanthropic efforts. She has made two television guest-star appearances since then, playing the mother of her real-life niece Christa Miller in a 1996 episode of "The Drew Carey Show" and a defense attorney in a 2006 episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Saint James received her star one day after the anniversary of the birth of her youngest son Teddy, who was killed in a plane crash in 2004 at the age of 14. Saint James is married to NBC Universal sports executive Dick Ebersol.
|
