If you were around in the early 2000s, you probably remember the name Susan Saint James. Maybe you knew her as the sharp, funny half of McMillan & Wife or from her years on Kate & Allie. But for a lot of people, her name became forever linked to a horrific morning in November 2004 that felt like something out of a nightmare.
It’s been over two decades since that private jet went down in the Colorado snow. Honestly, when people search for "plane crash Susan St James now," they aren’t just looking for the grisly details of the wreckage. They’re usually looking for how a person survives that kind of soul-crushing loss and where the family is today.
The Morning Everything Changed in Montrose
It was November 28, 2004. Thanksgiving weekend had just wrapped up. The Ebersol family—Susan, her husband (NBC Sports legend Dick Ebersol), and their sons—had been spending time at their home near Telluride.
The plan was simple. The chartered Bombardier Challenger 601 was supposed to drop Susan off in Colorado, then take Dick and two of their sons, Charlie and Teddy, back toward the East Coast. Charlie was headed back to Notre Dame, and Teddy, who was only 14, was coming along for the ride.
Susan had literally just stepped off the plane.
Moments later, as the jet tried to take off from Montrose Regional Airport in a mounting snowstorm, things went sideways. Fast. The plane didn’t just fail to gain altitude; it clipped a fence, skidded through the brush, and slammed into a roadbed. The impact was so violent it ripped the cockpit right off the fuselage.
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A Hero in the Wreckage
If you want to talk about "now," you have to talk about Charlie Ebersol. He was 21 at the time. While the plane was still a mangled, burning mess of fuel and metal, Charlie did something most of us can't even fathom. He crawled through the wreckage, found his father—who was unconscious and pinned under a heavy 250-pound kitchen unit—and dragged him to safety.
He went back for his younger brother, Teddy. He searched and searched, but the flames were too much.
For nearly two days, Teddy was missing. The search crews eventually found him under the wreckage. He hadn’t made it. Neither had the pilot, Luis Polanco, or the flight attendant, Warren T. Richardson III.
The Recovery: Susan St James Now and Her Family’s Path
How do you even breathe after that? Susan Saint James famously spoke about this later with a kind of grace that honestly leaves you a bit stunned. She didn't get bitter. She didn't rail against the world. She basically told her family that while they could cry and be sad for the rest of their lives, they weren't allowed to get angry or "get mad" at the situation.
It’s a perspective that comes from a very specific place of strength.
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Where is Susan Saint James in 2026?
Today, Susan is mostly retired from the Hollywood grind. She’s 79 now. She and Dick Ebersol are still together—they’ve been married for over 40 years, which is basically a millennium in celebrity years.
She hasn't spent her later years chasing a comeback. Instead, she’s leaned heavily into her work with the Special Olympics, an organization she’s been involved with since the 1970s. She’s served on their international board and has been a massive advocate for volunteerism. You’ll also find her name associated with the Telluride Foundation.
Dick Ebersol eventually stepped down from his massive role at NBC in 2011. He’s spent the last few years reflecting, even releasing a memoir called From Saturday Night to Sunday Night where he talks openly about Teddy and the healing process.
The Survivors: Charlie and Willie
Charlie Ebersol didn’t let the crash define him as a victim. He became a high-powered television and film producer. You might remember him as the guy behind the Alliance of American Football (AAF) or his work with various documentaries. He’s also been a huge advocate for veterans.
Willie Ebersol, the middle son who wasn't on the plane that day, also followed the family path into the industry, winning an Emmy for his work.
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Why the 2004 Crash Still Matters
The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) investigation into the crash actually changed how people look at private aviation safety in winter. The big issue? De-icing.
The pilot apparently declined to have the wings de-iced before takeoff, despite the heavy snow. When ice builds up on the wings, it disrupts the airflow, making it almost impossible for the plane to generate lift. It was a tragic, preventable mistake that cost three lives.
Moving Forward: Lessons in Resilience
If there’s anything to take away from Susan Saint James’ journey, it’s about the "management" of grief. She often says that time doesn't necessarily "heal" the wound, but it gives you the space to remember the person without the immediate sharp pain of the loss.
She once shared a story about opening Christmas presents just weeks after the crash. Teddy had already picked them out—silly, funny gifts that perfectly captured his "quirky" sense of humor. They laughed through the tears. That’s how they’ve survived.
Actionable Takeaways for Coping with Loss
If you're looking into this story because you're navigating your own "plane crash" moment in life, here are a few things Susan and her family have modeled:
- Talk about them: Don't make the person who passed a "taboo" subject. Mention their name. Share their jokes.
- Reject bitterness: Grief is heavy enough without adding the weight of anger toward the universe.
- Find a "Why": For Susan, it was the Special Olympics. Finding a cause larger than your own pain can be a literal lifesaver.
- Acknowledge the miracle: Focus on who is still here. Dick and Charlie’s survival was statistically improbable, and the family chose to view that as a gift rather than focusing solely on the tragedy.
The Ebersol family's story isn't just a "celebrity tragedy" from 2004. It's a blueprint for how to keep standing when the world falls apart. Susan Saint James now lives a quiet, purposeful life, proving that even after the worst morning imaginable, there is a way to find peace.