Susan Buckner, famous for portraying the cheerful cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 film “Grease” alongside Olivia Newton-John, has died. She was 72.
Susan Buckner, who portrayed the bubbly Patty Simcox in the 1950s-themed high school drama, passed away Thursday, surrounded by loved ones, as confirmed by her representative Melissa Berthier to People magazine and Entertainment Weekly. The reason for her death was not revealed.
In “Grease,” Susan Buckner’s character Simcox was a close friend of the Australian schoolgirl Sandy, played by Newton-John. The film, released in June 1978, achieved immense success, grossing nearly $160 million worldwide and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Susan Buckner began her career in entertainment as a sketch performer on “The Dean Martin Show” in 1973. She made her debut on the big screen as a dancer in the 1976 musical comedy “The First Nudie Musical.”
After her breakout role in “Grease,” Buckner appeared as a guest on numerous television shows, including “B.J. and the Bear” and “The Love Boat,” and had a 10-episode role on “When the Whistle Blows,” as detailed on her IMDb page.
Additionally, Buckner starred in the 1981 thriller “Deadly Blessing,” directed by Wes Craven, alongside Maren Jensen and Sharon Stone.
Surviving Susan Buckner are her two children, son Adam Josephs and daughter Samantha Mansfield, along with four grandchildren, her sister Linda, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and her longtime partner Al, as reported by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
In a statement to People magazine, Susan Buckner’s daughter Samantha expressed, “The radiance she brought into every room will be deeply missed. She was enchanting, and I was incredibly fortunate to have her as my closest companion.”
