Susan Buckner, the actress who played Patty in Grease, dies aged 72
Buckner played alongside Olivia Newton-John as Sandy’s peppy cheerleader friend
The actor who played Patty Simcox in the film Grease has died aged 72.
Susan Buckner, who was best known for her role as Sandy’s cheerleading friend in the 1978 musical, died on May 2 surrounded by her family.
In a statement, a publicist for her family said: “Susan died peacefully on May 2 surrounded by loved ones.”
The actor’s daughter, Samantha Mansfield, told People that “the light she brought into every room will be missed forever”.
“She was magic, and I was very lucky to call her my best friend,” she said.
Ms Buckner’s cause of death was not provided.
She appeared in Grease alongside Olivia Newton-John, who starred as Sandy and died in 2022.
Buckner was a beauty queen before she was cast in Grease
The film became the highest-grossing musical of all time on its release in June 1978, beating the previous record set by The Sound of Music.
In the film, Ms Buckner’s character Patty is a geeky student who appears in an early scene to declare to a group of girls: “Hey, they just announced the nominees for student council this morning and guess who’s up for vice president?
“Me! Isn’t that the most? To say the least?”
Grease became the highest-grossing musical of all time on its release in June 1978 – CBS
Seven years earlier, Ms Buckner had won Miss Washington, the beauty contest, and went on to represent the state in the Miss America national final.
Although she was best known for Grease, she appeared in one episode of Starsky & Hutch the same year it was released, and later acted in The Love Boat and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, before leaving the industry to raise two children.
She later taught children’s theatre in Florida, where she lived, and is survived by Ms Mansfield, her son Adam Josephs, and four grandchildren, plus her sister Linda and partner Al.
Her family requested that donations be made to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami in her honour.
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