‘Grease’ actor Susan Buckner dead at 72
American actor Susan Buckner, best known for her role as Patty Simcox in the 1978 musical Grease, died on May 2nd, 2024, aged 72.
Buckner was 25 when she took on the role of a Rydell High cheerleader, alongside castmates John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Grease was the highest-grossing film of the year, beating Superman and Halloween to the top spot.
The iconic movie remains one of the most defining films of the decade, helped greatly by Buckner’s delivered cheer of, “Do the splits, give a yell! Show a little spirit for old Rydell! Way to go, red and white! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”
Nevertheless, Buckner’s career was bigger than just that one film. Before the 1978 film, she did the pageant circuit. She was crowned Miss Washington in 1971, before going on to compete in the 1972 Miss America competition. Buckner made the top ten finalists that year.
Additionally, Buckner was a celebrated dancer, appearing on Sonny and Cher, The Mac Davis Show and Telly Savalas Live Touring Show. She became part of Dean Martin’s ‘Golddiggers’ and went on to join the all-girl group ‘Fantasy’. She founded her own music duo, Buckner and Pratt.
After moving to acting, she has a resume of guest roles in TV shows. She played one of the Krofftettes, doing synchronised swimming routines on The Brady Bunch. She also featured in Starsky & Hutch, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, When The Whistle Blows, and more.
In 1981, she starred in a Wes Craven horror film, made as a precursor to his major Scream success. In Deadly Blessing, Buckner played Vicky Anderson, cast alongside Sharon Stone in one of her earliest roles.
Deadly Blessing marked her last acting job as she made the decision to retire from the industry. She spent the rest of her life teaching, directing children’s theatre productions at a local school and leading dance classes.
Born on January 28th 1952, Buckner was 72 when she passed away, with her publicist confirming the news of her death. She is survived by two children, son Adam Josephs and daughter Samantha Mansfield; her four grandchildren, her sister, Linda, her daughter-in-law and son-in-law; and her longtime partner, Al. But is remembered by hoards of film fans. No cause of death has been revealed.
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