Grease star Susan Buckner dead at 72: The actress played cheerleader Patty opposite Olivia Newton

Release time：2024-05-09 07:30:19 Source：Culture Channel news portal

Grease star Susan Buckner has died at the age of 72.

Her family revealed Susan died peacefully surrounded by loved ones in Miami, Florida on May 2, according to Deadline. 

The actress played Patty Simcox opposite Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the 1978 blockbuster film about students at Rydell High.

She was the pretty but prim cheerleader who wore prescription glasses, fitted sweaters and full poodle skirts.

The character was friends with Sandy - played by Newton-John - when she first came to the school.

Grease star Susan Buckner has died at the age of 72. Her family revealed Susan died peacefully surrounded by loved ones in Miami on May 2, according to Deadline

The actress played Patty Simcox opposite Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the 1978 blockbuster film about students at Rydell High

Seen here from left, Didi Conn as Frenchy, Susan as Patty Simcox and Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo

Buckner was 25 at the time she filmed her iconic scenes and previously spoke about how the whole cast definitely acted younger than their years.

She told People: 'We were so bad. Almost everybody would come in two, three hours late. They had to bring us all in and give us a lecture.'

Following its release in 1978, the classic rom-com became a huge box office success, totaling $1.531 billion worldwide. 

Susan was also on the TV shows The Mac Davis Show, Sonny and Cher, and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

She was born in Seattle, Washington in 1952.

Her career started out in the pageant world. She was crowned Miss Washington in 1971 and in September went on to become a top ten finalist in the Miss America 1972 pageant.

The title went to Miss Ohio Laurel Lea Schaefer.

Then she started acting.

Susan's first role was as Judy on the hit TV series Police Woman for the episode titled Angela.

Next came 9 episodes on The Brady Bunch Hour where she played Krofftette.

She had a part as Jessica in 1977's Switch then played Golden Age movie star Jean Harlow in the 1977 TV movie The Amazing Howard Hughes.

 Jamie Donnelly, Buckner, Newton-John, Conn in the musical scene 

Seen on The Love Boat. She was on the episode The Spider Serenade/The Next Door Wife/Harder They Fall which aired on December 8, 1979.

Seen on The Love Boat with costar James MacArthur 

She was seen in three episodes of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries.

In 1978 she guest starred as Sharon on Starksy & Hutch. That same year she appeared in the TV movie Return Engagement as Janice.

She also popped up as Kim Patterson in the episode titled The Spider Serenade/Next Door Wife/The Harder They Fall on the famed show The Love Boat in 1979.

Her last TV show was When The Whistle Blows in 1980.

Her last movie was 1981's Deadly Blessing where she played Vicky Anderson.

But she eventually decided to take a step back from her on screen career.

Buckner ended up directing children's theater in Miami - and is said to have even masterminded a production of Grease.

She had also been a vocal supporter of various charitable organizations in recent years including the American Cancer Society to whom she donated an autographed bra that was then auctioned. 

Susan is survived by her son Adam Josephs, daughter Samantha Mansfield, grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby as well as her sister Linda, daughter-in-law Noel Josephs, son-in-law Adam Mansfield and longtime partner Al.

Buckner at the Chiller Theatre Expo Spring 2018 at Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany, New Jersey

Related articles