‘She was magic’: Grease actress Susan Buckner dead at 72

Actress Susan Buckner, best known for playing a key role in the classic movie musical Grease, has died “surrounded by loved ones.”

Susan Buckner, at left. Picture: Alamy

Susan Buckner, best known for playing Patty Simcox in Grease, has died. She was 72.

“Susan died peacefully on May 2 surrounded by loved ones,” Melissa Berthier, a publicist for the family, told People in a statement today. No cause of death was provided.

Buckner’s daughter, Samantha Mansfield, also remembered the late actress.

“The light she brought into every room will be missed forever,” Mansfield told the outlet. “She was magic, and I was very lucky to call her my best friend.”

Susan Buckner at left, with Olivia Newton-John centre, on the set of Grease. Picture: Alamy

Simcox was one of Sandy’s (Olivia Newton-John) cheerleading friends in the 1978 cult musical classic.

Born in 1952 in Seattle, Buckner was crowned Miss Washington in 1971. She later joined The Dean Martin Show as one of the Golddiggers, an all-female singing and dancing group.

She went on to appear in the variety shows The Mac Davis Show, Sonny and Cher and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

Buckner also starred alongside John Travolta, Stockard Channing, Barry Pearl, Dinah Manoff, Michael Tucci and the late Jeff Conaway in Grease. Conaway died at 60 in May 2011.

Buckner in 1981. Picture: Alamy

Buckner retired from acting back in 1981. Picture: Facebook

Newton-John passed away at 73 in August 2022 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Simcox had a famous cheer in the film: “Do the splits, give a yell! Show a little spirit for Old Rydell! Way to go, red and white! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”

Buckner did not return for the sequel, Grease 2, which was released in 1982 and starred Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield.

Buckner (bottom) with Sharon Stone (top and, Maren Jensen, 1981. Picture: Alamy

Buckner lived a quiet life out of the spotlight in her later years. Picture: Facebook

She appeared in shows like Starsky & Hutch and The Love Boat after finding fame from Grease.

Her final acting role was in the 1981 slasher film Deadly Blessing.

Buckner directed children’s theatre and taught dance at a gym in Florida in her later years.

She is survived by Mansfield, son Adam Josephs, 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.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as ‘She was magic’: Grease actress Susan Buckner dead at 72