Actress and dancer Susan Buckner, widely recognized for her role as Patty Simcox, the cheery cheerleader in the iconic 1978 film “Grease,” has passed away at the age of 72. Her death was confirmed by family spokesperson Melissa Berthier on Thursday in Miami, although no cause of death was disclosed.
Buckner’s career spanned various roles across television and film. Before her breakout in “Grease,” she portrayed Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow in the 1977 CBS telefilm “The Amazing Howard Hughes.” Additionally, she was part of the ensemble known as the Kroffettes on “The Brady Bunch Hour” and starred alongside Sharon Stone in Wes Craven’s “Deadly Blessing” in 1981.
In “Grease,” directed by Randal Kleiser, Buckner’s character Patty Simcox plays a memorable role as she persuades Olivia Newton-John’s character, Sandy Olsson, to try out for the cheerleading squad. However, Patty often finds herself at the receiving end of jokes from the Pink Ladies and T-Birds, earning herself the nickname “the bad seed of Rydell High.”
Born in Seattle on January 28, 1952, Buckner initially rose to prominence after winning the Miss Washington pageant in 1971 and later competing for the Miss America crown. Following her pageant success, she appeared as a dancer and sketch performer on NBC’s “The Dean Martin Show” in 1973, which ultimately led to her involvement in various musical ventures, including the all-girl group Fantasy and the musical duo Buckner & Pratt.
Throughout her career, Buckner made appearances on several television shows, including “Police Woman,” “Switch,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “B.J and the Bear,” and “The Love Boat.” She also had roles in films such as “The First Nudie Musical” in 1976 and “Police Academy 6: City Under Siege” in 1989.
After leaving Hollywood, Buckner dedicated her time to raising her family and pursued interests in directing kids’ theater and teaching dance. She is survived by her children Adam and Samantha, grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail, and Ruby, sister Linda, daughter-in-law Noel, son-in-law Adam, and her longtime partner, Al. Donations in her memory can be made to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami.
