Susan Buckner, an American actress best remembered for portraying Patty Simcox in the 1978 musical "Grease," passed away on May 2 at the age of 72, as confirmed by her publicist.
At 25, Buckner was cast as the Rydell High cheerleader, joining a cast that included John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Her character, Simcox, was a symbol of school spirit, known for the iconic cheer: “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 continued acting, appearing in various television shows like “The Love Boat,” “B.J and the Bear,” and “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.” She also co-starred in the ABC series “When the Whistle Blows.” Her film roles included Wes Craven’s 1981 horror film “Deadly Blessing” and the 1989 comedy sequel “Police Academy 6: City Under Siege.”
In her later years, Buckner devoted her time to teaching, directing children’s theater productions at Pinecrest Elementary School, and leading dance classes at Body and Soul Gym in Coral Gables, Florida.
Born on January 28, 1952, in Seattle, Washington, Buckner was a beauty queen, crowned Miss Washington in 1971 and representing the state in the Miss America pageant the following year. She was also part of Dean Martin’s Golddiggers and later joined the all-girl group Fantasy. Buckner showcased her talents as a dancer on shows like “The Mac Davis Show” and “Sonny and Cher,” and as a synchronized swimmer on “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.”
Susan Buckner is survived by her two children, Adam Josephs and Samantha Mansfield, her four grandchildren, her sister Linda, her daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and her longtime partner, Al.