Susan Buckner obit

Susan Buckner Dies: ‘Grease’ Actor Who Played Olivia Newton-John’s Cheerleading Pal Was 72

 She was not on the list.

Susan Buckner, best known to moviegoers as Grease‘s bubbly cheerleader Patty Simcox, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones in Miami on May 2.

Her death was announced by family.

Buckner’s Grease character was the Rydell High cheerleading pal of Olivia Newton-John’s Sandy. The 1978 film also starred John Travolta and Stockard Channing.

Born on January 28, 1952, in Seattle, Washington, Buckner was crowned Miss Washington in 1971 and represented the state in the Miss America pageant the following year. Soon after, she became one of The Dean Martin Show’s Golddiggers dancers, and that led her to become part of the all-girl group Fantasy and the musical duo Buckner and Pratt.

She also appeared on such variety shows as The Mac Davis Show, Sonny and Cher and, as a dancer and synchronized swimmer, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

In 1977, she landed her signature role of perky Patty Simcox, Grease‘s embodiment of pep and school spirit. “Do the splits, give a yell!” she cheered alongside Newton-John. “Show a little spirit for old Rydell! Way to go, red and white! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”

Grease was the top-grossing movie of 1978 with $132.4 million in box office. Its soundtrack spawned four Top 5 singles, earned an Album of the Year Grammy nom and has sold more than 8 million units in the U.S. alone.

Buckner later was featured in several TV shows, including The Love Boat, B.J and the Bear, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, and co-starred in the ABC series When the Whistle Blows. She starred in the 1981 Wes Craven horror film Deadly Blessing alongside Sharon Stone and in 1989’s Police Academy 6: City Under Siege. She later stepped away from show business to raise a family.

Buckner 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.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Miami’s Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Susan’s honor.

Actress

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege

4.4

News Reporter (uncredited)

1989

 

Sharon Stone in Deadly Blessing (1981)

Deadly Blessing

5.5

Vicky Anderson

1981

 

Douglas Barr, Philip Brown, Susan Buckner, Tim Rossovich, and Dolph Sweet in When the Whistle Blows (1980)

When the Whistle Blows

5.7

TV Series

Lucy Davis

1980

10 episodes

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Kim Patterson

1979

1 episode

 

Greg Evigan in B.J. and the Bear (1978)

B.J. and the Bear

6.4

TV Series

Renee

1979

1 episode

 

Elizabeth Taylor in Return Engagement (1978)

Return Engagement

6.8

TV Movie

Janice

1978

 

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in Grease (1978)

Grease

7.2

Patty Simcox

1978

 

Shaun Cassidy, Pamela Sue Martin, and Parker Stevenson in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries

7.3

TV Series

George Fayne

1977–1978

3 episodes

 

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Starsky and Hutch

7.0

TV Series

Sharon Carstairs

1978

1 episode

 

Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Geri Reischl, and Barry Williams in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976)

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour

3.7

TV Series

Krofftette

1976–1977

9 episodes

 

The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977)

The Amazing Howard Hughes

6.6

TV Movie

Jean Harlow

1977

 

Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner in Switch (1975)

Switch

7.1

TV Series

Jessica

1977

1 episode

 

The First Nudie Musical (1976)

The First Nudie Musical

5.4

Dancer

1976

 

Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)

Police Woman

6.6

TV Series

Judy

1976

1 episode

 

The Dean Martin Show (1965)

The Dean Martin Show

8.1

TV Series

Sketch Performer

1973

1 episode

 

Soundtrack

Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Geri Reischl, and Barry Williams in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976)

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour

3.7

TV Series

performer: "Celebrate", "How Lucky Can You Get?", "Singing in the Rain", "Laughter in the Rain", "United We Stand"