By EVAN ROSEN | erosen@nydailynews.com | New York Daily News
“Grease” actress Susan Buckner, who portrayed Sandy’s preppy friend Patty Simcox, has died at the age of 72.
Her death was announced Tuesday by her publicist, Melissa Berthier, who said “Susan died peacefully on May 2 surrounded by loved ones.”
Buckner’s daughter, Samantha Mansfield, told People Magazine that “the light she brought into every room will be missed forever. She was magic, and I was very lucky to call her my best friend.”
No additional details on Buckner’s cause of death have been released.
The former actress was best known for her role in the 1978 musical film, acting opposite Olivia Newton-John, wearing big glasses and appearing in all the big “Grease” dance numbers.
In “Summer Nights,” she can be seen huddling close with Newton-John and knocking over a trash can with her. In another memorable dance sequence, her character Patty is harassed by a boy, who lifts up her skirt.
Buckner, a Seattle native, first got her start competing in pageants, going on to win Miss Washington in 1971 and participating in the Miss America pageant the following year.
She would later join the all-female dancing and singing group The Golddiggers, and was featured on “The Dean Martin Show” in 1973.
Her later acting credits include “Starsky and Hutch,” “The Love Boat,” “The Amazing Howard Hughes,” “Deadly Blessing” and more.
Following a departure from acting in the 1980s, Buckner began teaching theater and dance in Florida.
She’s survived by Mansfield, her son Adam Josephs, and grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby, as well as her sister Linda and other family.
