American actor Susan Buckner, known for her role as Patty Simcox in the 1978 hit musical Grease, has died aged 72, as confirmed by her publicist Melissa Berthier.

Buckner was cast in her most famous role as a Rydell High cheerleader, joining a cast which boasted the likes of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

As well as Grease, Buckner enjoyed roles in numerous TV shows, including The Love Boat, B.J and the Bear and the ABC series When the Whistle Blows. She also starred in the 1981 Wes Craven horror film Deadly Blessing alongside Sharon Stone, as well as in Police Academy 6: City Under Siege in 1989.

“We go together
Like rama lama lama
ka dinga da dinga dong,
Remembered forever
As shoo-bop sha
wadda wadda yippity
boom de boom”#MyLyricOfTheDay

Songwriters:
Jim Jacobs
Warren Casey

🎵

For Susan Buckner RIP
who played Patty Simcox#Grease pic.twitter.com/clNpm2Fe4c

— Malcolm Prince (@malprin) May 8, 2024

An accomplished beauty queen, she was crowned Miss Washington in 1971, and went on to represent the state in the Miss America pageant.

She used her experience to build up a career in the entertainment industry, joining The Golddiggers, a singing and dancing group which featured on The Dean Martin Show. Later, she would go on to join the all-girl group Fantasy, before founding her own music duo Buckner and Pratt.

Buckner spent the latter half of her life as a teacher, directing several children’s theatre shows at Pinecrest Elementary School in Florida.