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Susan Buckner, who played cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 megahit “Grease,” died on May 2 in Miami. She was 72 years old.
Her death was confirmed by family spokesperson Melissa Berthier, but the cause of death was not disclosed.
Buckner was born in Seattle on January 28, 1952 (not 1953, as often reported).
After being crowned Miss Washington in 1971, she competed in the Miss America beauty pageant and began her dancing and acting career.
She earned her first acting credit on “The Dean Martin Show” in 1973, and went on to appear in “Police Woman” (1976), “The Switch” (1977) and “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.” He appeared on programs such as “. ” (1977-1978), “Starsky & Hutch” (1978), “The Love Boat” (1979), etc.
During that time, she had a major role as 30’s screen siren Jean Harlow in the made-for-TV movie The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977), and a less-than-stellar role as a bubbly croftette dancer on The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. After some less famous work (1976-1977), Buckner starred as a feisty cheerleader with two shoes in Grease (1978), one of the top five grossing films of the ’70s. I played the leader, Patti Simcox.
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Other work included the short-lived series When the Whistle Blows (1980), co-starring Dolph Sweet and Douglas Barr, and the fan-favorite Wes Craven horror film Deadly Blessing (1981). He also co-starred with Sharon Stone.
She then made one uncredited appearance in the film Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989), before devoting herself to teaching dance and directing children’s plays.
She is survived by her longtime partner Al, two children and their spouses, four grandchildren and a sister.