Susan Buckner, who played Patty Simcox in Grease, has died aged 72

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Susan Buckner, the actress best known for her role as cheerleader Patty Simcox Fat (1978), died. She was 72.

“Susan passed away peacefully on May 2 surrounded by her loved ones,” Melissa Berthier, a publicist for the family, said in a statement. A cause of death was not announced.

“The light she brought to every room will be forever missed,” said Buckner’s daughter, Samantha Mansfield People. “She was magical and I was so lucky to call her my best friend.”

Buckner was born in Seattle, Washington in 1952. Before her acting career, she was a beauty pageant queen, was crowned Miss Washington in 1971, and was a top ten finalist in Miss America in 1972.

Her foray into the entertainment world began with The Dean Martin Show as one of the Golddiggers, an all-female singing and dancing group.

She also appeared in variety shows like The Mac Davis Show, Sonny and Cher and continued as a synchronized swimmer The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

In 1977, she landed her star role as Patty Simcox, one of Sandy’s (Olivia Newton-John) cheerleaders in the cult musical classic.

She shouted the memorable cheer for the fictional Rydell High School: “Do the splits, shout!” Show a little spirit for Old Rydell! Well done, Red and White! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”

Fat, Starring John Travolta as greaser Danny Zuko, it was the biggest film of the year, grossing $132.4 million at the box office.

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Her death follows that of Newton-John in 2022. The British-born Australian actress died of breast cancer at the age of 73.

Last year, Travolta faked one of them Fat‘s most famous songs in a Super Bowl commercial.

He also paid tribute to Newton-John at the 2023 Academy Awards and was embarrassed while introducing the “In Memorium” segment.

Buckner has starred in several TV shows including The Love Boat, BJ and the Bear, The Secrets of the Hardy Boys/Nancy DrewAnd When the whistle blows. She appeared in the 1981 Wes Craven horror film Deadly blessing alongside Sharon Stone and in the 1989s Police Academy 6: City under siege.

In her later years, she directed children’s theater and taught dance at a gym in Florida.

Buckner is survived by her son Adam Josephs, her daughter Samantha Mansfield, grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby, as well as her sister Linda, her daughter-in-law Noel Josephs, her son-in-law Adam Mansfield and her longtime partner Al.

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