“Grease” cheerleader and dean Martin Golddigger was 72

Paramount Pictures/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Susan Buckner, best known to moviegoers as FatPatty Simcox, the band’s bubbly cheerleader, died peacefully on May 2nd surrounded by her loved ones in Miami.

Her death was announced by the family.

Buckner’s Fat Character was Olivia Newton-Johns’ cheerleading buddy Sandy from Rydell High. The 1978 film also starred John Travolta and Stockard Channing.

Buckner was born on January 28, 1952 in Seattle, Washington. She 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 to her becoming part of the all-girl group Fantasy and the musical duo Buckner and Pratt.

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

In 1977 she got her star role as the cheeky Patty Simcox. Fatis the embodiment of enthusiasm and school spirit. “Do the splits, scream!” She cheered alongside Newton-John. “Show some spirit for old Rydell! Well done, Red and White! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!”

Fat was the highest-grossing film of 1978, grossing $132.4 million. The soundtrack spawned four Top 5 singles, received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year and sold more than 8 million in the US alone Sold once.

Buckner later appeared in several TV shows including The Love Boat, BJ and the Bear, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteriesand starred in the ABC series 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. She later retired from show business to start a family.

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.

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