Grease star Susan Buckner dies at 72

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Susan Buckner has died at the age of 72.

The actress – who was best known for playing cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 musical “Grease” – died last week, but no cause of death has been revealed to the public.

Her press secretary Melissa Berthier said in a statement: “Susan died peacefully on May 2, surrounded by her loved ones. »

Susan’s daughter Samantha Mansfield paid tribute to her mother and “best friend”.

She told People magazine: “We will forever miss the light she brought into every room.

“She was magical and I was very lucky to call her my best friend.”

Susan was crowned Miss Washington in 1971 before representing the state at Miss America the following year.

She later became a member of The Golddiggers, an all-female song and dance group featured on the Dean Martin Show, which led to her being part of an all-female group called Fantasy and becoming one half of a duo known musical. like Buckner and Pratt.

“Grease” was her defining acting role, but she also appeared in films like “Police Academy 6: City Under Siege” and “Wes Craven’s Deadly Blessing,” TV shows such as “The Love Boat” and the TV movie “The Amazing Howard Hughes”. ‘, but in the 1980s, she took a step back from her career to raise Samantha and her son, Adam Josephs.

Later in life, she taught dance at a local gymnasium and directed children’s theater at a Florida elementary school.

In addition to her children, Susan is also survived by her grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby, her sister Linda, her daughter-in-law Noel and son-in-law Adam, as well as her long-term partner Al.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami.