Susan Buckner, Patty Simcox in ‘Grease,’ Dies at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing Patty Simcox in the classic 1978 movie musical Grease, has died. She was 72.
Buckner’s death was confirmed in a statement from family publicist Melissa Berthier to the media, who said, “Susan died peacefully on May 2 surrounded by loved ones.” A cause of death was not disclosed.
Buckner’s daughter, Samantha Mansfield, told People, “The light she brought into every room will be missed forever. She was magic, and I was very lucky to call her my best friend.”
Saying Goodbye to the Cast of Grease
Buckner’s death is just the latest from Grease in recent years. Annette Charles, who played “Cha-Cha” DiGregorio, died in 2011 at age 63. Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, also died in 2011 at age 60. Edd Byrnes, who played Vince Fontaine, died in 2020 at age 87.
The most notable death from the Grease case in recent years was Olivia Newton-John. The singer and actress died in 2022 at age 73. Newton-John’s death led to countless tributes, including from her Grease co-star John Travolta. He wrote on Instagram, “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road, and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Travolta also gave a subtle, yet extremely touching tribute to Newton-John at the 95th Academy Awards, which can be seen below.
Grease is Still the Word
Grease, of course, is a classic. In 2020, the film was added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. Randal Kleiser, director of Grease, said in a statement, “The cast and crew of ‘Grease’ have remained close for the past 40 years. We are all honored to be included in this year’s national registry selection. Personally, I’ve spent the last year composing all my script notations, storyboards and photographs.”
Per Box Office Mojo, the film has grossed over $396 million in theaters worldwide from its initial release and subsequent re-releases in theaters. Its soundtrack has sold 30 million copies worldwide and topped album sales charts in 13 different countries. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Grease soundtrack was certified 8-times platinum selling over 8 million copies in 1984. The RIAA has yet to look into updated figures since, but it’s safe to assume the soundtrack has likely gone diamond — selling over 10 million copies — since then.
