Whatever Happened To Susan Buckner, The Overly Cheery Patty Simcox From ‘Grease’?

“Patty Simcox, the bad seed of Rydell High.” Susan Buckner brought to life the overly cheery and friendly Patty Simcox from the 1978 musical movie Grease. The role of Patty was only one of Susan’s many roles until she eventually retired from acting after 1981. She first began with an appearance in the show Police Woman in 1976.

Her first true recurring role in a TV show was actually for The Brady Bunch Variety Hour from 1976 to 1977. Other roles in popular shows include Starsky & Hutch and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. It was after those roles that she would dive headfirst into Grease and earn the role she is best known for.

Who played Patty Simcox? Answer: Susan Buckner

Prior to becoming an actress, Susan was actually very involved in pageants. She was crowned Miss Washington in 1971 and would then go on to be a top ten finalist in the Miss America 1972 pageant. She actually tied first, as well, in the swimsuit preliminary. Miss America 1972 was eventually won by Miss Ohio Laurel Lea Schaefer.

RELATED: This Is What The Cast Of ‘Grease’ Looks Like 40 Years Later

Last we saw Susan was in 1981 with a role in the film Deadly Blessing. Since then, she has taken part in various documentaries (mostly about her role in Grease). She did have a role in the 2018 TV series Behind Closed Doors, but she was playing herself and not necessarily a character, according to her IMDb.

How old is Susan Buckner?

According to her IMDb, she directs children’s theatre in Miami’s Pinecrest Elementary School and is 67 years old. She was also being considered for the role of Sandy in Grease, which obviously ended up going to Olivia Newton-John. Can you imagine how different Grease would be if Susan was Sandy? Additionally, while it’s not listed anywhere, her IMDb biography claims that one of her earliest ‘big breaks’ was as a dancer on Dean Martin’s variety show in 1971.

Do you remember Susan Buckner as Patty Simcox in Grease? Well, how could you forget?! Check out the video below to learn a bit of behind-the-scenes facts about Grease that includes Susan herself!