WASHINGTON — Actress Susan Buckner, best known for playing Olivia Newton-John's cheerleading friend Patty Simcox in "Grease," died last week, according to multiple media reports. She was 72.
Her family announced in a statement shared with several outlets including PEOPLE and Fox News Digital that Buckner died peacefully on May 2 surrounded by loved ones. No cause of death was provided to the outlets.
Buckner's daughter, Samantha Mansfield, told PEOPLE "the light she brought into every room will be missed forever."
Born in Seattle, Washington, before her role in the iconic 1978 musical "Grease," Buckner was Miss Washington in 1971 and represented the state at the 1972 Miss America competition.
She had a memorable moment in "Grease" alongside the late Olivia Newton-John cheering for Rydell High School: "Do the splits, give a yell! Show a little spirit for old Rydell! Way to go, red and white! Go Rydell, fight, fight, fight!"
While Patty Simcox was her most well-known role, Buckner continued acting into the 80s and made appearances on TV shows including "The Love Boat," "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" and "When the Whistle Blows."
She also appeared in the 1981 movie "Deadly Blessing." Her last acting role was as a news reporter in 1989's "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege," according to her IMDB page.
According to reports, she stepped away from acting after that to focus on her family. She would go on to teach theater at a Florida elementary school and work as a dance instructor in Coral Gables, Entertainment Weekly said.