Grease star Susan Buckner has died at the age of 72.

Susan was best known to fans of the much-loved movie musical for her performance as high school cheerleader Patty Simcox, an early friend of Olivia Newton-John’s character Sandy.

A publicist for the late actor confirmed to People that she died “peacefully” on Thursday 2 May “surrounded by loved ones”.

Her daughter Samantha Mansfield also told the US magazine: “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.”

No cause of death was given in Susan’s family’s statement.

Before landing the role of enthusiastic cheerleader Patty Simcox in Grease, Susan was a beauty pageant winner, taking the title of Miss Washington before going on to compete in Miss America in 1972.

She went on to appear as Krofftette in a string of episodes of The Brady Bunch Hour, as well as the hit 70s shows The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Starsky & Hutch and The Love Boat.

Following this, she landed the role in the hit film adaptation of Grease, sharing scenes with John Travolta, Stockard Channing and the late Olivia Newton-John.

Susan later went on to appear in the 1981 Wes Craven slasher Deadly Blessing and the sixth instalment in the Police Academy film franchise, after which People reported that she stepped back from the entertainment industry to focus on raising her family.

Per Sky News, Susan is survived by her son and daughter, Adam and Samantha, grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby as well as her sister Linda, daughter-in-law Noel Josephs, son-in-law Adam Mansfield and longtime partner Al.