'Grease' Star Susan Buckner Died at 72 – What Happened to Other Actresses of the Iconic Movie (2024)

It has been decades since the beloved film "Grease" aired on the big screen. Since then, many of its cast members have either left show business or continue to act.

However, some of the stars have unfortunately lost their lives in the course of the years. From Susan Buckner to Didi Conn, here is what happened to the actresses who starred in the movie.

Didi Conn, Stockard Channing and Dinah Manoff on the set of "Grease," 1978 | Source: Getty Images

Susan Buckner: A Tribute to a Star

Before becoming a Hollywood star, Susan Buckner was a beauty pageant queen. Born in Seattle in 1952, she won Miss Washington in 1971 before representing the state at the Miss America competition the following year.

Susan Buckner on the set of "The Love Boat," 1979 | Source: Getty Images

Susan later entered the entertainment industry by becoming one of an all-female singing and dancing group called The Golddiggers on "The Dean Martin Show." She later made appearances in shows such as "Sonny and Cher," "The Mac Davis Show" and "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour."

Susan Buckner attends the celebration of the DVD release of "Grease Rockin' Rydell Edition" at the Santa Monica Pier on September 19, 2006 in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Getty Images

However, it was Susan’s supporting role in the classic 1978 movie musical "Grease" that catapulted her into superstardom. She played cheerleader Patty Simcox in the film and the stint remained her career-defining role. In addition to her gig in the movie, the actress also starred in "Deadly Blessing" and "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries."

Sadly, Buckner died on May 2, 2024, and no cause of death was reported. Her family's publicist, Melissa Berthier, announced, "Susan died peacefully on May 2, surrounded by loved ones."

Susan Buckner attends Chiller Theatre Expo Spring 2018 at Hilton Parsippany on April 28, 2018 in Parsippany, New Jersey. | Source: Getty Images

Reflecting on her life, Susan's daughter, Samantha Mansfield, remarked, "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." In addition to her daughter, Susan, 72, also leaves behind her son, Adam Josephs.

Aside from her kids, she leaves behind her two grandchildren, Abigail, Oliver, Riley, and Ruby, her sister Linda, daughter-in-law Noel Josephs, son-in-law Adam Mansfield and her longtime partner, AI.

In November 2021, Susan gushed about her family on Instagram, sharing a photo of her grandkids and her daughter posing outdoors. "My daughter as Minnie Me (Leona Helmsy) Hotel Mom. Oliver and Abigail. Heirs to the kingdom," she wrote.

Stockard Channing: A Lasting Legacy

Stockard Channing began her acting career in the Theatre Company of Boston which led her to Broadway. She later acquired Hollywood status after starring in the comedy film "The Girl Most Likely To..." in which she made her mark as a performer.

Stockard Channing on the set of "The Girl Most Likely To ..." 1973 | Source: Getty Images

But Stockard’s role as Betty Rizzo in "Grease" gained her success in show business as a beloved icon. She earned a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Supporting Actress.

That was only the beginning of her many achievements. She received a nod for Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her role in "Six Degrees of Separation."

In keeping up the momentum of being recognized for her outstanding work, Stockard also won a Tony Award for Best Actress in the play "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg."

She went on to win an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her stint as First Lady Abbey Bartlet on "The West Wing." The 80-year-old actress has also appeared on films including "Where the Heart Is," and "Practical Magic."

Stockard Channing as she poses in her dressing room at the Longacre Theater on January 1, 1985 in New York. | Source: Getty Images

Aside from her successful acting career in the entertainment industry, Stockard has been married four times, with all her unions ending in divorce and no children resulting.

Stockard Channing during "The Normal Heart" Benefit Book Reading at Criterion Center on April 16, 1993 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Despite these challenges in her personal life, she found stability with her longtime partner, cinematographer Daniel Gillham. The couple shared 25 years together until his untimely death in 2014. This profound loss eventually led Stockard to make a significant life change, moving to another country in 2019.

Stockard Channing attends the opening of "Medea" at new West End theatre on February 17, 2023 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Didi Conn: Advocacy and Acting

Another veteran actress is Didi Conn who played Frenchy in "Grease," and its sequel. With more than 40 film and television credits under her belt, Didi has also appeared in "The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang," "Shining Time Station" and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."

Apart from her career, Didi is also a mother to her one and only child, son Daniel Shire. She welcomed him in 1992 with her husband, David Shire, a music composer and songwriter.

The couple's son has autism and Didi opened up about his diagnosis once. According to her, Daniel began to experience lengthy and violent tantrums right after celebrating his second birthday due to his sensitivity to sound.

He would begin to scream while holding his ears and throw himself on the floor once he heard a doorbell or a telephone ring. Didi and David took their child to a pediatrician who only gave him a hearing test.

It was in 1994 so symptoms of autism were not as publicized nor recognizable as today. Months later Daniel would wake up screaming several times a night for hours on end.

The couple then took him to see Dr. Isabelle Rapin, the head of pediatric neurology at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. She diagnosed Daniel with Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS).

Following more visits with Dr. Rapin, Daniel was diagnosed as a high-functioning child on the autistic spectrum. After that, Didi and David were taught how to take better care of their son.

"I became the Queen of Denial. I wouldn't believe there was something 'wrong' with my son. Can you imagine waking up two [to] three times a night, every night, with your child for 12 years?" Didi admitted.

Daniel is now 32 years old and took his time to express his affection for his beloved mom. He first said "I love you" to Didi at age 26, leaving her in tears. Daniel struggled to understand abstract ideas and emotions, so it was a big deal.

"The first time Danny said, 'I love you' was this year. I was leaving to fly to the UK and he said it on the phone. I kept saying, 'Say it again, baby.' And he did," the proud mom recalled in 2019.

Didi further revealed that Daniel asked her why she was crying, and she told him they were happy tears. She considers that moment as a massive milestone because she could not hold him when he was little.

Because he was so sensitive, he did not like to be held which made it challenging. "It really was something special to hear," said Didi, referring to Daniel's heartwarming words.

The Hollywood star, who is now a celebrity spokesperson for the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, took years out of her acting career to provide full care to her child. It was only several years later that she decided to return to the screens by signing up for the television series, "Dancing On Ice."

Didi Conn and Lukasz Rozycki during a photocall for "Dancing On Ice" at Natural History Museum Ice Rink on December 18, 2018 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Then 67, Didi shared that she wanted to take on a new challenge after Daniel relocated to a farm where he now works. Asked why she signed up, the mother of one explained that she wanted to rediscover herself.

Shortly after her exit, in the reality show, which is filmed in Britain, Didi had to rush back to the US to be by her husband's bedside in hospital. David, who has been married to Didi since 1982, experienced a health issue at the time.

Didi reportedly left her fans devastated by her departure from the show. However, the now 72-year-old was able to make up for it for more of her fans when she attended Summer Lovin' - Grease 45th Anniversary Celebration with fellow cast members in July 2023 at Wonderland of the Americas.

One of the fans posted images from the event on Facebook including shots of her posing alongside Didi. "Grease is the word!! Met Didi Conn aka Frenchy from Grease and OMGeee! She let me wear her iconic Pink Ladies jacket!" the fan captioned her post.

Dinah Manoff: From Stardom to Teaching

Another original cast member from "Grease" is 68-year-old actress, Dinah Manoff, who played Marty Maraschino in the film. She launched her acting career in the PBS production of "The Great Cherub Knitwear Strike."

Following multiple guest appearances on several television shows, Dinah bagged a Tony Award in 1980 for her performance in the Broadway production "I Ought To Be In Pictures." She also appeared in television films such as "The Cover Girl and the Cop," "Raid on Entebbe," "For Ladies Only" and "The Seduction of Gina."

Dinah Manoff poses for a portrait for "Soap" on September 1, 1978 | Source: Getty Images

After finding success on "Grease," Dinah later starred in the hit sitcom, "Empty Nest" where she portrayed the role of Carol Weston. She was also a director on the show which aired for seven seasons from 1988 to 1995.

Estelle Getty and Dinah Manoff on the set of "Empty Nest," 2007 | Source: Getty Images

After the series ended, Dinah became scarce in the limelight. During the 20th anniversary of the show, she was asked what she had been up to up until that point.

Dinah shared that when her oldest son Dashiell Mortell turned 9, and her twins Desi and Oliver Mortell turned 3, she and her husband Arthur Mortell decided to move away from Los Angeles to another state.

"We moved to an island near Seattle with a very progressive and creative community," Dinah explained. It is where she raised her three boys, rode her horse, wrote a novel, taught acting, and cooked vegetable soup from her garden.

Dinah also fell in love with teaching and believes that it was her calling. "I love being able to help people express themselves in ways they didn't know they were able to, and laugh at themselves and find their creative juices," she once expressed.

Sadly, her life took an unexpected turn when her eldest child Dashiell died at age 19 in a car accident in 2017 while returning to Washington State University. A sophom*ore at the time, Dashiell lost his life in a three-vehicle crash and three other passengers of the car were left injured.

"After Dashiell died, I was in so much pain and grief that I felt the only people I could be around were people who were also suffering," Dinah revealed.

Olivia Newton-John: A Cherished Memory

Apart from the history-making film, Olivia also starred in the television series, "It's Cliff Richard" including the movie "Toomorrow." In addition to her acting career, the British-Australian native was also a successful singer who had four Grammy Awards to her name.

Her personal life was just as eventful as she married her first husband, a former actor and dancer, Matt Lattanzi in 1985. The couple welcomed their only child together, daughter Chloe Lattanzi a year later in 1986.

However, their marriage did not last long as the duo divorced several years later in 1995. Olivia remarried again in 2008 after meeting natural-health businessman, John Easterling, through a mutual friend.

However, the lovebirds only started dating 15 years later and went public with their relationship in 2007. Olivia admitted in 2016 that she had not expected to fall in love with Easterling after dating other people for a while.

The award-winning songstress once gushed, "I always tell my friends you're never too old to find love. I found the love of my life at 59, going on 60!"

Olivia and John had been married for 14 years when she sadly died in August 2022 at age 73. Her death, due to breast cancer, was announced on her Facebook page.

The message read that the star passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California and was surrounded by family and friends. After her death, Olivia's daughter Chloe took to Instagram to pay tribute to her.

The now 36-year-old posted throwback pictures of her and her famous mother from childhood including ones from adulthood. Three days before Olivia's demise, Chloe had shared photos of the pair, writing that she worshipped her mother, whom she referred to as her best friend.

While battling cancer throughout the years, Olivia's biggest wish was to see her only daughter walk down the aisle. Sadly, she did not live long enough to see Chloe get married.