Buckley starred in the TV series "Eight Is Enough" from 1977 to 1981 and played gym teacher Miss Collins in the 1976 film "Carrie", before going on to star in the short-lived Broadway musical version of "Carrie" in 1988, playing Carrie White's mother, Margaret. Her other film roles include Dixie Scott in "Tender Mercies" (1983), Sondra Walker in "Frantic" (1988), Kathy in "Another Woman" (1988) and Mrs. Jones in "The Happening" (2008). She received a Saturn Award nomination for her role as Dr. Karen Fletcher in the 2016 film "Split". Her other television credits include the series "Oz" (2001–03), and the series "Preacher" (2018). From September 2018-August 2019 she starred as the title role in the U.S. national tour of "Hello, Dolly".