JUNE SQUIBB — on doing stunts in ‘Thelma’ and manifesting a romcom with Robert De Niro

Summary

Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Episode Summary

Guest: June Squibb
Episode Title: Doing Stunts in ‘Thelma’ and Manifesting a Romcom with Robert De Niro
Release Date: January 21, 2025

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1. Introduction of June Squibb

Jesse Tyler Ferguson opens the episode by introducing June Squibb, highlighting her illustrious career spanning seven decades. June's recent Oscar nomination for her role in Nebraska is emphasized, along with her fascinating background in Broadway, notably her performance alongside Ethel Merman in Gypsy. Jesse expresses his admiration for June's vibrant presence and the infectious exuberance she brings to every room.
Notable Quote:
Jesse Tyler Ferguson [02:36]: "You had this giddy, can you believe this is happening to me? Exuberance that was just completely intoxicating."

2. Celebrating June’s 95th Birthday

The conversation shifts to June’s recent 95th birthday celebration. June shares details about the grand party hosted by friends, where she was the center of attention, regally seated by the pool. Jesse recounts a humorous anecdote about encountering a fan wearing a "June Squibb" hat at an airport, leading to a playful exchange about obtaining the coveted hat.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [07:22]: "I invited about 40 people of my own, and then there were about 150 others there. And I sat regally by the pool, and people came to me."

3. Career Reflections and Stunts in Thelma

June discusses her role in the action film Thelma, where she took on the challenge of performing her own stunts. She shares her determination to execute physical scenes herself, rejecting the initial plan to use a stuntwoman. This decision led to authentic and memorable moments on screen, such as the scooter incident with Richard Roundtree.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [12:07]: "I really did most of it. And that was not what they had planned because they had thought, well, we'll just tell June to start these things stop, and we'll get a stuntwoman. And I felt that was not a good idea."

4. Broadway Beginnings and Early Life

Delving into her early career, June reminisces about her Broadway debut and her time performing in Gypsy with Ethel Merman. She recounts her unconventional first performances tap dancing on bar counters to earn free beer, a testament to her passion for performing from a young age.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [22:14]: "My grandparents used to take me around to local bars because I loved tap dancing. I would get on the bar and tap dance, and they would get free beer."

5. Transition to Film at Age 61

June narrates her unexpected transition to film acting at the age of 61. Her first film audition led to roles in Woody Allen’s Alice and Martin Scorsese’s Age of Innocence. This sudden influx of film opportunities marked a significant shift from her established stage career.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [26:30]: "I went to my agent and said, I think I should be doing some film work. A week later, I had an audition for Woody Allen."

6. Nebraska and Big Break at 83

At 83, June landed the pivotal role in Nebraska, which served as her big break in cinema. She shares how the entire crew felt the significance of the project, fostering a special environment during filming. The role not only garnered critical acclaim but also revitalized her career, proving that remarkable achievements aren't confined by age.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [30:12]: "This wasn't just me. I think Bruce felt it. We all felt this was something very special."

7. Upcoming Projects and Aspirations

Looking ahead, June reveals her excitement about Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, where she plays the lead role. She also expresses a desire to explore new genres, particularly Westerns and romantic comedies. June whimsically mentions Robert De Niro as her dream co-star for a romcom, highlighting her playful side and enthusiasm for diverse roles.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [34:24]: "My love interest? Oh, God. I guess Robert De Niro wouldn't be that very… He’s very funny."

8. Personal Insights and Legacy

June reflects on her enduring passion for acting and her continuous relevance in the industry. She emphasizes the importance of feeling purposeful and vibrant, regardless of age. Jesse commends her for being an inspiration, showcasing that it's never too late to pursue one’s passions and achieve remarkable success.
Notable Quote:
June Squibb [38:03]: "It's wonderful to feel relevant."

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Conclusion:
In this heartfelt and engaging episode, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and June Squibb delve deep into the remarkable journey of an actress who has continually reinvented herself across different mediums and genres. From her early days on Broadway to her dynamic roles in film, June's story is one of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of one's dreams. Her insights offer inspiration to listeners, demonstrating that success knows no age limits and that embracing new challenges can lead to fulfilling and unexpected accomplishments.

Transcript

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

The other day I was making lemonade with my sons, Beckett and Sully, and Beckett is a little bit of a perfectionist. I'm not sure where he gets that from. It's me. It's definitely me. But he was getting really upset about the seeds falling into the juice, and it was turning into a bit of high drama. Now listen, there's an easier way to do this. Who knew? Wonderful seedless lemons are a 100% naturally seedless lemon variety. They're juicy, zesty, bright, and everything you love about lemons minus the See, that's right. No more seeds floating in your lemonade or Diet Coke or getting caught in your teeth when you take a bite of salad. Frankly, that's just a hazard. Wonderful seedless lemons are available nationwide at retailers such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Walmart, Kroger, as well as select Costco outlets. Look for wonderful seedless lemons at your local retailer or visit wonderfulseedlesslemons.com to learn more. Okay, let's be real. A lot of times we'll have good ideas like, oh, I should totally defrost my freezer and get rid of all this frozen food from nine years ago. But when it comes to actually doing it, it sits on your to do list for like a year. I mean, let's face it, sometimes you just gotta ask for help. Our friends at Airbnb are introducing a new feature that's gonna rock your socks off. People co hosting. With Airbnb's Co Host Network, you can hire a high quality local co host to take care of all the details of hosting your home, from managing reservations to communicating with guests, to even styling the space. This feature is amazing for anyone like me who has to travel for long periods and can't necessarily be glued to their phone all the time. It's also great for my snowbird friends who ditch their amazing homes in Park City and Aspen during the winter months to come and hang in LA and Palm Springs. Find a co [e-mail] host. Hi, it's Jessie today on the show. You know her from her buzzy lead role in the film Thelma and from her Oscar nominated performance in Nebraska. It's legendary June Squibb.

[June Squibb]

I never really did the dating thing after my husband died. I tried a few times in New York and I tried a few times out here and I would get so bored.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Mm.

[June Squibb]

Mm. I just. I really did. That's an awful thing to say, but so many people bore the shit out of me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is Dinner's on Me, and I'm your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. I got to meet June Squibb briefly when she was doing the award show rounds for Alexander Payne's film Nebraska. She was celebrating her first Oscar nomination at the age of 83, and she was the belle of the party in every room she was in. It seemed like every time I glanced over at her seat, a new luminary was clamoring to say hi and congratulate her. I was so excited to meet her, not only because I loved her performance in Nebraska, but also because I knew that she had appeared in Gypsy on Broadway with Ethel Merman. I mean, come on, let's talk about the stories there. But I was also drawn to her because she had this giddy, can you believe this is happening to me? Exuberance that was just completely intoxicating. You just wanted to be near her and bask in this moment with her. Now, even though June Squibb has been a professional actress for years, both on stage and in film, there was something so incredible about witnessing her having such a huge moment in her 80s. I mean, people were calling this her big break at, like, 83. I always assumed when I was reaching my 80s, I would be, you know, winding down, considering retirement. But after meeting June, I'm heavily rethinking all of that. Anything is possible, and I mean anything. In the past year, she starred as a title character in the action movie Thelma. Yes, you heard me right. Action film. She also just completed her second leading role ever in Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. It's a film about a woman played by June Squibb, who decides to take on her late best friend's story as a Holocaust survivor as her own. It's highly anticipated. I cannot wait to see it. All of these opportunities as she's entering into her mid-90s. I was over the moon when she accepted a meal with me to talk about this incredible time in her life. Hi. So good to see you.

[June Squibb]

I gotta scoot it a little more on you. I do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I brought June Squibb to Zink Cafe and Bar in West Hollywood. I wanted a place where I could just sit across the table from June Squibb, someplace low key where I could ask her about her career spanning seven decades over coffee and sandwiches. So that's exactly what we did. Zinc is just off Melrose, but it looks, feels, and tastes like you're eating at someone's cozy home, which is just the vibe I was looking for for my conversation with June. Okay, let's get to the Conversation. I was with my husband. We were going to a film festival in Denver. And it was a. We were flying from LA and, like, you have to, like, take a. A shuttle van to a smaller little terminal at lax. So it was a very quiet terminal. Not a lot of people. Not a lot of people going to Denver at the beginning of November. And there was this guy wearing a hat that said June Squibb. And so, of course, I was like, I need to know all about this. Where you got this. He had just been at your birthday party, your 95th birthday party. He was a cast member of the movie Saturday Night. Saturday Night Live.

[June Squibb]

Oh, yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Gabriel La Belle.

[June Squibb]

Yes, I remember.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He plays Lorne Michaels in the movie. And he said, yeah, yeah, yeah. I said. I went. He went with a friend to your 95th birthday and had a great time and got a hat that just had your name on it. It was such a talking point. He wore it for the entire festival. And it was such, like a.

[June Squibb]

Somebody told me that they said that Gabriel loved your hat so much he wore it to a film festival.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Well, now I want one. If there's any extras hanging around. Let me get me one.

[June Squibb]

Jesse wants a hat.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Why don't you squib hat? How was your birthday?

[June Squibb]

Oh, it was great. It was great. It was. The lovely woman, Kiwi Smith, a writer. She did Legally Blonde. It's hers. You know her then, and she has this lovely house in Los Feliz, and she's friends with Rebecca, who is the Magnolia person in la. And so they called me and said, do you mind if we do a birthday party for. I said, no. Are you kidding?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Do you like celebrating your birthday?

[June Squibb]

I do.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[June Squibb]

And I celebrated even more. That wasn't it. I had a dinner party at a restaurant for friends, and then my agent took me to lunch on the day of my birthday.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You did more for your birthday than I did for my. I just turned 49 last year.

[June Squibb]

That's a biggie.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, the big one's coming up next year.

[June Squibb]

That's biggie. Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But I mean, you did more on your 95th than I did on any of mine. I'm impressed.

[June Squibb]

But it was such fun because I was able to invite. I invited about 40 people of my own, and then there were about 150 others there. Yeah. And I sat regally by the pool, and people came to me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know, what is it like to have moments like that when you kind of look back at a crazy career, such a long career, and also you're in such a moment of that career. And like today, I mean, you are the star of Thelma, which is fantastic. I don't wanna talk more about. But to look back and just think all these people that I've collected over the years who are fans of mine, I mean, it must feel so good.

[June Squibb]

Well, it does. I enjoyed the birthday, and I wasn't sure because I knew there would be a lot of people that I didn't know, but it was so war and loving. And I felt like with Gabriel, I remember him being there, sitting there talking to me. I had never met him before.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. What a great way to celebrate.

[June Squibb]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. I just watched Thelma last week, and it is so good, June. It's so wonderful. You're so great in it.

[June Squibb]

I'm very proud.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You should be so proud of it.

[June Squibb]

I am.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I guess I didn't realize, but it is. It's your first leading role in a film.

[June Squibb]

Because I have done leads on stage.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We're going to go back to that. Because I'm. You know, that's where I'm.

[June Squibb]

I know you're My roots of the theater. And you're doing it now.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I'm doing it now. I'm going back to the theater next summer to do some stuff. And I really have. I have so many stories I want you to tell about your time on stage. But it's. I mean, it's really exciting to see, you know, you at this point in your career doing something so different and so new and really holding. Holding a film with people I've been watching for years, like Parker Posey, you know, Richard. Richard Roundtree, who just recently passed away. To be able to be a part of one of his final projects must have been really wonderful.

[June Squibb]

I think we all feel, if this had to happen, to have been there with him during this last film was. It was just, I think, more than any of us could ever have asked. He became that to us. We all loved him so much. And I think he really wanted to say to his audience, look at what there is in this man that you had no idea was even there. You know, And I think that was important to him.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Well, that's what I love so much about the film. Is it really? You know, and I was talking about this. I had Kathy Bates on the podcast last week. Me, too. And we were talking, you know, she's having this great run in Matlock right now.

[June Squibb]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Which is wonderful. And a lot of the themes of that show are how people of that age sometimes feel as if they've disappeared. And she uses that to her advantage as Matlock, you know, solving these crimes. And what I love so much about Thelma is it really was, you know, taking these people who sometimes feel like, okay, people aren't seeing me fully and yet they're taking control of their lives. But also just sort of that reflection on what we can and can't do when our bodies sort of stop letting us do those things, and how our will is sometimes stronger than our bodies. And it's such a, first of all, hilarious film. But also, I just felt the themes were so poignant as well.

[June Squibb]

Well, I think. And I felt, you know, when I read it that this was important, that it was important that this be said, that this be told. And I think the audiences, the older people who see it are just exhilarated by it. They just love it. And the young ones always say to me, I'm going to take my mother. I'm going to take my grandmother. Or I have. You know, it's very important just to.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Talk a little bit about what the film is. I want people to, if they haven't already seen it, be enticed to go. It's about this woman, Thelma, the title character, who is scammed out of a $10,000.

[June Squibb]

$10,000 in cash.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

But she's scammed out of this money and then decides to take it into her own hands to get this money back and goes on this adventure with her friend, played by Richard Roundtree. It is inspired from things like Mission Impossible and James Bond. And it's just so fun to watch you in these scenes. And at the same time, you're doing your own stunts, a lot of your own stunts, you know, doing these. You know, you're making your way through this store, and at one point, there's an obstacle, and you're at this bed, and you do sort of a soft roll across the bed to sort of protect your joints.

[June Squibb]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, it's just fantastic. And how much of that physical stuff did you do?

[June Squibb]

I really did most of it. And that was not what they had planned because they had thought, well, we'll just tell June to start these things stop, and we'll get a stuntwoman. And I felt that was not a good idea. And I wanted to drive the scooter. I wanted to do these things. And as I read the script, I think I can do. You know, I felt I could really do everything. But for one thing, remember when I ran the scooter into Richard?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes.

[June Squibb]

This scooter thing that they told me specifically, all right, go up to Him. Stop it. Get off. And we'll have the stuntwoman come and ram him. And I thought, well, this is dumb. I can do this. And I rammed it. He did not know it was coming, Richard. He didn't know it was happening. And I just. And then I zoomed off with it and I kept thinking, I hope they get this on camera.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[June Squibb]

Because I'm doing it. But that was kind of the attitude I had. And they loved it. It was just. They were so worried at the beginning about what I could or couldn't.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Well, sure, yeah. I did the movie Cocaine Bear with Margo Martindale.

[June Squibb]

Yes, yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And she did a lot of her own stunts, too. But there was some of it that was just too hard for, you know, even me to do.

[June Squibb]

And, you know, we live next door to each other for 30 years.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I do. I do know that. Yeah, yeah, we're talking about that, too.

[June Squibb]

You know, I know her so well, and I'm sure we both. We feel the same about so many things, you know, that I could understand her wanting to do that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And I know that she was very instrumental in maybe getting your role in Nebraska. Is that right?

[June Squibb]

She first told me about it because they had sent it to her, and Margo got the script, and she said, I'm too young. She said, you're the one that should be doing this. And so she gave me the script and she said, read this and see what you know. And I read it and I thought, well. Cute, right?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Are you hungry, June?

[June Squibb]

I am.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Good. Me, too. Would you like a drink to get started?

[June Squibb]

I like a decaf coffee.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Come over here, Mom. Decaf black coffee for June. And I'm gonna have Arnold Palmer. Arnold Palmer. Thank you. That's great. Okay, what are your. What are you, like, known for? What are your specialties? So we just changed our menu. We added meat to our menu. Oh, you were a vegetarian? We were all vegetarian before. I didn't know that. But now we have meat, so. So I would suggest the grilled chicken. The pants here at Salmon. Shrimp tacos are excellent if you like shrimp. The grilled chicken and the salmon, I suggest to everyone. I love it when I do this. I always ask people to tell me their favorites, and then I choose the one thing you haven't said. People do that. I think I'm gonna do the Zinc Club, the salami, prosciutto, roast turkey. Sounds really good. Would you like soup or salad or fries? I'll do salad. Sure. Yeah. Balance it out.

[June Squibb]

I'm gonna Have. No, I'm gonna have the grilled cheese.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Sure.

[June Squibb]

Yes. And I guess a salad.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Sure. Thank you so much. Wait, so I want to finish this. As Margo Martindale said, I'm too young. You should be doing this.

[June Squibb]

Yeah, but the thing was they really didn't think that I was at all right for it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Only because you had played a sweeter character for the same director.

[June Squibb]

Vague Bleitch character, you know, and Kate certainly is not that. Kate was full of. And my agents kept at them and kept at them and kept at them until finally, and this was way in the process, they said, okay, we'll send her a scene and I think two scenes and tell her to film them and send them back. And it was like you had to self tape.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Alexander didn't even. No, Alex, No.

[June Squibb]

I mean they were so, you know, we'll be nice to June and let her do this. Well, Alexander said he saw it and he thought, oh my God, she could play Kate, you know. And so that's what happened. And he told me later on, he said, the minute I saw your audition, I knew you were her.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, June tells me about being told to give up acting and making her feature film debut in Alice at 61 years old. Okay, be right back. So picture this. You're running a business and suddenly you realize, oh no, you need to hire someone. Like yesterday. You've been there, right? But don't panic. I got you covered. Just use Indeed. Why waste time on other job sites hoping someone notices your post? Indeed's Sponsored Jobs helps you stand out and hire the right person and fast. Here's how it works. Sponsored Jobs bumps your posts to the top of the page for all the right candidates. That gets your posts in front of the eyes of the people you actually want to hire. Indeed just makes hiring so much easier. I remember a time when finding the right person felt like a full time job in itself. If only I'd used Indeed back then, I could have avoided so much stress and maybe even found time to, I don't know, go to cooking school. Oh, and also, there's no strings attached. With Indeed sponsored jobs, there are no monthly subscriptions or long term contracts. You only pay for results. Want to know how fast they are? In the time it's taken me to tell you this, 23 hires were made on Indeed. 23. Yeah, that's pretty impressive. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed.

[June Squibb]

We're So done with New Year, new you.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This year it's more you on Bumble.

[June Squibb]

More of you shamelessly sending playlists, especially that one filled with show tunes. More of you finding Geminis because you know you always like them. More of you dating with intention because.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You know what you want.

[June Squibb]

And you know what?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

We love that for you. Someone else will, too.

[June Squibb]

Be more you this year and find them on Bumble.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And we're back with more dinners on me. I do want to go back to some of your early life and talk about your Broadway career, if we could. I made my Broadway debut at the age of 21 in the revival on the Town.

[June Squibb]

Oh, my God.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Which I just. I love doing. And, you know, musical theater for me was my first. Loved it so much. Of course, the one credit of yours that really just jumps out at me that I'm sure you've talked about ad nauseam is, you know, doing Gypsy. Gypsy with Ethel Merman playing which stripper was it?

[June Squibb]

Electra?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Elektra. Yes. How old were you when you did that?

[June Squibb]

I think I was 26. I think I was 26.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Incredible. And were you. You weren't in the original cast. You were a replacement. But Ethel Marmon was still on the show when you did it.

[June Squibb]

She played the whole run. She did on Broadway. Yeah. And then they were reopening at the Imperial, and that's when I went in, and we had eight months in New York, and then I did the road company because she was doing it and they wanted me to do it, so I did it. And it was like another eight months of doing it with her then.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's incredible. What was. What was that audition like? What was. Did you meet.

[June Squibb]

It was the whole team. No, I was at a bar with my agent, and this young man came in, and my agent knew him, and he was the stage manager for La Plume de Matin. And so my agent said to him, what are you doing now? He said, yvonne Constand is leaving and we have to replace her. So I'm doing auditions for that. And Martin said, well, June could do that. And he said, can you do points? And Martin looked at me. Yeah, looked at me, and I said, sure. I had never been in a pair of pointe shoes in my life ever. So he said, well, great. He said, you look good for it. So I went to the audition, and at that time, they called me to come in and sing. So I went in and sang, and I didn't bother with the shoes anymore. And this guy, after I had sang, this other guy came up to me in the house and said he was a stage manager for Gypsy and they were replacing A row. And he said, go downstairs, come back up and do some striptease dancing. Well, again, I didn't know what the hell I was doing. So I went downstairs, and luckily a friend of mine, a real dancer, was down there. And I said, how? Do what a strip dancing? She said, oh, just dip a lot and, you know, do your bumps and grinds and dip. So I went upstairs and they played strip music. Now I was on the stage, I guess I don't even know what the theater, but one of the big Broadway theaters. And I'm stripping, like, and bouncing and doing all these things, bumping and grinding and everything. And they called me that night and said, we want you to come into Gypsy, and it was Electra.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So you did it? Well, bake it until you make it, is what they say. And you sure did.

[June Squibb]

I did, but we all did, you know, it was like, of course.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, I would say I could do everything, and then I would just deal with it in the moment. I found myself in several auditions I should not have been in, like, auditioning for the ensemble of cats. I can't dance. I can't dance. I cannot dance like that. And just kind of slowly walking out of the room and it got a little too difficult for. I was like, they're not gonna even remember I've left. But, yeah, fake it until you make it.

[June Squibb]

We had such balls, didn't we?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, absolutely. Was theater your first love?

[June Squibb]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[June Squibb]

I never. That's what I kind of understood. I never thought in terms of film. I really didn't.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[June Squibb]

And it. I always thought I would end up on stage in New York.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[June Squibb]

It never occurred to me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I begged, so it just always was something you wanted to do. I know you told stories about your. Was it your mother taking you to bars and having you stand on the bar?

[June Squibb]

My grandparents, my mother's parents used to take me around to local bars because I loved tap dancing. I would get on the bar and tap dance, and they would get free beer. And that's really what it was. It was the free beer that did it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

So those were your first performances?

[June Squibb]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Tap dancing for beer for your grandparents.

[June Squibb]

On those old wooden bars, and I love that.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

[June Squibb]

Oh, great.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you.

[June Squibb]

Okay. That looks good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That looks good. I don't think. Do you need cutlery? Yeah, we'll take some cutlery, please.

[June Squibb]

Good.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[June Squibb]

I love the grilled cheese.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That grilled cheese looks amazing. Okay, back into some of These questions I want. You turned 21 in 1950, which was a very interesting time for women, from what I understand and from what my grandparents have told me. Like, you know, it was a time when you kind of chose a career or personal life, and you didn't always have both. I mean, what was that? What were those early years for you? Like, you. Obviously, you. You got married at 23, and you had a very successful career on Broadway, but what was it like for you?

[June Squibb]

Well, my first marriage lasted seven years. We were at the Cleveland Playhouse together. That's where I met him. And we did go to New York, and I loved it. I couldn't have been happier. He hated it. So I think that was one of the first big signs. I think I gave up on the marriage before he did, really. And I was successful and he wasn't. And I think by then I had really come to the conclusion that the best person to tell me what to do was me. And I was then unmarried for seven years. And there was a lot of great stuff in that time and a lot of not so great stuff.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah. What were those years like for you before? You know, when you're out, you're on your own, You've had a. You've had a relationship and you've closed.

[June Squibb]

I raised hell.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You're what?

[June Squibb]

I raised hell.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Good for you.

[June Squibb]

I really did.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I mean, I can imagine some, you know, in your 30s in New York, successful theater actress, you know, I'm sure you're having a fun time. Good for you. Good for you. I love that.

[June Squibb]

I think I wore myself out. That's why I got married again.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I remember the year, the summer before I met my husband Justin, I was doing Shakespeare in the park in New York City, so I spent the summer there. Modern Family had had one season, so that was a big success. And I was doing Shakespeare in the park with Al Pacino and, you know, living my best life in New York. And I had a summer of fun, for sure. And I'm so. Justin always says, I'm so glad you had that summer before we settled down, because I needed that. What made you decide to get married again? Obviously, you met someone.

[June Squibb]

Meeting someone. Yeah, I don't know. And I realized that I didn't want to have a child, and I was 40 when I had my child. But I don't know. He was. The man I married was such a great. He was an acting teacher.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah.

[June Squibb]

And I think that part of me said, you need him, you know, that this. This is somebody that is going to be Valuable in your life, really. Right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I just love the chapters of your career and how, like, at 61. 61. 61, you finally made your film debut with Woody Allen in Alice. That was your first film audition?

[June Squibb]

Yes.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow.

[June Squibb]

I went to my agent. We were all at once getting all this film work in New York, and I went to my agent and I said, look, I know a lot of my friends that do stage that are doing these new films that are coming in. I said, I think I should be doing some. He said, okay. And a week later, I had an audition for Woody Allen. But what happened? Do you know Ellen Lewis?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

How do I know that name?

[June Squibb]

Casting director.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes. Yes.

[June Squibb]

She worked for Juliet Taylor, and Juliet did Alice, and he hired me. And then Ellen Lewis went off on her own, and she was casting Son of a Woman, so she brought me in for that, and I got that. Then she brought me in for Scorsese's Age of Innocence, and I got that. And like, all at once, everybody. You're a film actor. I mean, all at once, I. But it was one, two. Within a few months, I had shot.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Three films, big ones.

[June Squibb]

Well, and Son of a Woman was a big. Fairly big role. I mean, it was not just. The others were small. You know, I was the housekeeper for Woody, and for Martin Scorsese, I was a maid. But for Son of a Woman, I had a role that really kind of mattered, that people noticed. So it was just all at once. I mean, and I didn't understand it. I mean, you know, I am a film actress now. Oh, right.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know it took, you know, on this planet 61 years before getting your film opportunity, your first film opportunity, but when you line it up like that, I'm like, gosh, you really. You really got in easy.

[June Squibb]

You just shifted.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

And then you pay our dues at all.

[June Squibb]

No, not for Phil.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Not for Phil. Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, June tells me about her next leading role in Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut. And we hear about who she'd want opposite of her in a rom com. Do I sense someone has a crush? Hmm. Okay, be right back. If you need three new reasons to love, Jack raps at Jack in the Box even more. Here they are. Chicken fajita, chicken Caesar, and delicious. Starting at $3. Coincidentally, those are the same three reasons you should come to Jack in the Box right now at Jack, every bite's a big deal. This episode is brought to you by Amazon. Sometimes the most painful part of getting sick is the getting better part. Waiting on hold for an appointment, sitting in crowded waiting rooms, standing in line at the pharmacy. That's painful. Amazon One Medical and Amazon Pharmacy remove those painful parts of getting better with things like 247 virtual visits and prescriptions delivered to your door. Thanks to Amazon Pharmacy and AmazonOne Medical Healthcare just got less painful. And we're back with more dinners on me. Talk to me a little bit about where your crew was at before you had the. I mean, obviously I know about Schmidt and. But before your. Kind of. It's so weird calling it a big break because you were 84 when Nebraska came out, and it was such a huge moment, but what was your career like before Nebraska? Did you just sort of imagine just a life and doing more film and maybe were you gonna think about dating? Like, what was going on?

[June Squibb]

Well, I never really, really did the dating thing after my husband died. I tried a few times in New York and I tried a few times out here, and I would get so bored. I just. I really did. That's an awful thing to say.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

No.

[June Squibb]

But so many people bore the shit out of me.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

What is a dating pool like for someone who's lost a husband?

[June Squibb]

Very slim. It is very slim. And I'm sure that's a part of it, too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Have you considered joining Tinder?

[June Squibb]

No.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Okay. Just asking. Just asking. But, yeah. I mean, it was such a shift when Nebraska happened. Did it feel like, obviously you're working with a director he'd worked with before, but did it feel like a big moment when you were doing it?

[June Squibb]

I think, too. Well, yeah. This wasn't just me. I think Bruce felt it. Will certainly felt it. It was a new thing for him and Bob Odenkirk. I think that everybody involved with it that had something to do felt that this was something very special. The crew felt it, believe it or not. They were going around as we were shooting and they were. You could hear them talking about the Academy Awards.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Really?

[June Squibb]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That seems like bad luck.

[June Squibb]

Well, maybe it was, but, you know, it was, like, crazy. Everybody, but everybody felt this is something very special. No one knew what it was going to be or, you know, I don't know that Alexander did.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Right. He's really one of my favorite filmmakers. I love him so much. I've never met him.

[June Squibb]

He's. Oh, he's great.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I talked a little bit about how Margot Martindale sort of was part of the story of you getting Nebraska, but what's this about Beanie Felstein also maybe being someone who helped you with. Get the role of Thelma?

[June Squibb]

She did it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Why? How did this happen? What happened?

[June Squibb]

She and I had done Humans together. The film?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yes. Yeah.

[June Squibb]

We're very good friends. We were at her wedding. I mean. Yeah, that's nice. You know, really close. Anyway, she was. She's family friends with Josh, who wrote it, directed, et cetera, et cetera. And she was at their house and he had just finished the script and they were talking about Josh's new script. And so he told her about. She said, well, who do you want to do? And he said, well, I would love June Squibb, but I don't know how to get a script to her. She said, I'll get a script to her. She texted me, I'm sending you a script. I texted back, okay. And that was it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

That's incredible.

[June Squibb]

And we. The script came, I read it and I knew I had to do it. And I have someone read my scripts, too. And she called back and said, you've got to do this.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You've also done so many incredible genres, from musical theater to. I'd classify Thelma as an action film. Would you? I would, you know, kind of darker comedies. Are there other genres that you would love to do?

[June Squibb]

I keep saying, now I want to do a Western.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

You want to do a Western?

[June Squibb]

I've never done a West. Have you ever done one?

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I haven't, no.

[June Squibb]

And I just think that would be. I used to ride when I was.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Did you?

[June Squibb]

Oh, yeah, a lot. So I was a fairly good rider. I don't know that I could now. I suppose once you got me on the horse, I probably could stay on, but I think, you know, there's always the saloon keeper or the brothel keeper or something like that. And I just would love to be there. Live. Live that, you know.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Yeah, for sure. I could totally see that. Like a revival of Best Little Horror House in Texas or something. Bring all your skills together, all your stripping, you're singing. I mean, what about a rom com romantic comedy? And if you could do a rom com, like, who would your dream love interest be?

[June Squibb]

My love interest? Oh, God. I guess Robert De Niro wouldn't be that very.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Very talented, very handsome, everybody.

[June Squibb]

Very.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's aged very well.

[June Squibb]

Could be, too.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

He's very funny.

[June Squibb]

Yeah.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I find people who are really serious, like super serious, to be hilarious. In fact, that's like. That's sort of what that was the basis for my character, Modern Family. He. I just thought sometimes when people are so serious and so straight edged, they can be really funny because they just take everything way too seriously.

[June Squibb]

You all were so brilliant doing that. Oh, my God, thank you. I love doing it with you. I know the short time I did, but. Oh, my God, I love watching it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Thank you. Thank you. There were so many. So many incredible jobs that you did after Nebraska. I mean, you showed up everywhere. All of a sudden, you couldn't turn on the TV or see a film without seeing June Squid. Do you have. I know you're about to do something with Scarlett Johansson. Another. You did it already. How'd it go?

[June Squibb]

Oh, I think it's gonna be great. I've seen it twice, and some people have seen it and they're really loving it. So I think it's gonna be very special.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

This is her directorial debut.

[June Squibb]

Yeah. Well, it was so great because she, as an actress, really knew where I was, where I was going, what I was doing, everything, you know, And I think. I think she and I both took chances, and I think that's kind of great. I mean, if you feel that confident, you know, with your actor and your director and the whole thing. And I think we did. I think we took some chances.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Can you tell me a little bit about what the movie is?

[June Squibb]

Yeah. It's an older woman who lives in Florida with her friend, and the friend died, and her friend was in the Holocaust. So this is a large part of it. So she moves back to New York and she's very lonely, and she meets a young woman and they become very, very good friends. She thinks she's going to a singing group in a Jewish community center, and she ends up in the Holocaust survivors group.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, wow.

[June Squibb]

And they assume she is a Holocaust survivor. So she then says she is and starts telling her friends stories.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Oh, wow.

[June Squibb]

As if they were hers.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's like dear Evan Hansen, but an older person.

[June Squibb]

And it's the Holocaust. Wow. And it's about grief, and it's about remembering the Holocaust. Holocaust. And it's about friends, what friends mean to you. You know, it. It's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

It's sounds so interesting.

[June Squibb]

It is. It was all shot in New York City, all locations.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Wow. Did you visit Margo Martindale? Did you visit your old neighborhood?

[June Squibb]

I had dinner parties at Joe Allen's.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Good for you. Oh, my gosh.

[June Squibb]

I wish I came.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Perfect.

[June Squibb]

And other friends I had.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I just adore you so much. I think you're fabulous in tha. I. You know, obviously there's. There's a bit. There's a bit of. Bit of buzz around you, like this might be another fun award season for you. But whether or not that happens, you are just incredible. In it. And I am so happy that you are doing such rich work at, you know, at this time of your life. I think it's really inspiring.

[June Squibb]

I said the other day, it's wonderful to feel relevant. And you're in this room.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

There's a hat that you have your name on that I'm trying to get a hold of. I would buy a June squib hat on ebay if that's where I had to get it. But unfortunately, your team's gonna get me one.

[June Squibb]

Yeah, no, she'll get you one. Listen, if she'd known, she would have brought it.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

I know, I know, I know, I know. It's so funny. And I told Gabriel, I was like, I'm have to get a hat myself. I almost stole his. Thank you for doing this.

[June Squibb]

Oh, well, thank you for inviting me. This was fun.

[Jesse Tyler Ferguson]

Anytime. Dinner's on Me. Of course. This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Zinc Cafe and Bar in West Hollywood, California. Next week on Dinners on Me, he has three Tony Awards, two Emmys and a SAG Award. You know him from the hit movie the Birdcage or on stage, the Producers and his upcoming TV show from the creators of Will and Grace, Mid Century Modern, it's Pepper Saltzberg from Modern Family, also known as Nathan Lane. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners on Me. Plus, as a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top of the Dinners on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. Dinner is on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Angela Vang. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hansdell. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.