June Squibb

June Louise Squibb (born November 6, 1929) is an American actress. She began her career by making her Broadway debut in the musical Gypsy. Her film debut was in Woody Allen's romantic comedy Alice (1990). She later had supporting roles in the films The Age of Innocence (1993), In & Out (1997), Meet Joe Black (1998), About Schmidt (2002), and Far from Heaven (2002). For her role in Alexander Payne's road film Nebraska (2013), she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Squibb starred in the action comedy film Thelma (2024) and the comedy-drama Eleanor the Great (2025). She also voiced characters in the animated films Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), Toy Story 4 (2019), Soul (2020), Inside Out 2 (2024), and Zootopia 2 (2025). She returned to the Broadway stage in 2025 in a revival of the Jordan Harrison play Marjorie Prime for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

Early and personal life Squibb was born in Vandalia, Illinois. Squibb married Edward Sostek in 1953; they divorced in 1959. Later that same year, she married acting teacher Charles Kakatsakis. They had a son, Harry, a filmmaker who directed the short film Admissions. In the 1950s, Squibb converted to Judaism. When asked about ageism in show business, she said, "Well, it's like anything else. I always feel, rules are meant to be broken."

Career Early appearances Squibb worked at The Muny and trained with HB Studio. In 1951, she moved to Cleveland to sing and dance at the Cleveland Play House and starred in productions such as Marseilles, The Play's the Thing, Goodbye, My Fancy, The Heiress, Detective Story, Antigone, Ladies in Retirement and Bloomer Girl. In the late 1950s, she and her second husband, Charles Kakatsakis, moved to New York City to pursue careers on Broadway.

In 1958, she played Dulcie in the off-Broadway The Boy Friend and starred in the 1959 Off-Broadway revival of Lend an Ear. She replaced Electra for her Broadway debut in the original production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Squibb appeared in the 1968 Broadway version of The Happy Time. The musical was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical. She did modeling work for romance novels, and performed on road tours and cruise ships, and worked as Santa Claus’s helper at Christmas in the shopping malls. After this role, she appeared in films Far from Heaven (2002), Welcome to Mooseport (2004), and Just Add Water (2008). From 2005 to 2007, she had a recurring role in the CBS crime series Ghost Whisperer, and from 2008 to 2009 played Pearl on the CBS soap opera, The Young and the Restless. She also appeared in the made-for-television films A Stranger's Heart (2007) and Shark Swarm (2008) and guest-starred on The Middle, Castle and Mike & Molly. In 2011, she played Stella Gordon in Dividing the Estate at the Dallas Theater Center and received standout reviews.

Breakthrough

In 2013, Squibb starred opposite Bruce Dern in the road comedy-drama film Nebraska, directed by Alexander Payne. She received positive reviews for her performance. Film critic Christy Lemire from RogerEbert.com called her a "scene-stealer", while Peter Travers from the Rolling Stone called her "priceless". She received Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress and Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, as well as being nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female among other accolades for the film.

Following her big break, Squibb guest-starred on Girls, Glee, Devious Maids, Mom and Getting On. She was inducted into the Cleveland Play House Hall of Fame in 2016.

In 2015, Squibb starred opposite Blythe Danner in the comedy-drama film I'll See You in My Dreams. Later that year, she appeared in the Christmas comedy-drama Love the Coopers. In 2016, she guest-starred on The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon's meemaw. Later that year, she had a recurring role as Etta Teasdale in the Showtime comedy-drama series Shameless. In 2017, she guest-starred alongside Hal Holbrook on Grey's Anatomy.

She also appeared in the films Other People (2016), Father Figures (2017), Blow the Man Down (2019), Palm Springs (2020), Hubie Halloween (2020), The Humans (2021) and Family Squares (2022). She played Old Josie in the 2018 Broadway production of Waitress. She had a supporting role in the Disney+ fantasy film Godmothered in 2020.

She played Vivian, the grandmother of Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake), in Apple TV+ 2021 film Palmer. From 2018 to 2019, she had a recurring role in the NBC crime comedy-drama Good Girls. She also played Mrs. Danforth, a rich benefactor, in "The Indoor Arm", the final episode of the second season of the Apple TV+ series Little America.

In 2024, Squibb had her first leading role, in the action comedy film Thelma. It received mostly positive reviews from critics. Mae Abdulbaki wrote in her Screen Rant review: "June Squibb proves she's still on top of her acting game in an energetic, charming adventure comedy that is actually genuinely funny." That same year, she appeared in the black comedy Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Squibb starred in another leading role in Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut film Eleanor the Great.

In 2026, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in Marjorie Prime, which made her the oldest ever Tony Award acting nominee, at age 96.

Acting credits Film YearTitleRole Notes 1990 Alice Hilda 1992 Scent of a Woman Mrs. Linda Hunsaker 1993 The Age of Innocence Delores 1997 In & Out Cousin Gretchen 1998 Meet Joe Black Helen 2002 About Schmidt Helen Schmidt Far from Heaven Bessie 2004 Welcome to Mooseport Irma 2008 Just Add Water Mother Mattie 2011 Atlas Shrugged: Part I Mrs. Ida Hastings The Perfect Family Mrs. Dawn Punch The Big Year Doris 2012 The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez Irma Would You Rather Linda 2013 Nebraska Kate GrantAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination 2015 I'll See You in My Dreams Georgina A Country Called Home Judy Love the Coopers Aunt Fishy 2016 Other People Ruth-Anne 2017 Table 19 Jo Flanagan Amanda & Jack Go Glamping Jude Father Figures Agnes Hunt 2018 Summer '03 Dotty Winkle Ralph Breaks the Internet BerthaVoice role 2019 Blow the Man Down Susie GallagherToy Story 4 Margaret the Store OwnerVoice role 2020 Palm Springs Nana Lena Schlieffen Hubie Halloween Mrs. Estelle Dubois Soul Gerel Voice role Godmothered Agnes 2021 Palmer Vivian Palmer The Humans Momo 2022 Family Squares Mabel2024 Thelma Thelma Post Also executive producer Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Carly Sturak Inside Out 2 Nostalgia Voice role Lost & Found in Cleveland Gladys Sokolowski 2025 Eleanor the Great Eleanor MorgensteinZootopia 2Gram Gram HoppsVoice role

Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 CBS Schoolbreak Special Sylvia the Landlady Episode: "The Day the Senior Class Got Married" 1995; 1999 Law & Order Sylvia Sherman / Eileen De Rose 2 episodes 2001 Ed Dr. Bernaman Episode: "Valentine's Day" 2003–2004 Judging Amy Louise Flowers 5 episodes 2003 ER Agnes Episode: "No Strings Attached" Just Shoot Me! Mrs. Nora Pebbles Episode: "Son of a Preacher Man" 2005 House Ramona Episode: "Love Hurts" The Bernie Mac Show Sister Rosetta Hamillton Episode: "Night of Terror" Two and a Half Men Margaret Episode: "Sleep Tight, Puddin' Pop" Curb Your Enthusiasm Mrs. Edie Cone Episode: "The End" 2005–2007 Ghost Whisperer Grandma Mary-Anne 6 episodes 2006 7th Heaven Ms. Bessie Rusnak Episode: "Love and Obsession" 2007 The Bill Engvall Show Edda 2 episodes A Stranger's Heart Aunt Cass Television film 2008 Cold Case Annette Hicks Episode: "Slipping"The OfficeMichael's mother (Voice role)Episode: "Customer Survey" Shark Swarm Bess Wilder Television film 2008–2009 The Young and the Restless Pearl 19 episodes 2011 Eagleheart Esther Episode: "Once in a Wattle" 2012 Castle Jamie Isaacson Episode: "Once Upon a Crime" Mike & Molly Francine Episode: "The Rehearsal" 2013–2015 Getting On Varla Pounder 3 episodes 2013 The Millers Blanche Episode: "Carol's Parents Are Coming to Town" 2014 Girls Grandma Flo Episode: "Flo" Glee Maggie Banks Episode: "Old Dog, New Tricks" Devious Maids Velma Mudge 2 episodes 2015 The Jack and Triumph Show June Gregory 7 episodes 7 Days in Hell Elizabeth II Television film Axe Cop June Esther (voice) Episode: "The Ultimate Mate" Wander Over Yonder Stella Starbella (voice) Episode: "The Loose Screw" Mom Dottie Episode: "Terrorists and Gingerbread" Code Black Dorothy Episode: "Buen Árbol" 2016 The Big Bang Theory Constance, Sheldon's 'Meemaw' Episode: "The Meemaw Materialization" Shameless Etta 7 episodes Modern Family Auntie Alice 2 episodes Dream Corp, LLC Nora Episode: "The Smoking Nun" Clarence Rosie Randell (voice) Episode: "Cloris" 2017 Bones Barbara Baker Episode: "The Final Chapter: The New Tricks in the Old Dogs" Grey's Anatomy Elsie Clatch Episode: "Til I Hear It From You" I'm Sorry Diane Episode: "Pilot" 2018 Living Biblically Mrs. Mary Jean Murphy Episode: "Pilot" 2018–2019 Good Girls Marion Peterson 7 episodes 2019 The Good Doctor Ida Guelph Episode: "Trampoline" Room 104 Jean Episode: "Crossroads" 2020 Solar Opposites Ruth (voice) Episode: "The Unstable Grey Hole" Little Voice Mrs. Esther Finch 5 episodes 2020–2021 The Fungies! Granny Tullabett Grancie (voice) 11 episodes 2021 No Activity (voice) Episode: "40 Days & 40 Nights" 2021–2022 Little Ellen Gramsy (voice) 18 episodes 2022 Life & Beth Elena Episode: "Pancakes" Little America Mrs. Danforth Episode: "The Indoor Arm" 2024 VelmaOlder Woman (voice)2 episodes American Horror StoriesGramsEpisode: "Leprechaun" 2025 Haha, You Clowns Dory, Ruth (voice) Episode: "Movie Night"

Theater YearTitleRoleVenue Ref. 1958 The Boy Friend Dulcie Cherry Lane Theatre, Off-Broadway 1959 Lend an Ear EnsembleRenata Theatre, Off-Broadway Gypsy Electra (replacement) Broadway Theatre, Broadway 1962 No Shoestrings Ensemble Upstairs at the Downstairs, Off-Broadway 1976 The Public Good Ensemble Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway 1978 Gorey Stories Mary Rosemarsh Booth Theatre, Broadway 2011 Dividing the Estate Stella Dallas Theater Center, Regional 2018 Waitress Josie (replacement) Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway 2025 Marjorie Prime Marjorie Prime Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway

Awards and nominations YearAwardCategory WorkResult Ref. 2013 Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Nebraska Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Supporting Actress Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Female Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Actor Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best Supporting Actress American Comedy Awards Best Comedy Supporting Actress - Film Boston Society of Film Critics Best Supporting Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Denver Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Detroit Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress Georgia Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Supporting Actress Indiana Film Journalists Association Best Supporting Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress London Critics Circle Film Awards Supporting Actress of the Year New York Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Phoenix Film Critics Society Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role Breakthrough Performance on Camera San Francisco Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award Seattle Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actress St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Toronto Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Vancouver Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress 2014 Online Film & Television Association Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Girls 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society AwardsBest Comedic Performance Thelma AARP Movies for Grownups AwardsBest Actress Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical Saturn AwardsBest Actress in a Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Lead Performance Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Actress Best Women's Breakthrough Performance Best Stunt Performance 2026 Children's and Family Emmy Awards Outstanding Children's Personality Storyline Online AARP Movies for Grownups AwardsBest ActressEleanor the Great Drama Desk Award Outstanding EnsembleMarjorie Prime Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play