June Squibb

Hello, everyone. This is Amy Poehler. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. I'm in a different studio today, but don't worry. I have my fake food with me, so no need to panic. But I have the great June Squibb here today. June is a legend. She is an incredible artist and wonderful person, and we talked about a lot of things today. We're going to talk about Eleanor, the great, her new movie that premiered at Cannes. We're going to talk about what it was like being an actor in New York in the 1950s. Her love of sketch comedy, the fact that we were both an inside out, and we're going to just talk about her incredible career. What it's like being 95, which June makes it look real good. I always like to do this at the beginning of every episode. We talk well behind our guests back, and we have someone who has worked with June in a great film called Nebraska. He is SNL alum, an incredible actor and dear friend, Will Forte, joining us from a trailer somewhere on the set of something. This episode is presented to you by Walmart. I'd like to say that I'm a pretty good gift giver, and for me, it's about making the extra effort to find the perfect gift. Walmart has the top brands we all love in one place. Nespresso, Nintendo, Apple, you name it. That's why it has to be Walmart for all my gifts this year. Guest best gift giver award goes to yours truly. Get the brands everyone loves at prices, you'll love at Walmart. Who knew? Go to Walmart.com or download the app to get all your gifts this season. Hello, how are you? Will Forte, it looks like you're in a trailer. I am in a trailer. Where are we talking to you from? I don't even know. I'm outside of Atlanta somewhere. I'm like an hour south. Madonna, I think it's called. Madonna, Georgia. Um, we are talking to June Squibb today. Oh, get ready. I'm very excited for you. I'm very excited. You met her before, right? You know what? We only met once briefly at a Pixar event because we were both there for inside out too. Wait, you came, didn't you come to the Nebraska screening in New York? Well, I don't remember. I don't, I don't remember things. If you say I was there, sure, but I don't have any memory of that. I think you might have been there, but it doesn't mean you ever met her like, like in fact, she might not have even been there. I, in fact, if she wasn't there, if someone tells me something happened, I have to believe them because I, if someone could come up to me at this point and say like, we were roommates in New York. And I would say, okay, yeah, because I cannot remember somebody asked me the other day if I met Oprah Winfrey. I couldn't answer. And I'm like, I love Oprah. I would, you would think that I would know if I met her. Um, where, what do you remember meeting June? I met June for the first time about a week before we started shooting Nebraska. We got together to do some little rehearsals. And she was just very instantly charming and made me, put me right at ease because I was very nervous about the experience. She was just so, so wonderful. What were you nervous about at the time? I just had never really done, you know, something that was more on the dramatic side, even though it's kind of a comedy end of drama. But, you know, to do it on that scale with, you know, with the director, Alexander Payne, and then, you know, Bruce Dern and June Squibb, it was, it was daunting. And do you, how would you say June works? How does she like to work? Does she like to rehearse? Is she loose? Is she from what I remember, June had the entire script memorized before we even started. You can ask her if that's true. But I'm pretty sure that she had memorized every one of her lines before we even started. Wow. That's so perfect. And I'm like, I'm somebody who really like, I try hard to make sure that everything is memorized. I don't want to be the person who screws that up. But I mean, I was just blown away by that. Like I, that was way over the top. That's, I mean, when I've been doing research on her, she's such a formidable actress and started out in the theater and just says like a ton of experience and training. So it's not surprising to me, but that is a, that's a lot to memorize. Yeah. And she just was amazing. It's such a pro. And at the same time, so warm and just, you just love being around her. You'll, you'll see. You know what I'm finding is so many people, I bet you've seen this too. Like people 90 and over, non-agenarians or whatever. People tend to either speak to them like their little kids, like say, like, how are you? Like, are you having a nice day? Or they assume that they've got a ton of wisdom that they want to share. Like they assume like they're, you know, tell us your secrets. Like, and what I've noticed about when I've done some research on June is June does not, you know, she's so together with it and in the moment. Like she's not interested in being like this wise person who's learned all these lessons. She seems very current. I guess is the best way to put it. Yeah. I mean, she has that wisdom for sure, but isn't like, she doesn't hit you in the face with it. She's just like, she's just, she's like the perfect person because she's like super sweet, but got a little, a little spice to her. Also, it's, it's, it's just a perfect combination. Did she ever like, did she ever give you some wisdom? A few times. A few times. Did she ever what? Did she ever give you any wisdom? Or did she ever give you, or did she ever like have a little sharp tongue, like little spice that you saw while you were working together? Well, that's the thing is like she's so sweet, but then she, she, the part that she plays in the movie is, you know, she's defending the family and, and she gets really spicy. Okay, so do you have a question you think we should ask June? Anything you think you'd want to hear on this podcast. June, my question is, what is your favorite food and why? And will you please tell me in song? Answer the question in song, in existing or made up song? Well, I mean, hopefully we can get the rights to whatever things she sings, but that's a perfect question, Will. Okay. Okay. Let's, you want to take it one more time? Yeah. And, and just play around with it. Have fun. What is the, oh my god. Okay. And no pressure, but we are, we are getting ready to break for lunch. So let's, whenever you're ready. Oh, this is going to happen. June, hello. I love you and I miss you. You are one of the most wonderful people I've ever gotten to work with. My question to you is this, what is your favorite food and why? And please answer this question in song. And that song must be in the public domain. Thank you. Perfect question. Um, for Jay, do you think you're going to live to 95 and do you want to? I know that I have the Ouija board has said I will be dead at 73 by stabbing, but I think I'm going to figure out a way like whoever makes it through those final destination movies. I'm going to be that guy and I will make it to 95. I believe it. How about you? I hope so. I definitely won. I want to make it to 100. And June is aspirational to me. I want to be like June at 95 working occasionally, having fun, having fun with my friends, like being really sharp. She is an amazing role model. And I'm with you. Yeah. I can't wait to have her. All right. I love you so much. Thank you so much for getting on and doing this in the middle of your work day. Have fun with her. I'm jealous. He gets a talk to her for so long. Thanks buddy. Tell her high for me. Talk to you. Bye. Bye. This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Big news. All D is now on Uber Eats. And you get 40% off your first order with code New Aldi 25. So whether your fridge is empty and you're too tired to shop or you just ran out of essential ingredients in the middle of meal prep, don't worry. Fill your fridge in just a few taps and get 40% off your first Aldi order on Uber Eats. For orders over $30, you can save up to $25 ends December 31st. See you out for details. Do you know I'm so happy to have you here. Well, I'm thrilled to be here. We know someone asked me today. They said, have you have you met June? And I said, well, we've met in that like Hollywood way where we've just like seen each other and events, but we haven't really been able to share. I remember Scarlett and I saw you at the rehearsal for the Oscar presenters. That's right. Yeah. That's right. Scarlett Julianzo. Yeah. That's the last time I think I saw you. And we a lot of people don't know that you have to kind of show up for those events and rehearse them. Yeah. Which is kind of good because you have to see where to walk in. Oh, I would have been, you know, I had never done it before. I'm sure she has, but I hadn't, and so it was all completely, you know, new to me. Yeah. Now where you go, what you do, everything. You are in a new movie right now that's Carla Directed. - That's Carla Directed, yes. - And one other great. - Her directing debut. - Yes, feature. - Feature, excuse me. Do you like working with first-time directors? - I do, and I've worked with quite a few. I really have. - What do you like about it? - I find if they're good, they're good. You know, if they know what they're doing, and first-time directors so often do. And I think that many of them work hard at finding out what to do, you know. If they're confused or not sure, they try to make sure they find out the answers. - Do you have a style or a way that you like to be directed? Do you like more thoughts right away? Do you like to rehearsal? Do you like, do you have a way to prep in a way that you like? - I certainly prep in a certain way. - Yeah, I learn by just going over and over and over. But in doing that, I'm studying the script. So I know that script backwards and forward by the time I get on set. I really do. I just feel, you know, I know everything about it. - Do you think it comes from your training? - Yeah, I think I was in theater for so many years. And the learning process is different because there you usually learn as you rehearse. And of course with film, we learn and then go do it. - Yeah. - So there's a difference. But basically with theater, God did we ever learn the on time thing, you know, which is so everybody preaches in film all the time too. - Yeah, I feel like, I mean, I don't think enough people know your extensive theater background and where you started. And you were also married to an acting teacher and you studied a lot and you did a lot of things. And can you tell me a little bit about what it was like in the 1950s to move to New York as an actor? I mean, it was wonderful. - Oh, I loved it. I loved it. I felt I breathed really fully for the first time in my life. And I had had five years at the Cleveland Playhouse. So that prepared me in so many ways for New York, but there was nothing like New York. And being young in New York, being in the theater. And I was one of the lucky ones that started working fairly soon. - Where were you living when you first moved to New York? - We lived. There were three of us, my first husband and a very dear friend, Jack Lee, who was a Broadway conductor before his career ended. And we lived in a funny apartment that they took down for Lincoln Center. - Oh wow. - Yes, we lived there for two or three years and then they sort of bought us out. And then we moved though to a very, a duplex in the village. And it, oh, Alby moved in after we did. - Edward Alby? - Yeah, Edward Alby. - The playwright? - Yes. - Wow. - It was a wonderful apartment, hadn't garden and everything. - Do you remember what the rent was? - I think it was about $200. - Yeah. - And that was humongous to us, of course, at the time. We were like, we can't afford this three of us, you know. (laughing) - What was the vibe in being in New York in that time? 'Cause like what was, you know, the post-war Boomey vibe of the '50s in New York, what did it feel like? - I think it was very up. I remember that. And of course, we were seeing a lot of theater and we saw all the big music. We saw the original Fair Lady, the original music man. We saw West Side Story in its second or third week of playing. - Who was on stage then, do you remember? - Well, was it Cheetah? - Cheetah. And I knew a lot of the dancers at the time and I don't remember their names. - Wow. - That's so cool. - But it was a wonderful time in musical theater. And many people don't know this. My first 20 years in New York was spent in musical theater. - That's right. - I did either musical theater, cabaret, reviews, you know, some nightclub. I had an act with another comic actor. - You did? - A comic actor. What kind of stuff would you guys do? - Well, we wrote everything. And I remember we wrote, I wore an ape head and a beautiful blue dress, just a real frothy dress. And he sang about loving his girlfriend, no matter what. Well, and then cabaret did the same thing afterwards. And this was before cabaret when we did it in our act. - What happened to that partner, do you? - Barry Denon. Well, we actually broke up the act because he was offered cabaret in London as the emcee. And I was offered happy time for Broadway. So we both felt we wanted to keep working singly. So we broke up the act. - Wow. - But we did very, we did some television. We did a little-- - Yeah, what did you do? What television did you do back then? - I mean, your IMDB, June is incredible. I feel like I could shout out a million shows. (laughing) Maybe I was on it, I knew I wasn't. But what did you, what television did you do back then? - It was some review thing. I don't even remember what it was. I think it was local. - Yeah. - But we also, we did some of the small clubs in New York. - Wow, I just feel like it would be so cool to time travel back to that time. - Oh, it was wonderful. I mean, and I think that everybody was like eager to be there. I mean, it was like the place to be in the world to all of us, you know? - It still feels that way, though. I have to say, you know, I moved to New York in '96 and it still felt like when you arrived there, at least for me, it felt like some version of your life was beginning. - Yeah. - Basically. - Yeah, I felt, well, I lived there for 65 years before moving out here. - Yeah, wow. Your family, your mom had a job that is, it's such a great job because it just doesn't exist anymore, which is your mother, what was your mother's job? - My mother played piano for silent films. - How did she start doing that? - Well, she was a piano player and my grandfather owned a music store. So they were sort of into all the music that was happening in the area. He had a store in, I grew up in Vandelia, Illinois, and there was another store in Centril, yeah, Illinois, that he owned. So they were big in the music and I'm sure that's how it happened. - So was your mom teaching you how to sing and play from an early age? - Well, she played the piano, and she taught piano, and because she taught piano, I didn't want to have anything to do with the piano, and she tried to teach me, and it didn't work out, so she sent me to another teacher in Vandelia, and that didn't work out. And so the teacher said, I think June maybe she'd give up on the piano, so she sent me back to my mother. So my mother said, well, I'm going to try again, so she was giving me a lesson, and she went outside for some reason, she came back, and I was playing the piano with my feet, I never had to touch a piano, I can't. I got out on it, she saw me and she said, this is it. - Yeah. I mean, is it funny that it's kind of like the last thing you want to do often, is it the thing your parents are doing? - Yeah. - And did you, what did they think about you being an actor, like were they supportive, were they worried? - My father was somewhat supportive, my mother was never. She saw me on Broadway, doing a supporting role in a big musical, and said, well, do you think you'll come home now? (laughs) I don't think so, and I was married again. I mean, you know, Mr. Ridiculous, but in her mind. - Yeah. - I might decide to come home again. - Well, I don't think people remember that, you know, now in this world where everybody is like, you know, creating content and being, you know, famous and trying to be, like, I don't think people remember during that time, acting was a very treacherous, you know, uneven profession. - And so many people didn't make it. I mean, I have been lucky with my career, and I would think you feel the same way. - Absolutely. Yes, and so many really talented people. - I don't know, I mean, it's a very difficult, you know, it's a difficult career to watch. I don't know what to do. - But I see, do you do that I feel like I relate to is like, I've always wanted, you know, kind of diversity and longevity in my career, and half the battle is hanging in there. Like just kind of getting rejected a lot, and just kind of hanging in and believing in yourself, 'cause it is, it can be a really long runway before you feel. Yeah. Who was someone that you worked with when you were young and you thought, I feel like I was doing it right now. I feel like I'm in the right place. - I think with Ethel Merman with Gypsy. And I was with that show eight months on Broadway and then eight months on the road with her. And she was an amazing woman, an amazing woman. And everybody loved her that was in the company. She was very much a house frail. She loved gossip, she loved to hear everything she could about anybody in the show. And she used to tell me dirty jokes all the time. She would be, we were getting ready. I was behind a scrimmed, I was electric so I was doing my light bulbs. And she was getting ready to come on. And she would sidle up behind me, "Juh, juh, juh." And then she would tell me a dirty joke. - Right before your back. - Quay, what do you mean doing your light bulbs? - Well, I had a costume. - And you had to do your own light bulbs? - Yeah. - On the front and in the rear and the crotch. I had bulbs that lit up. - And you did the buttons like this. I'm sure they do it entirely differently now. Because it's running on Broadway right now. But then that's what these long wires went all the way up. And it was heavy because I had this huge battery in the might be hard. - I mean, that term doing my light bulbs sounds like it could be an old Broadway. Like he was fired for trying to do my light bulbs. - You don't do my light bulbs. Well, I had that a few times too. I mean, I bet you did. I mean, you have, I mean, you could probably write a book about how so much has changed in the industry. And I can only imagine that you had to deal with a lot of, you know, inappropriate behavior. It was a completely different time then, right? - Well, you know, it's funny because I have friends and we were both dancers. I mean, I danced a lot. And we used it when the Me Too things started. We looked at each other's in Me Too. What I mean, you know, and then we talked about it. And, you know, we both said, oh my God, if we'd had this when we were coming up, you know, but we both said the same thing. We both knew when to say no. I knew when it was gonna be not good for me. So that was it, you know? - But I feel you, when my generation kind of looks at the generations below and notices the things that they don't put up with anymore, and it really makes you take stock of the stuff that you put up with. - That you did put up with, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. Who's your favorite dancer? - Shocked Emboa. - Oh. - And I've seen him dance club, I mean, you're the real, not just television of the film. - You have, where do you, where? - I saw him, he was a guest at a theater I guess it was Kansas City, or Dallas too, all these big theaters, I worked a lot in those and, and he was doing a leading role in one of them, and I saw, I saw they rehearsal of it. - Wow. - But I just think his career, I mean, and he's still going. - He is? - He has a group, I'm sure he's in his 80s or 90s now. - Everybody's in their 90s. - Right, yes they are. I'm glad you said that. - It's really true, so many people are non-engineering. - We're all living so much longer, right? - I mean, you can't get rid of him. - It's fantastic, I mean, there are so many people in their 90s now. It's fantastic. I mean, you know, my dear friend who passed Norman Lear. - Oh, yes, yes. He made it to 101, and Carl Reiner and who passed and Mel Brooks, who's still like, there's just a lot of, I mean, it's almost like. - It's amazing. - It's amazing. - To 100, okay. - Do you want to make it to 100? - Oh, sure. - Yeah. - Yeah, that's a great number to make it. - My agents say I'll still be working, so I don't know about that. - I know you'd love seeing in the rain. You also love Jean Kelly, too, right? I know. - I loved his dance. - Me too. I loved him as a dancer. - I think it's some of the best dancing, and I loved Donald O'Connor. - Yeah. - I thought his dancing was rather underrated, really. I think he was so much better than many people realized. And Debbie was good. Debbie was very good in it. - Yeah. - They all were. And that wonderful woman who was so funny, who played the actress. - I have a laptop I can find out who it is. - Look, we can't look at her name. - I mean, I can't, June, I can't remember anybody's name. So, okay, sing it in the rain. - She played, I can't remember her character name, but it was the actor. - Jean Hagen. - Jean Hagen. - Yeah. - She was so funny. - You grew up in the Midwest. - And I, people think I grew up in the Midwest, because I did a show that took place in a fictional town in Indiana. But what I love about people from the Midwest is a real sense of community and forthrightness. Do you think that that is true? Do you find that to be true? Like, do you? - Yeah, I think the forthrightness is, I think, because everybody just sort of always says what they think. - Yeah, I think it's true, yeah, I think they do. Even to the detriment of perhaps the person listening, but they say it. - Yeah, I think that there's a straightforwardness that's very nice to be, I find it very nice to be around. Do you find, like, in your life, did any of that Midwest stuff travel in any of your work or the-- - Oh, very much so, yeah, I think it did very much. I think there's a stick to it is, to it is, us. And I think that that's very Midwestern. - Agree. - I mean, it's like you've got a job, so you do it. And no matter what that job is, if it's yours, then you have to do it. - I spent some years in Chicago. I just feel like there, yeah, there was a sense there of exactly what you just said, one foot in front of the other. There wasn't a ton of, I don't know, complaining. - You don't complain, you just do what you're supposed to be doing. - I don't feel you do that. - I think I do, yeah, I think that's something that has been a part of me. And we were very far south, and we were on a line with St. Louis, Missouri, which is considered a southern city, really. And my accent, I still had a southern, I probably still do have a southern sound. And they tried to take-- I remember when I went to the Cleveland Playhouse, one actor went out of his way to take the Midwest Southern out of my voice. And he did, for the most part. - Interesting. - So by the time I went into New York, it was more, you know, it wasn't a Southern. - It was like voice lessons to flatten that out. Yeah, or not flatten it out, maybe take it. - Not flattened at that. - Yeah, Lehman. - Which one? - Lehman. That's Lehman. (laughing) - Got you, Lehman? - Lehman. - Lehman brothers. (laughing) - Lehman. - I said Lehman and my tea. - Lehman? - Lehman. - Lehman. - Oh, that's a good one. Do you remember any other one? - Lehman. - Oh. - Lehman. - Let's see. - I know with my Boston accent, I had a hard time when I would do, and I had to say it a lot on Parks and Rec, where I had to say the word. I still have to swallow before I say it. Government. - Government? - Something about my Boston accent makes me wanna say, government. - Oh, yes, I get rid of that. - But it's government. - Government. - Government. - That was a hard one for me. - Yeah. - And when you get, does your accent come back at all when you're with people? - If I get tired, it does too. I get to get very Southern if I get tired. - Picture. - Picture? - Picture. (laughing) - That's another one. - Do you like doing accents? - Are you good at it? - I don't. I'm not great at accents, and supposedly, if you have a Southern accent, it's harder for you to do accents. I don't know why. I think it's the slowness that you're, I don't know, but I've been told that or read that or something. - Have you ever had to do an accent in a film or a part that was challenging? - Yeah, I do. I can do Irish fairly well. I've done that on stage and in film. But I'm just not, I don't have that kind of a ear. I really don't. - No, you mean, I think you either have it or you don't. It's amazing to watch like real mimics people who can pick it up fast. - And I mean, you know, some people could just read and do it. I mean, you know, what do you want? Polish, okay. I mean, I can't do that. (laughing) I mean, I can do it if I work at it a long time, But you know, you can't just throw something like that at me, all right? can't I won't I'm not going to throw it at you. Oh good. We're going to do the rest in the interview and we're going to pretend we're French. French okay. Having come from musicals are you hoping to do more musical stuff like do you want to ever have you been able to do anything musical? I did a glee and I we I think I did three numbers in it. What did you sing? Do you remember memories from cats at Chris Colfer and I sang that together? Yes we are heavy duty buddies and we did another I don't I can't even know what what numbers it was but memories was the big one that we had. What do you what's so great about Chris? What do you love about Chris Colfer? Seems like a peach. Oh well I met him on glee and he had written a script and was doing the lead and it was Peter Pan and I was playing Wendy. It's a whole story but anyway so we worked together so closely and I think we were shooting it was big scenes and I think we shot like a week and a half or two weeks I mean it was a long shoot and I just sort of got to know him and liked him a lot and so we started then having dinner together and he has a great partner will share it who I adore too. So it was just you know great fun. What do you get what do you learn from and get out of people who are younger than you? Because I mean as an older person I feel like what happens is people want to ask you for a lot of wisdom. Oh no no they know they're not going to get it so they don't they don't ask that at all for me in any way. Yeah and I know people really project on that on people that are older that they have something they want to share when in my my experience younger people teach me stuff all the time like I learn a lot from them. What do you learn from people at Chris and your other I know you have a lot of younger friends. Yeah I don't know I mean I just if I like someone I don't think I ever think in terms of how old they are you know if I feel an affinity you know that there's something here that I want to be more a part of you know yeah I mean why would I tell anyone what to do? Well because I think people in their 90s are treated like astronauts I think people are like you your you got to go somewhere you're there and what are you bringing back like they I think people really you know I mean it's people you know we're all afraid to die mortality is the thing we're obsessed with and when people are in their 90s I think there's some people want to know the secret they want they think you've got something in your pocket well I don't think any of my friends feel but wait let's just put it that way. We're sort of on an even key you know keep me happy or forget it. What age do you feel you are? 35 I always feel I'm 35 I don't know what I felt when I was younger than 35 but as I got older I kept referring back to 35 I don't know why I deeply remember my 35th birthday too. Do you? Yeah. Maybe where were you when you were 35 what year was that where were you? Well I was in New York I don't know I don't remember why 35 is so important I think it's because I remember my mother at 35 and there was something very grand about her at 35 which I did not always find as she got older or even younger than that but somehow her my mother at 35 was great. I agree with you that when we meet people I feel like we meet them and we meet very old-wise 25-year-olds and we meet really like all over the place hectic 95-year-olds we meet all of those people like age doesn't have a lot to do with where you're at. No it really does yeah. It makes me think about what we're talking about kind of makes me think about what we worked on together this film inside out inside out too because it's kind of there's some themes in there too about the idea of time passing and for people who haven't recognized June's voice yet as they've been listening to it but you played nostalgia. What I loved about nostalgia when she comes in and she's drinking her tea is that it's kind of it's kind of Buddhist what nostalgia does because nostalgia kind of says remember yeah remember basically remember when we were all getting along but she but she she comes it she keeps coming in during chaos to like kick everybody back to um let's just take a minute and remember yeah which is like it feels very like yeah I don't know I just think but I just like keep pushing her out I know it's kind of interesting why they don't want to get nostalgic in that moment what is your what is your relationship are you an nostalgic person? Not terribly yeah I'm really not yeah I've always been like what's going to happen even as a young person I was like that yeah what's next yeah yeah and do you think that's one of the reasons why you've worked so much and had such a long career has even probably has a lot to do with a career yeah yeah and the the working so much I mean you know when I started out I wouldn't done anything and I think you have to I think when you're just starting you know either out here in Hollywood or in New York wherever you are or Chicago because there's a big group there uh you have to do everything you can't say no to anything because it's it's working keeping that thing going that is going to save you you know I know you describe yourself as a character actor and that and I love the way you talk about how you approach you know you know you're obviously done these amazing films in which you've led them and been number one in the call sheet and been nominated for awards and you've done so much work where you have been um part of an ensemble part of a like and you talk a lot about how you treat them the same I do yeah yeah why well I to be honest with you I feel if I'm doing it it's the most important thing in the film I've always felt bad and I said that just carries through I mean you know and I I think too you know you've seen films where somebody comes in and does one scene and you wow who's that I mean you just don't know yeah and and I just I like the work I enjoy doing what you do to get get it up there on screen when you worked on your performances and about Schmidt and Nebraska are so good your film is so great you and Fred are so great and that together and then Ellen are the great when you work on films like that with directors like and you've got you you've memorized your script do you like to come in feeling like you know who you are already or you are you hoping that that gets kind of shaped as you're working I think it's more shaped as it goes on yeah and I think I know a lot but I I also work with no idea of what I'm going to do yeah I have none yeah so the what happens is what happens hits me and then that's how I react who are some of your favorite scene partners people where you felt like you're in scene with them and you there was a vibe that was really working well Richard round tree and Fred in film I think they were both kind of amazing yeah and in Eleanor Aaron as the young girl that we have so much together and well Jack Nicholson I mean he was he was so great it's so wonderful to work with and he always made me feel like a peer he never wants he better you are yeah well but you know I came in and and he could so easily have been I'm Jack Nicholson and you're not you know that one of those yeah and he never ever that I appreciate that so much with him love to hear that um did you ever have a young actor in their first role or film and you've thought oh they're very good and then see them you know ascend over like do you does anyone come to mind uh I did send a woman and oh god what is his name we can look it up we've got al Pacino Chris O'Donnell Philip Seymour half Phillip oh wow it was so funny because I had a I had a scene with both Chris and and Phillip and I came home and I said boy I just worked with this young kid and he is going to to be so big. I said, "This kid's going to be a star." I knew it. I mean, and I really don't do that very often. I mean, I don't say that. What did you see? What did you remember seeing in it? I don't know what it was. There was something about him. He was never like standing out. He was always a part of. He and Chris, he and the other boys, you know, at this. I mean, he didn't push anything. He was amazing. But you knew, I knew just a minute I worked with him. He was such a talented actor. Oh, God, yes. Did you get to work with him again? No, I never did. They used to tease me because my character's name was Hunsackers. So they called me the Hun. And they would tease me all the time. And we lived in this motel, all of us, because we were shooting outside of New York. And he and Chris constantly were trying to get me to go have booze and beer in the bar downstairs. And I would go once or twice, but I was a big Knicks fan. And so I would sit there watching the Knicks, and they'd be up at the bar drinking. Yeah, are you a basketball fan? I am. Who, what, your big sports fan in general? Not, not hugely. I played basketball at high school. And I loved it. And I started watching the Knicks when I lived in New York. Were you a guard? I mean, you don't have the height. I was a guard. I was a guard. I could have stopped anything. I was really good at it. That's cool. Wow. And, and do you, were you a sporty kid? Were you? Yeah. I ran. I was pretty good runner. And the tumbling, you know, that you do in the gym. And I was a cheerleader. You had to be sort of sporty for that. And a drum major at. Yeah. And they're all sort of sporty. It's more or less. And like in your, you know, 70s, 80s and 90s, what do you, how do you stay? I mean, you're very physically fit. What do you do? I do Pilates. Once a week for an hour on the reformer. Or on some floor. Yeah. Some on that is some just stretching and weight stuff. Yeah. I have two different massagers and masseuses. And I try to walk. I try not to just sit all the time. Now, you have a, you, we spoke a little bit about your late husband who was an acting teacher and who taught, I thought this was really wonderful, taught, worked with Margot Martin Dale's husband. Yeah. And you got you and Margot were neighbors. Maybe. And our still remain very good friends. And Margot is such a terrific actress. Oh, she's happy. And is this a true story that she got the script for Nebraska? Yes, it is true. What's that story? I was coming out of my apartment and she was coming out of hers. And she said, hey, she said, have you heard about this new film, Nebraska? And I said, no, she said, you've got to tell your agents about it. She said, you should be doing this role. And she said, they sent it to me, but she said, I'm too young. She said, I really am too young. And she said, it's a wonderful role. So that sort of started it. And so I talked to my agents about it. And they kept up. And since I had already done about Schmidt with Alexander. And the thing was that they didn't Alexander and the casting director both thought I was wrong for Nebraska. And I said, they think I'm that little lady from about Schmidt. And that's exactly what it was. And my agents kept at them to the point where they finally said, have her send, you know, send the script or send some scenes and have her send a tape in. So that's what happened. And Alexander again said, the minute I saw it, I knew you should do it. But he said it was so funny because for about Schmidt, he had cast it from somebody out here. And I, I was in New York and my agents kept pushing me, pushing, pushing me. Finally, they again said, just tell her to send a tape in. I'm sure they thought that would be the, and Alexander told me, he said, I saw that tape and you have to do it. Well, we do this thing on this podcast where we have people talk to me before I talk to the guest and give me a question to ask. And we kind of try to talk well behind people's back. So I was talking with Will Fortay earlier. And he had, and he adores you. And he was on set of a new movie in a trailer. And we got him on Zoom to tell us what it was like working with you. And then just to give you a question, to give me a question to ask you, what was it like working with Will? Oh, he's great. And he was so scared because you didn't get to say, I'm a comic, I'm a comic and we all know you're an actor now. Well, just shut up and do it. You know, and so that, you know, he was wonderful. He was so great. And then he went to can the first time I went he and I and Brewster. Yeah. What was it like working with Bruce? Oh, Bruce is great. This is one hell of an actor. He really is a great actor. Yeah. Guys were great together. Yeah. So Will wanted me to ask you, this was his question for you. Any any any wanted me to tell you, June, I love you. I love everything about you. Um, what is your favorite food? And could you tell us about it in song? So no no pressure, June. Well, my favorite food are purposes. I have a I have a cook who's from set. What are the islands that your mother makes purposes for me? It sounds like a good title. Let me see. Papu says. Papu says. Papu says. I love you. Yeah. They're willful too. One of the last songs from South Pacific. That's beautiful. Um, that's like the new, um, um, peaches song, the Jack Black sang. So the other thing I wanted to ask you about is I'm the mother of boys. You have a son and he is in the business, right, writer, director. Um, what was it like? You know, you were working mother in the 70s. What was it like being a working mother in the 70s? It's much different. He was born in 70s. He was born in 70s. So yeah, so 80s, I guess. The 80s? What was it like? Well, by then he was, I think at high school. So he was pretty, you know, in New York, he was pretty loose. Oh, yeah, you guys were in New York. Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, do you ever work together? Do you? Yes, I did, I did some films for him. I did in New York and out here, both. Yeah. And, um, gosh, he, but I don't know, he's just a little family of three. And I went off, but he had his dad there always. And, um, and your ex-husband Charles was an acting teacher. Did you work with him on your stuff? Yes. That must have been really interesting. What did you learn from him? Well, everything. I'm truly because, you know, my work as a performer really in musicals, I mean, I considered myself pretty realistic and I was considered one of the more realistic actors doing musical theater. But, uh, Charlie, when I met him and we met doing a musical in stock and he said, you could be a really fine actress if you really do what you were doing. And he was right. I mean, and I remember going into his class and it was hard because I mean, it was like tearing down everything that I believed or thought I was doing, you know, and to put something else in there. And I was crying and he was yelling at me and the, all the kids in the class were laughing. They thought, oh, this is pretty funny. So we went through this awful screaming and yelling and everything. But, I mean, truly, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it were not for him. Well, honestly, it seems very passionate. I mean, he was determined. Almost more determined that I was to do it. He was determined I was going to do it. That must have been nice to have someone in your honor like that. And it was interesting because we worked together them for years. And I was auditioning for a regional theater, a script that I liked a lot and wanted to do. And he always helped me at home. And I said, you know, I have this audition. He said, I'm not going to help you. And I said, no, I need help. And he said, no you know what you're doing you do it this is very exciting for play that you're talking And yeah, and no, I know it wasn't it was like, you know, but then we kept and then I got the role and I said, you've got to help me. Yeah, he refused again. He died about six months later. Wow. And I think he knew somehow that he had to like push me out or out of the nest. Well, June, that's wild. He probably maybe he sensed something. I think so. So do you feel like in the early days you were kind of dependent on his or very much so. Yeah, I couldn't I felt, you know, I couldn't do it if he didn't help me set me straight. Yeah, and he just and that was he just refused and he never once helped me after that. And how old were you when he passed? Oh, 99, 1999, right. So I have no idea. Let's not do it. Let's not even try it. That's outrageous. And did you ever consider dating or did you date after that? I did date a little bit, but I dated a little bit in New York and I dated somehow. What's what's dating like in your 80s? Uh, not very interesting. It really wasn't. Yeah, I did. You know what it did. Nobody came along that really excited me. And I was working all the time, you know, so it just sort of went by the wayside. Well, you know, and I mean, do you feel like what like I ask a lot of my guesses, but you have friendships now, especially female friendships are probably. You know, they span many decades. What are they, what are they continue to do for you, even, you know, into your 90s? Well, I think mentally, I think without them, I would, you know, I need that, I think, you know, the mental push, the mental excitement. Yeah. Yeah. And someone who kind of knows your story. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And we still, I mean, I have two female friends that I'm very, very close to. And I see them all the time. So it's great. Yeah. Um, what are you, what are you doing right now? What do you listen to watch, read that makes you laugh? You know, when you want to laugh, when you want to check out, well, I watch Saturday night live for one. Oh, yes. Every week, not every week, but a lot. So good. Who are some of your fav performers on that show right now? Uh, I love Colin. I mean, I just think he's he and Michael Chay together. Just knocked me out. But so you like sketch comedy? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I did it. You know, so I really sort of, I haven't figured it out. I understand that. You know, big like, uh, what kind of shows did you like in the comedy? Were you like a money Python fan? Were you? I love my laughing. I like laughing. Yeah. Busy was a really good friend of mine. Ruth Busy was a friend of yours. We worked together in reviews in New York, actually in Provincetown. Tell me about that was Ruth Busy like. Well, she and I worked in the same little group. I love that you called her Busy. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. That's what anybody calls. I didn't know that. I called her Ruth Busy. And, um, so we worked together. We did a ship. We did a crew ship together. And we did some night clubs in New York together. And then she had gone to Provincetown the year before. And they needed someone. The summer coming. That was a summer job. And she suggested me. So they talked to me and then they hired me. So we had the whole summer together. Oh, that's fun. Yeah. And do you ever watch the neighborhood? That to me is funny. With some Max Greenfield. Yes. And, uh, Cedric. Yes. Yes. So funny. They are funny. They're really funny. Yeah. Max is so funny. And I used to watch Cedric, the entertainer. He used to be part of those like comedy, deaf jam. Or maybe like a bunch of stand-ups together. And he was so funny. That's a good show. I'm amazed at him. I watch him on the show. Yeah. Because of how he, he knows he's going to do it at its comedy. But he's just sort of like, I don't know. He's wonderful. Did you ever see, um, that got arrested on stage? Oh, I know who you mean. Let's play this game. Let's see how long. Okay. I heard that for memory, you shouldn't look things up. You should try to visualize, put it. Okay. We're going to do it. Putting the, um, let me do this. Oh, I got it. Well, I didn't see him in Chicago. I knew you would see him. What was that like? Do you remember seeing him? Yes. I remember that everybody. Oh, you know, because he would say these things. Yeah. He was an interesting guy. And that, and I mean, I think that's heading going back to where we started our conversation. There's something about, well, I would have loved to have been, and it must have been so cool to have been in the city during that time. In the 50s and 60s when everything was just starting to unravel in an interesting way. I keep thinking I can remember being worried about things. And again, it passed. And I hope that's what happens with us now. It too will pass, but I don't know. I don't know. Well, I think that is the one thing that a long life gives you is you get to see. I've seen a lot pass. Let's just say this. Yeah. Yeah. I loved our time together, June. Thank you for coming and doing this. It's been so great. I mean, I just, I think you're such an incredible talent. And I'd love to be your friend. And I know this is awkward, but I tend to bully people into being my friend. Oh, you don't have to bully me. Okay. So if it's if you would accept the invite, I would love it. I would love to be, yeah, considerate. I'd love for us to be new friends. Yeah. And I know it's awkward. I'm asking you on this podcast. And what are you going to do? Say no. No, no. June just hands me, she would hands me her card and it's just five five five five five five five. I'll call you next week. Thank you so much for doing this. This has been the best. I hope you had a good time. I did a great time. And I got a mocha. Oh gosh, your mocha. We didn't even sipping some of that mocha. It's going to be watery now. It's still good. Thank you so much, June. Squibb. My new best friend. You heard it here. She can't take it back. We recorded it. June, you're the best. So such a great artist and person. Thank you so much for coming in. And June talked about a lot of exciting musical theater. So for today's polar plunge, I just want to just take a moment to say that West Side Story was so important to me as a young person. And that being able to even picture the original musical and seeing it on stage in its first week or two that June talked about. I just, I don't know. If you haven't seen the film, watch it. I'm sure there are productions, local productions happening right now. The original film with with from the 60s is so beautiful. And the music is so beautiful. And I'm sure we can't afford to sing this, but I would like to say. And everything is I am doing. Anyway, thank you for listening. And see you soon. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weissberman, and me Amy Poler. The show is produced by the Ringer and PaperKite. For the Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spalane, Kaya McMullen, and Alayah Zeneres. For PaperKite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weissberman. Original music by Amy Miles.