June Squibb Makes Tony History as Oldest Acting Nominee at 96

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June Squibb is now the oldest Tony nominee in history.

On Tuesday morning, the 2026 Tony Awards nominations were unveiled, and Squibb landed her first nomination — for best actress in a featured role in a play for Marjorie Prime — making history at 96 as the oldest nominee. Lois Smith had held the record at 89 after being nominated (and winning) in 2020 for her turn in The Inheritance.

In Marjorie Prime, Squibb plays the title character, an elderly woman battling dementia and memory loss, who uses an AI-generated “Prime” of her late husband, Walter, to help preserve and revisit memories from their life together. (Smith played Marjorie in the original off-Broadway production and 2017 film adaptation opposite Jon Hamm.)

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Squibb is nominated alongside Laurie Metcalf (Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman), Aya Cash (Giant), Betsy Aidem (Liberation) and Marylouise Burke (The Balusters).

The actress made her Broadway debut in 1959 in the original production of Gypsy, playing Electra. Her theater credits include The Happy Time, Waitress, Sacrilege and Gorey Stories. Beyond Broadway, Squibb has built an acclaimed screen career with roles in Meet Joe Black, About Schmidt, Thelma, Shameless and more. Last year, she starred in Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, Eleanor the Great.

Squibb also earned award recognition for Alexander Payne’s 2013 film Nebraska, including Oscar, SAG, Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Award nominations.

Marjorie Prime officially opened on Broadway Dec. 8, 2025, at the Helen Hayes Theater, with its scheduled run through Feb. 15.

See all of the 2026 Tony nominations here, along with the biggest snubs and surprises here.

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