Why the Late Richard Roundtree Wore a Wig to Celebrate Thelma Star June Squibb's Birthday on Set (Exclusive)

The late Richard Roundtree wasn’t above wigging out for a birthday party.

Thelma star June Squibb, 94, recalls to PEOPLE how her costar in the comedy, who died last year at age 81, helped make her on-set celebration a memorable one.

The veteran actress and Oscar nominee recalls how she turned 93 while filming the movie in 2022. Roundtree wasn’t scheduled to work that day. “He was not called. [But] he came driving up with two dozen red roses for my birthday,” says Squibb.

“And everybody had been given a white wig. My assistant had ordered a lot of white wigs, so that they looked like June Squibb on her birthday. He put one on. We have a picture of him and I,” adds Squibb, who says she’s keeping the photo private.

“He was gung-ho, and he enjoyed everything,” she adds of the Shaft icon, whom she befriended while making the movie about Thelma, a senior citizen (Squibb) determined to get back $10,000 she hands over to an anonymous phone scammer.

Roundtree plays Thelma’s level-headed friend Ben, who joins his pal on her quest when she decides to take his motorized scooter to help get around town.

“He was so wonderful,” recalls Squibb. “And it was so great to know that he was sitting behind me on that scooter. He was just lovely. As a human being, he was so dear, and it was so great to have become a friend of his. And I felt I was by the time that we finished shooting.”

Roundtree died from pancreatic cancer on October 24, 2023. 

"Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree," the actor's agency said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time of his death. "His trailblazing career changed the face of entertainment around the globe and his enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Aside from Shaft, New York native Roundtree starred in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, and more recently, Desperate Housewives and Being Mary Jane. Thelma is his final film.

Thelma is in theaters now.