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Jami Gertz

 
Actor: Jami Gertz
 
  • Born: Oct 28, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '80s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: Less Than Zero, Quicksilver, Crossroads
  • First Major Screen Credit: Square Pegs (1982)

Biography

Brown-eyed, would-be Brat Packer Jami Gertz was discovered in a nationwide talent search by Norman Lear and she studied drama at N.Y.U. She got a tiny part in Franco Zeffirelli's Endless Love in 1981, making her film debut along with Tom Cruise. The next year she starred on the high school TV series Square Pegs along with Sarah Jessica Parker, and made several guest appearances on The Facts of Life. Supporting roles followed in Alphabet City, Quicksilver, Crossroads, and Solarbabies. In 1987 she played shy vampire girl Star in The Lost Boys, which may remain her most recognizable role. In the same year, she played the girl caught between Andrew McCarthy and Robert Downey Jr. in Less Than Zero and she got to romance teen idol Kirk Cameron in Listen to Me. The '90s marked the decline of her leading roles in teen dramas and she turned to comedies, off-Broadway theater, and mainstream dramas. She played Kirstie Alley's sister in Sibling Rivalry, Dylan McDermott's love interest in Jersey Girl, and Bill Paxton's girlfriend in Twister. Working back in television, she had recurring roles on Sibs, ER, Dream On, and Ally McBeal. After making several TV movies, she portrayed legendary comedienne Gilda Radner in the ABC special It's Always Something: The Gilda Radner Story. Living in L.A. with her husband and children, Gertz was cast as blue-collar wife and mother Judy Miller on the CBS sitcom Still Standing in 2002. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Jami Gertz
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Jami Gertz
Born October 28, 1965 (1965-10-28) (age 43)
Chicago, Illinois
Spouse(s) Tony Ressler (1989 - present)

Jami Beth Gertz (born October 28, 1965) is an American actress. Gertz is known for her early roles in the films The Lost Boys, Quicksilver, Less Than Zero, the short-lived 1980s TV series Square Pegs with Sarah Jessica Parker, 1996's Twister, as well as for her role as Judy Miller in the popular CBS sitcom Still Standing with Mark Addy. [1]

Contents

Biography

Career

Gertz made her film debut (as did Tom Cruise) in the 1981 romance film Endless Love, which was followed by a co-starring role in the 1982-83 TV series Square Pegs. After its cancellation, she appeared in the teen movie Sixteen Candles in 1984. She gained attention with a starring role in 1987's Less Than Zero, as the friend of a doomed drug addict played by Robert Downey, Jr.. She also starred in the 80's film The Lost Boys. She plays Star, the "half vampire" girlfriend, with Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric.

After working in Paris as a scent designer for Lanvin, Gertz returned to America and landed a key supporting role in the 1996 blockbuster Twister after other films including 1986's Solarbabies and Crossroads also the 1989 Film Listen to Me with Kirk Cameron and 1992's Jersey Girl. In the 1994 episode of Seinfeld, The Stall, she appeared as a girlfriend of Jerry who worked as a phone sex operator but claimed to sell office supplies. (She couldn't "spare a square" to Elaine in the restroom.) Gertz later played the recurring character Dr. Nina Pomerantz during the 1997 season of ER.

In 2002, she portrayed the late comedy legend Gilda Radner in the television movie Gilda Radner: It's Always Something. The name of Gertz's character on Still Standing, Judy Miller, is named after a character Radner portrayed on Saturday Night Live. Gertz played the lead role in the 2005 TV film Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story. She reportedly was offered, but declined, the role of Monica Geller, during pre-production of Friends.

Gertz was in one episode of Diff'rent Strokes along with Andrew Dice Clay. She also had a recurring role on The Facts of Life as Blair's friend and fellow schoolmate Boots St. Clair. In 2003 Gertz starred as Brandy, a wanted criminal's girlfriend, in Undercover Christmas. She will make a guest appearance in HBO hit comedy series Entourage set to air mid 2009.

Personal life

Gertz was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Sharon and Walter Gertz, who was a builder and contractor.[2] She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Anthony Ressler (6/16/59) and their three sons: Oliver Jordan Ressler (b. May 6 1992), Nicholas Simon Ressler (b. February 17 1995) and Theo Ressler (b. 1998).

She has a brother, Scott. Gertz is Jewish, and was raised in Conservative Judaism.[3]

Before meeting her husband, Gertz dated fellow actors Corey Feldman, John Cusack, Kiefer Sutherland, Sylvester Stallone, Steven Seagal, Jonathan Prince and Chuck Norris[citation needed]. Gertz and her husband are part of the investment group led by Mark Attanasio that purchased the MLB franchise Milwaukee Brewers.

References

  1. ^ www.celebroundup.com/jami-gertz/
  2. ^ Jami Gertz Biography (1965-)
  3. ^ JewishJournal.com

External links


 
 
Learn More
Jersey Girl (1993 Comedy Film)
Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990 Romance Film)
Lip Service (1999 Comedy Drama Film)

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Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jami Gertz" Read more

 

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