Jami Gertz

Jami Gertz

Active - 1981 - 2022  |   Born - Oct 28, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois, United States  |   Genres - Comedy, Science Fiction, Drama

Share on

Biography by AllMovie

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. In 2006 Gertz co-starred in director Scott Marshall's coming-of-age comedy Keeping Up With the Steins.

Movie Highlights

See Full Filmography

Factsheet

  • Decided she wanted to be an actress when playing Dorothy in a fifth-grade production of The Wizard of Oz.
  • Won a talent search sponsored by Norman Lear in the early 1980s, and was subsequently cast on the CBS sitcom Square Pegs.
  • Along with Still Standing costar Mark Addy, was nominated for a 2004 Young Artist Award for Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series.
  • Has played recurring roles on a number of popular TV series, including Facts of LifeERAlly McBeal and Entourage.
  • Is a part owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team.