Jami Gertz

Jami Beth Gertz ( ; born October 28, 1965) is an American actress and businesswoman. Gertz has performed in the films Crossroads, Quicksilver (both 1986), Less than Zero, The Lost Boys (1987), and Twister (1996). On television, she acted in the 1980s TV series Square Pegs, in the CBS sitcom Still Standing, and in the ABC sitcom The Neighbors. Along with her husband, Tony Ressler, Gertz is an owner of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team.

Early life Gertz was born in 1965 in Chicago, Illinois, and lived in the suburb of Glenview. She attended public schools, graduating from Maine East High School. Gertz is the daughter of Walter Gertz, who was a builder and contractor, and Sharyn Gertz. She has two brothers, Michael and Scott. Gertz is Jewish; she was raised in Conservative Judaism.

Career Gertz was discovered by Norman Lear in a nationwide talent search and studied drama at NYU. As a child actor, 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 schoolmate Boots St. Clair. Gertz made her film debut in the 1981 romance film Endless Love, which was followed by a co-starring role in the 1982–83 TV sitcom series Square Pegs. She gained more significant 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 1987 film The Lost Boys alongside Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric.

After working in Paris as a scent designer for Lanvin, Gertz returned to the United States. She appeared in films including 1986's Solarbabies and Crossroads, the 1989 film Listen to Me with Kirk Cameron, Don't Tell Her It's Me, and Jersey Girl. In the 1994 episode of Seinfeld, "The Stall", she appeared as one of Jerry's girlfriends, who works as a phone sex operator and cannot "spare a square" of toilet paper for Elaine in the restroom. Also in 1994, she played Sarah in the TV movie This Can't Be Love, starring Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Quinn and Jason Bateman. She landed a supporting role, in the 1996 blockbuster Twister. Gertz later played the recurring character Dr. Nina Pomerantz during the 1997 season of ER. She reportedly was offered, but declined, the role of Rachel Green, during pre-production of Friends.

In 2000, Gertz took up a recurring role on the Fox hit Ally McBeal as Kimmy Bishop, John Cage's love interest. Gertz was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She returned to this role in one more episode as a guest star in the show's final season in 2002. Also in 2002, she portrayed comedian Gilda Radner in the television movie Gilda Radner: It's Always Something. Gertz represented the Hawks in the NBA draft lottery for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 NBA drafts.

Philanthropy The Giving Back Fund named Gertz and Ressler as the top celebrity charitable donors in 2010. Gertz serves as a board member of the Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest nonprofit funder of melanoma research.

Personal life Gertz married Tony Ressler in 1989. Gertz and Ressler have a daughter and three sons.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1982–1983 Square Pegs Muffy Tepperman Regular role; 20 episodes 1983 Diff'rent Strokes Lindsay Episode: "My Fair Larry" For Members Only Monica Mitchell Television film 1984 Dreams Martha Spino Regular role; 12 episodes 1983–1984 The Facts of Life Boots St. Claire Recurring role; 4 episodes 1984 Family Ties Jocelyn Clark Episode: "Double Date" 1991–1992 Sibs Lily Ruscio Regular role; 22 episodes 1994 Seinfeld Jane Episode: "The Stall" This Can't Be Love Sarah Television film Dream On Jane Harnick Episodes: "The Taking of Pablum - Part 1 & Part 2" Related by Birth Lily Television short 1995 Dream On Martin's Lover Episode: "Take Two Tablets, and Get Me to Mt. Sinai" Hudson Street Allison Episode: "Bells & Whistles" 1997 ER Dr. Nina Pomerantz Recurring role; 6 episodes 2001 True Love Television film 2000–2002 Ally McBeal Kimmy Bishop Recurring role; 6 episodesNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series 2002 Gilda Radner: It's Always Something Gilda Radner Television film 2003 Undercover Christmas Brandi O'Neill Television film 2005 Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story Marilyn Gambrell Television film 2002–2006 Still Standing Judy Miller Regular role; 88 episodes Nominated – Young Artist Award for Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series (shared with Mark Addy) 2006 Shark Sara Metcalfe Episode: "Sins of the Mother" 2007 Lost Holiday: The Jim & Suzanne Shemwell Story Suzanne Shemwell Television film 2009–2010 Entourage Marlo Klein Recurring role; 5 episodes 2011 Modern Family Laura Episode: "Slow Down Your Neighbors" 2012–2014 The Neighbors Debbie Weaver Regular role; 44 episodes 2016 This Is Us Marin Rosenthal Episode: “Career Days" 2017 Difficult People David's Wife Episode: "Bernie and Blythe"