• Jami Gertz is an Emmy-nominated American actress and business magnate
• She is well known for her roles in sitcoms including "Still Standing" and "The Neighbors"
• She is co-owner of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks with her billionaire husband, Tony Ressler
• She has a net worth of over $2 billion, largely attributed to her acting career and marriage
• She was born in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from New York University
Known for movies
Twister (1996)
as Dr. Melissa Reeves
Still Standing (2002-2006)
as Judy Miller
The Lost Boys (1987)
as Star
The Neighbors (2012-2014)
as Debbie Weaver
Short Info
| Net Worth | 1.68 billion USD, about $2 billion dollars, 1.7 billion USD |
| Date Of Birth | July 16, 1959, October 28, 1965, July 16, 1959 |
| Spouse | Jami Gertz, Jami Gertz |
| Fact | She is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family. |
Contents
Who is Jami Gertz?
Jami Gertz is a Primetime Emmy-nominated American actress and business magnate, who is best known for her appearances in recurring roles in popular sitcoms including “Still Standing” and “The Neighbors”. Additionally, she is widely recognized for starring in movies such as “Crossroads” (1986), “The Lost Boys” (1987) and “Undercover Christmas” (2003), as well as for being the co-owner of the National Basketball League’s (NBA) Atlanta Hawks, alongside her billionaire husband Tony Ressler.
Early Life, Family and Education
Jami Beth Gertz was born under the zodiac sign of Scorpio on the 28th October 1965, in Chicago, Illinois, one of three children of Sharyn and Walter Gertz. She has two brothers named Michael and Scott, and is of American nationality, white ethnicity and Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
She matriculated from Maine East High School in 1983, and additionally studied acting at New York University.
Career
Jami dived into the world of acting at the age of 13, when she was discovered by Norman Lear. Her acting debut occurred in 1981 when she appeared in the romantic comedy movie “On the Right Track”, followed by a brief appearance in the Oscar-nominated drama movie “Endless Love”. Her small screen debut occurred in 1982, when she was cast for the recurring role of Muffy Tepperman in the TV comedy series “Square Pegs”, which she played ’til 1983.
Between 1983 and ’84, Gertz starred in the TV comedy series “The Facts of Life” that led her to appear in the romantic comedy movie “Sixteen Candles”. Later that year she starred as Martha Spino in “Dreams” TV series, while in 1986 she appeared in her first leading role in the thriller movie “Quicksilver”.
The real breakthrough in her acting career occurred in 1986, when she starred as Frances in the musical drama film “Crossroads”. One of her most memorable supporting roles so far came just a year later, when she portrayed Star in the 1987 horror comedy film “The Lost Boys”.
Between 1991 and 1992 Jami starred as Lily Ruscio in the TV comedy series “Sibs”. In 1996 she landed the role of Dr. Melissa Reeves in two-time Oscar-nominated thriller movie “Twister”. However, despite the movie’s positive reviews, for her performance Gertz earned The Stinkers Bad Movie Award for the Worst Supporting Actress in 1996, as well as a nomination for the unflattering Golden Raspberry Award (popularly referred to as Razzie).
In 1997 Jami allegedly declined the role of Rachel Green in the TV sitcom “Friends” in order to star in the recurring role of Dr. Nina Pomerantz in the Golden Globe-winning medical drama series “ER”.
Between 2000 and 2002 she portrayed the recurring character of Kimmy Bishop in the TV legal comedy drama series “Ally McBeal”, for which she was rewarded with a nomination for the prestigious Primetime Emmy Award for the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
Into the limelight Jami stepped in 2002, when she was cast for one of the leading roles in the CBS TV’s sitcom “Still Standing” – as Judith ‘Judy’ Miller, she appeared in the total of 88 episodes through the show’s four seasons before it was called off in 2006.
Later that year, she guest-starred in the comedy film “Keeping Up with the Steins”, while from 2009 to 2010 she appeared as Marlo Klein in the TV comedy drama series “Entourage”.
To greater prominence Jami Gertz came in 2012 when she was cast for the leading role of Debbie Weaver in the ABC TV’s Sci-Fi sitcom “The Neighbors”, which she played ’til the show end in 2014. Her most recent acting engagement dates back to 2017, when she appeared in an episode of the TV comedy series “Difficult People”.
Personal Life
Jami first met Tony Ressler at the age of 21 in 1986, when she was introduced to him via her publicist Susan Geller. After a dinner at his apartment – ‘a brunch and a dozen roses‘ – they began dating. After building their relationship for the following three years, the couple married on the 16th June 1989. Together they’ve welcomed three sons – Oliver Jordan born in 1992, Nicholas Simon (1995), and Theo in 1998.
Prior to marrying Tony, Jami allegedly dated several popular actors from the movie-making industry, including Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone and John Cusack.
Anthony P. ‘Tony‘ Ressler was born on the 12th October 1960, in the USA, one of five children of Dorothy and Ira Ressler. He attended the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. Additionally, he enrolled at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business from which he earned his Master of Business Administration degree. After working for the Drexel Burnham Lambert investment bank, in 1990 Tony launched his own private equity firm named Apollo Global Management.
Jami Gertz
Posted by The CineWoods on Friday, December 30, 2016
He is also the co-founder of Ares Management, L.P. assets management and Real Estate Company.
Since 2015, he has shared ownership of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks team with his wife which they acquired for $730 million.
Net Worth
Authoritative sources have estimated that Jami Gertz‘s net worth, as of mid-2020, figures around an astonishing sum of at least $2 billion, acquired through her prominent acting career as well as through her marriage with an American businessman Tony Ressler whose wealth has currently been estimated at $2.9 billion.
General Info
| Full Name | Antony Ressler |
| Net Worth | 1.68 billion USD, about $2 billion dollars, 1.7 billion USD |
| Date Of Birth | July 16, 1959, October 28, 1965, July 16, 1959 |
| Height | 1.65 m |
| Profession | Film producer, Actor, Businessperson |
| Education | Georgetown University, New York University, Maine East High School, Georgetown University |
| Nationality | American, American, American |
Family
| Spouse | Jami Gertz, Jami Gertz |
| Children | Nicholas Simon Ressler, Oliver Jordan Ressler, Theo Ressler, Nicholas Simon Ressler, Oliver Jordan Ressler, Theo Ressler, Nicholas Simon Ressler, Oliver Jordan Ressler, Theo Ressler |
| Parents | Dorothy Ressler, Ira Ressler, Sharon Gertz, Walter Gertz, Dorothy Ressler, Ira Ressler |
| Siblings | Richard Ressler, Debra Black, Michael Gertz, Scott Gertz, Richard Ressler, Debra Black |
Accomplishments
| Nominations | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series |
| Movies | The Lost Boys, Less Than Zero, Twister, Sixteen Candles, Solarbabies, Crossroads, Keeping Up with the Steins, Don't Tell Her It's Me, Jersey Girl, Undercover Christmas, Listen to Me, Endless Love, Seven Girlfriends, Sibling Rivalry, Mischief, Silence Like Glass, A Better Life, Lost Holiday, Renegade... |
| TV Shows | The Neighbors, Still Standing, Dreams, Square Pegs, Sibs |
Social profile links
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm at a time in my life where I'm so filled up that I don't want more. |
| 2 | [in a 1987 interview] Most of the parts I've played have been passive girls who are just sort of there. I have trouble with that because I'm not like that and being passive gets you in big trouble personally. It's not the kind of quality that young girls should be looking up to. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | She is one of the wealthiest women in America. Her husband is a major partner in an investment firm and worth almost 1.5 billion dollars. They are also co-owners of the Milwaukee Brewers. |
| 2 | She is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family. |
| 3 | Lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband and three sons. Is still on television and making movies. [April 2002] |
| 4 | Was considered for the role of Rachel Green on Friends (1994), which went to Jennifer Aniston. |
| 5 | Her father, Walter Gertz, was a successful Chicago contractor. |
| 6 | Was discovered in high school by Norman Lear's company. |
| 7 | Graduated from Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois in 1983. |
| 8 | Originally planned on being a figure skater. |
| 9 | Caught the acting bug after winning the role of Dorothy Gale in a school production of "The Wizard of Oz" - according to herself appearing on "The Jeff Probst Show". |
| 10 | Has two brothers, Michael and Scott. |
| 11 | Both Jami and Tom Cruise made their film debuts in Endless Love (1981). Both are also mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 novel, American Psycho. |
| 12 | Children: Oliver Jordan Ressler (b. May 6, 1992), Nicholas Simon Ressler (b. February 17, 1995) and Theo Ressler (b. 1998). |
Pictures
Movies
Actress
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Pegs | 1982-1983 | TV Series | Muffy Tepperman |
| Endless Love | 1981 | Patty | |
| On the Right Track | 1981 | Big Girl | |
| This Is Us | 2016 | TV Series | Marin Rosenthal |
| Untitled NBA Project | 2015 | TV Movie | Bonnie |
| The Neighbors | 2012-2014 | TV Series | Debbie Weaver |
| Dealin' with Idiots | 2013 | Rosie | |
| Modern Family | 2011 | TV Series | Laura |
| Entourage | 2009-2010 | TV Series | Marlo Klein |
| Lost Holiday: The Jim & Suzanne Shemwell Story | 2007 | TV Movie | Suzanne Shemwell |
| Shark | 2006 | TV Series | Sara Metcalfe |
| Keeping Up with the Steins | 2006 | Joanne Fiedler | |
| Still Standing | 2002-2006 | TV Series | Judy Miller |
| Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story | 2005 | TV Movie | Marilyn Gambrell |
| Undercover Christmas | 2003 | TV Movie | Brandi O'Neil |
| Gilda Radner: It's Always Something | 2002 | TV Movie | Gilda Radner |
| Ally McBeal | 2000-2002 | TV Series | Kimmy Bishop |
| Lip Service | 2001 | Kat | |
| True Love | 2001 | TV Movie | |
| Seven Girlfriends | 1999 | Lisa | |
| ER | 1997 | TV Series | Dr. Nina Pomerantz |
| Twister | 1996 | Dr. Melissa Reeves | |
| Hudson Street | 1995 | TV Series | Allison |
| Related by Birth | 1994 | TV Short | Lily |
| Dream On | 1994 | TV Series | Jane Harnick, Kidnapper #2 |
| This Can't Be Love | 1994 | TV Movie | Sarah |
| Seinfeld | 1994 | TV Series | Jane |
| Jersey Girl | 1992 | Toby | |
| Sibs | 1991-1992 | TV Series | Lily Ruscio |
| Sibling Rivalry | 1990 | Jeanine | |
| The Boyfriend School | 1990 | Emily Pear | |
| Renegades | 1989 | Barbara | |
| Silence Like Glass | 1989 | Eva Martin | |
| Listen to Me | 1989 | Monica Tomanski | |
| Less Than Zero | 1987 | Blair | |
| The Lost Boys | 1987 | Star | |
| Solarbabies | 1986 | Terra | |
| Crossroads | 1986 | Frances | |
| Quicksilver | 1986 | Terri | |
| Mischief | 1985 | Rosalie | |
| Alphabet City | 1984 | Sophia | |
| Sixteen Candles | 1984 | Robin | |
| Family Ties | 1984 | TV Series | Jocelyn Clark |
| The Facts of Life | 1983-1984 | TV Series | Boots St. Clair Boots St. Claire |
| Dreams | 1984 | TV Series | Martha Spino |
| For Members Only | 1983 | TV Movie | Monica Mitchell |
| Diff'rent Strokes | 1983 | TV Series | Lindsey |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Better Life | 2011 | producer |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home & Family | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Good Day L.A. | 2013 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Talk | 2011-2013 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Wheel of Fortune | 2013 | TV Series | Herself - Video Greeting |
| Marie | 2013 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
| The Jeff Probst Show | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Big Morning Buzz Live | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| Good Morning America | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| The Chew | 2012 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| Tavis Smiley | 2011 | TV Series | Herself |
| Sidewalks Entertainment | 2007 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| CBS Cares | 2003-2006 | TV Series | Herself |
| Chanukah Stories | 2005 | TV Movie | Herself |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| The View | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Lost Boys: A Retrospective | 2004 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| The Early Show | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Tony Danza Show | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | 2002-2004 | TV Series | Herself / Herself - Guest |
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show | 2004 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
| On-Air with Ryan Seacrest | 2004 | TV Series | Herself |
| The 30th Annual People's Choice Awards | 2004 | TV Special | Herself |
| The 29th Annual People's Choice Awards | 2003 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Sharon Osbourne Show | 2003 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Wayne Brady Show | 2003 | TV Series | Herself |
| Anatomy of a 'Twister' | 2000 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 1996 | TV Series | Herself |
| HBO First Look | 1996 | TV Series documentary short | Herself |
| The Oprah Winfrey Show | 1996 | TV Series | Herself |
| Late Night with David Letterman | 1987-1993 | TV Series | Herself |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Greatest Teen Stars | 2006 | TV Mini-Series | Herself |
| Corazón de... | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| Dream On | 1995 | TV Series | Jane Harnick, Kidnapper #2 |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Stinker Award | The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Supporting Actress | Twister (1996) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Young Artist Award | Young Artist Awards | Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series | Still Standing (2002) |
| 2001 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Ally McBeal (1997) |
| 1997 | Razzie Award | Razzie Awards | Worst Supporting Actress | Twister (1996) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia
