Jami Gertz Movies
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