Jami Gertz
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Biography
A wide-eyed, dark-haired performer, Jami Gertz won a nationwide talent search sponsored by producer Norman Lear and was cast at age 16 in the breakout role of preppy Muffy Tepperman in the short-lived CBS sitcom "Square Pegs" (1982-83) featuring Sarah Jessica Parker. With her parents' permission, the young actress left her home in Illinois and settled in L.A. to play the snobbish Muffy. Following the demise of "Square Pegs," Gertz went on to a recurring role on NBC's "The Facts of Life" in 1983 and a co-starring berth on the equally short-lived John Stamos vehicle "Dreams" (CBS, 1984). Although she had made her feature film debut in the notorious bomb "Endless Love" (1981) and had supporting roles in "Sixteen Candles" and "Alphabet City" (both 1984), the actress landed her first starring role opposite Kevin Bacon in "Quicksilver" (1986). Later that year, Gertz was seen both on stage (in "Out of Gas on Lover's Leap" in L.A.) and on screen (in "Solarbabies") opposite Jason Patric, with whom she also co-starred in "The Lost Boys" (1987), Joel Schumacher's stylish vampire thriller. She went on to do fine work in films that didn't click with either critics or the public. Gertz was impressive as a vacuous, rich party girl in the drug-soaked world of "Less Than Zero" (1987), as Kirk Cameron's fellow college debate team member in "Listen to Me" (1989) and as Kirstie Alley's critical sister in "Sibling Rivalry" (1990).
Gertz once again tackled weekly series as the youngest of a trio of sisters forced by circumstances to share an abode in the middling ABC sitcom "Sibs" (1991-92). She had a rare lead in the feature comedy "Jersey Girl" (1992), but it barely received distribution. Gertz fared somewhat better supporting old pros Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Quinn in the CBS telepic "This Can't Be Love" (1994). Although she had taken time off for motherhood, the actress resumed her big screen career with a fine comic turn as Bill Paxton's spoiled fiancee in the actioner "Twister" (1996). Gertz then turned up in a recurring role as a psychologist who was a potential love interest for Anthony Edwards' Dr. Mark Greene on the NBC medical drama "ER" in 1997 and garnered an Emmy nomination as a morally upright lawyer in the Fox series "Ally McBeal" in 2000. She was also seen as an unstable drug addict in the independent feature "Lip Service/Kat & Allison" (2001).
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Life Events
1981
Made film debut in "Endless Love"
1982
Regular series debut, playing the popular Muffy Tepperman in the CBS sitcom, "Square Pegs"
1983
Played the recurring role of Boots St. Clair on the NBC series, "The Facts of Life"
1984
Appeared in the John Hughes-directed, "Sixteen Candles"
1986
First collaboration with Jason Patric, the Los Angeles production of "Outta Gas on Lover's Leap"
1986
Had featured role alongside Jason Patric in "Solarbabies"
1986
Leading role debut, "Quicksilver"
1987
Again collaborated with Jason Patric in "The Lost Boys"
1987
Portrayed rich girl Blair, opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Andrew McCarthy in the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel, "Less Than Zero"
1989
Co-starred with Kirk Cameron as college debaters in "Listen to Me"
1990
Played Kirstie Alley's sister in "Sibling Rivalry"
1991
Returned to series TV as the youngest of three sisters in the ABC sitcom, "Sibs"
1992
Played title role in the feature comedy "Jersey Girl"
1994
Had memorable guest role as a woman who wouldn't share toilet paper with Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) on "Seinfeld" (NBC)
1994
Made TV-movie debut in "This Can't Be Love" (CBS), starring Katharine Hepburn and Anthony Quinn
1996
Co-starred as Melissa, the fiancee of a storm chaser (Bill Paxton), in "Twister"
1997
Had recurring role as a psychologist on the hit NBC series, "ER"
1999
Played one of the titular "Seven Girlfriends"
2000
Played a recurring role of a prissy lawyer on the FOX comedy, "Ally McBeal"; garnered an Emmy nomination
2001
Played a heroin addict in "Lip Service"
2002
Played Judy Miller in the CBS sitcom, "Still Standing"
2002
Portrayed the late comedy legend Gilda Radner in the ABC movie, "Gilda Radner: It's Always Something"
2006
Cast in the indie comedy "Keeping Up with the Steins," playing the wife of Jeremy Piven
2009
Joined HBO's "Entourage" in a recurring role as Marlo, the wife of Ari Gold's new business partner
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