Jami Gertz at a public event, known for her acting career and business success
Jami Gertz, who was born in America, is a well-known actress. She was in a number of films but now, in addition, she does business. In the 1980s, she initially became known by starring in some of the most popular movies such as “The Lost Boys” and “Sixteen Candles.” As time went by, he was not only performing but also she developed business skills and assisted others, making him popular among some people, especially the one. Also, people know her as a co-owner of a basketball team, the Atlanta Hawks along with jami gertz husband, Tony Ressler.
| Fact | Detail |
| Born | October 28, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois |
| Occupation | Actress, Businesswoman, Philanthropist |
| Notable Works | Sixteen Candles (1984); Lost Boys (1987); Twister (1996); Square Pegs (TV, 1982–83); Still Standing (2002–06) |
| Husband | Tony Ressler (married 1989) |
| Children | Three sons, Oliver, Nicholas, and Theo |
| Net Worth (2025) | ~$3 billion (estimated) |
Early Life of Jami Gertz
Jami moved to Chicago when she was in her early years. In 1965 in Glenview, Illinois, she was born into a family with modest income. They were following Jewish traditions there. A talent search discovered her when she was 16, and she participated in her first major show, “Square Pegs,” a funny TV show about high school, in which she was in the role of Muffy Tepperman. She began to form her reputation in Hollywood, while she was still 17. Jami was paid handsomely, earning even more money than her father did at that time. This also helped the family, but she was not the one that forgot about where she had come from. She completed high school and took a brief course in acting at NYU.
- Found: At 16, she was discovered by a talent search and acted in the feature “Square Pegs.”
- Family: Walter and Sharyn Gertz are her parents.
- Schooling: She completed her studies at Maine East High School and attended acting courses at NYU for a short time.
The Jewish background where she comes from and the Midwest childhood are remembered by her every time, despite the fact that she was at different locations due to her acting. Jami frequently recollects her early life in Chicago with a great deal of affection.
Jami Gertz Movies and TV Shows
Jami appeared next to “Square Pegs” in some films and television shows. She was quickly climbing up the TV hierarchy and was cast as smart, vivacious women. She was doing films for teenagers around the mid-1980s and here are some of them:
- Sixteen Candles (1984): Her character was Robin, she was the sporty sister of Samantha.
- Crossroads (1986): She was one of the cast members of a movie, the story of which was based on skateboarding races.
- Solarbabies (1986): She did this sci-fi movie although she was still in her teen years.
- Less Than Zero (1987): Jami was in this dramatic movie about the drugs usage and selling in the heart of LA, plus she was Downey Jr.’s girlfriend.
- The Lost Boys (1987): She had one of the main roles, Star, in which the part was a half-vampire in a mix of scary movies and comedies.
- Twister (1996): She played the character of Dr. Melissa Reeves, the main character, in a huge disaster film.
Also, she is in many TV programs as follows:
- Diff’rent Strokes: She had the guest part of Larry’s friend.
- Facts of Life: She usually acted as Blair’s friend, however, it was not a recurring role.
- ER (1997): Her role was Dr. Nina Pomerantz, and the performance took place through several episodes.
- Seinfeld (1994): Whose character was Jerry’s girlfriend became so well known that people remembered her by the acting she did in the “can’t spare a square” toilet paper scene.
- Ally McBeal (2000): she was there as Kimmy Bishop for most of the time and got an Emmy nomination for her work.
- Still Standing (2002–2006): On CBS, she was Judy Miller, a leading lady, in a show that lasted four seasons.
Here are some of Jami most outstanding works since her debut:
- 1981: On the Right Track – Big girl (interface)
- 1984: Sixteen Candles – Robin, the “sister”
- 1987: The Lost Boys – Star (half-vampire)
- 1996: Twister – Dr. Melissa Reeves
- 1982–1983: Square Pegs (TV) – Muffy Tepperman
- 2002–2006: Still Standing (TV) – Judy Miller
To cut the story short, Jami got settled for her laughing and romantic roles mostly in the films and TV shows that she played during the 1980s. In 1990, she became a recurring character on television comedy shows and was highly praised for her comedic abilities. If you get more detailed career information about her you can visit her IMDb page.
Personal Life: Family and Philanthropy
Jami came to know Tony Ressler, a financial consultant, in a party in 1986. He was not aware that she was very popular and she never told him. Jami never lied about her fame for him. They got tied in marriage during 1989. Jami’s income, which was already soaring, far exceeded that of Tony. She was even the one to have paid their initial house money and their first vacation.
Family Life
Jami and Tony have three children who are all boys. Their names are Oliver, Nicholas, and Theo. In fact, being a parent is considered to be one of her best jobs by Jami. Los Angeles had been their home for a long time and they chose to move to Atlanta in 2017.
Helping Others
Very often, Jami and Tony work on projects that aim to help people. The Painted Turtle was the name of the camp that they opened for sick kids in 1996. They are also the owners of a baseball club, the Milwaukee Brewers, and they provide funds for a lot of charities. It was not just another year that they were declared as the highest donator to charity in 2010. Jami contributes to cancer research as her mom died from cancer. They hope to help others and do some positive changes in the world.
Business Ventures and Net Worth
Aspiring was only the start of Jami’s journey to raking in some dough. She established the company Lime Orchard Productions in the 2000s alongside the release of “A Better Life” (2011). On the other hand, she lost some money on this, but it created her interest in business. They made most of their residual income on the giant contracting companies Apollo and Ares which were founded by her husband. In order to own the basketball team, Tony digitalized the Atlanta Hawks franchise in 2015 by means of paying $720 million which instantly made them both rich. They had already been partners in another sports team, the Milwaukee Brewers, for a decade by then. The Hawks now have $7 billion on their balance sheets, and they, including her, have crossed the infamous billionaire mark.
According to reports, Jami’s fortune is situated at around $3 billion. She was involved in acting, her company, and particularly in moneymaking from her husband’s enterprise which was a major part of her zillions. A lot of persons imagine that she married a rich guy, but she was already a very successful and wealthy woman when they went out.
- Wealth Summary:
- Earned money from acting in the 80s and 90s
- Tried making films (Did not make any money and lost a lot of money)
- Spend wealth with Tony
- Taking a stake in the Atlanta Hawks and Brewers
Jami enriched herself by the act of acting, making smart investments as well as the ownership of sports clubs. She ascertained that she produced a substantial amount of money even before she met Tony, which she used to finance their dwelling and a trip. Her capital is an accomplishment between her husband’s funds and her personal achievements.
Jami Gertz Today
Recently, Jami has quit acting to focus on her business and her family. In her final big presentation in 2017, she also made a small movie in 2022. She confessed to her fans that it was the moment of the rest and change that they needed the most. She is now involved in work for the Atlanta Hawks basketball club, trying them to become more stable and good for the lovers. To be near the team, she relocated to Atlanta in 2017.
In three years, Jami is attributed to helping other people in business and is not involved in acting at all. She participates as a representative on the group Melanoma Alliance, a project undertaken to enlighten others about the issues related to skin cancer, as well as raises her sons in Atlanta. She is referred to as the richest actress of them all because of the huge money she is earning and they take her at her word. I still laugh at myself for getting as many as those; it’s not just me, but Tony should get a lot of thanks.
She had a nice story was. She was only an interesting young newcomer in the 80s who then became a prominent business figure in her 50s. In 2025, she has become the pioneer to those from her generation. She sometimes brings some humorous elements into the report and declares it to be a “normal” actress story.
She is like a busy bee on the court assuring it to be excellent for the fans. Whether she acts in a movie or not, she is continually on a path that truly reflects her uniqueness.