6 Surprising Facts About Jami Gertz, the Underrated Star of the Original 'Twister'

Abbey Bender

September 3, 2024 at 11:59 PM·4 min read

As summer winds down, it’s clear that Twisters, the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 blockbuster Twister, has been one of the biggest movies of the season. While none of the original stars of Twister returned for the sequel, we’re taking a look back at Jami Gertz, who played Dr. Melissa Reeves, the fiancée of the storm chasing protagonist, Bill Harding (Bill Paxton).

Gertz’s character was often overshadowed by Helen Hunt (who played Bill’s meteorologist ex-wife), but she’s grown to be more appreciated over time, and the actress has had an intriguing career before and after Twister. Here are some things you might not have known about her.

1. Helen Hunt said Jami Gertz was Twister’s “secret sauce”

In an interview looking back at the original Twister this year, Helen Hunt revealed that she thought Jami Gertz was underrated in the film, saying, “Jami Gertz doesn't get all the glory like Bill and I did. She had to ask all the expositional questions. She had to be the one that wasn't as cool as me, who you wanted to be with. In some early drafts of the script, they were kind of catty with each other, but we both thought, ‘Boy, is that a mistake,’ and we just never did that. She had the less flashy part, but I think she was part of the secret sauce that made it fun to watch. Maybe more than people realize.”

MUST-READ: ‘Twister’: Learn All About the Cast of the 1996 Action Blockbuster

Jami Gertz in Twister (1996) — Jami Gertz in *Twister* (1996)
Warner Bros./MovieStillsDB

2. She was discovered by a TV icon

As a teen, Gertz was discovered by Norman Lear, the creator of sitcoms like All in the Family, One Day at a Time and The Jeffersons, when she won a talent search he was sponsoring. This auspicious start led her to be cast in the comedy Square Pegs, in which she played a preppy high school student.

While Square Pegs only ran from 1982 to 1983, it launched Gertz’s career, as well as Sarah Jessica Parker’s. Gertz continued to act in TV throughout the '80s, appearing in The Facts of Life and Family Ties.

The actress with Sarah Jessica Parker in Square Pegs (1982) — Jami Gertz and Sarah Jessica Parker in *Square Pegs* (1982)
CBS/MovieStillsDB

3. Jami Gertz was in a number of classic '80s movies

While not officially considered a Brat Pack member, Gertz was in a variety of youth-driven '80s classics. She had a small part in the 1984 John Hughes hit Sixteen Candles and in 1987 she starred as a cocaine-addicted model in Less Than Zero and a half-vampire in The Lost Boys.

Looking back at her '80s roles, Gertz said, “I went down a very different path. I kind of got married and had children much earlier, and I made different choices in movies. So, yeah, I had a very different path, yet people kind of still think, ‘Were you in the Brat Pack?’ But, no, I didn’t even really know many of the people in the Brat Pack.”

4. She almost played Rachel in Friends

It’s hard to picture anyone but Jennifer Aniston playing Rachel in Friends, but Gertz was originally offered her role. She ultimately turned it down, and the rest is history. Gertz went on to star in the sitcoms Still Standing (2002 to 2006) and The Neighbors (2012 to 2014).

5. She played a Saturday Night Live star

In 2002, Gertz starred as original Saturday Night Live cast member Gilda Radner in the TV movie biopic Gilda Radner: It’s Always Something. She called the role the one that was “closest to my heart.”

6. Jami Gertz co-owns a basketball team

Gertz has been married to billionaire businessman Tony Ressler since 1989, and they have three sons. Along with her husband, she’s a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team. She admitted, “It’s not your everyday Hollywood actress tale,” but has been closely involved with the NBA team and its players.