Wertimer was born on October 27, 1923 in Buffalo, New York. He studied at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He was married to Skyne Uku from the 1960s until his death in 2013. In November 2012, Wertimer fell in his home in Burbank, California. He died in the hospital in Los Angeles, California from his injuries in January 2, 2013, aged 89.