Phoebe Cates, the actress who captured the hearts of American teens in the 80s, still remains as stunning as ever. While she may have disappeared from the big screen in the mid-90s, her legacy lives on. Let’s take a look at why Phoebe Cates left the limelight and what she’s been up to since her movie star days.
Phoebe Cates was born on July 16, 1963, in New York City and starred in 16 films over 12 years, including iconic teen comedies like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Gremlins.” However, in the mid-1990s, she decided to step away from the industry, and the name Phoebe Cates slowly faded from movie credits.
But what happened to Phoebe Belle Cates? What is she doing now? And, most importantly, what does she look like today? Let’s find out!
Phoebe Cates comes from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. Her father, Broadway producer Joseph Katz, and uncle were big players, producing TV specials and even several Academy Awards shows.
Her mother was of Chinese-Filipino descent, and both of Cates’ grandmothers had Russian-Jewish backgrounds. The family even had a close friendship with the famous artist Andy Warhol.
Before her acting career took off, Phoebe Cates started her journey as a model at the age of ten, appearing in teen-focused magazines. However, her true passion at the time was dancing.
She attended a ballet school but had to stop after a serious knee injury when she was 15. Modeling became her main source of income, even though she didn’t enjoy it as much as she wanted to pursue her love for the arts.
Phoebe Cates made her acting debut in the film “Paradise” in 1982, followed by her memorable performance in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” the same year. This coming-of-age classic is now considered a cultural phenomenon and features a talented cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Sean Penn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
While Phoebe Cates’s early films involved various degrees of nudity, she mentioned that the topless scene in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” was more lighthearted and fun to film. Little did they know that the movie would become one of the most iconic of its kind, with a place in the US National Film Registry.
Throughout the 80s, Phoebe Cates continued to grace the screen in films like “Private School,” “Gremlins,” and “Date with an Angel.” Despite her success in Hollywood, Cates always expressed her preference for appearing on stage. She found women’s roles in theater to be more diverse and compelling than those in cinema.
After starring in “The Anniversary Party” in 2001, Phoebe Cates chose to focus on her family and personal life. She married actor Kevin Kline in 1989, and they have two children together. While she occasionally returns to acting, her main passion lies in running her shop on Madison Avenue called Blue Tree, offering a curated selection of clothes, jewelry, books, and more.
At 58 years old, Phoebe Cates continues to captivate audiences whenever she makes an appearance. She even reprised her role in the 2015 video game Lego Dimensions, proving that her charm knows no bounds.
In an industry often marked by negative stories about child stars, Phoebe Cates stands out as a shining example of success and happiness in her adult life. Let’s join together in wishing Phoebe Cates and her family all the best for the future!
