Phoebe Cates, 62, Still Turns Heads 42 Years After ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’
Phoebe Cates, now 62, has had a career that spans decades, from modeling in her youth to becoming a beloved Hollywood actress. She started modeling at just ten years old, appearing in teen magazines like Seventeen. Despite early success, Cates admitted she disliked the work. “It was just the same thing, over and over. After a while, I did it solely for the money,” she said. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen four times between 1979 and 1980 before deciding to pursue acting.
Cates got her first film role in Paradise (1982) after a screen test in New York. She faced challenges with the nudity required for the role, but her father encouraged her to accept it. Filmed in Israel, the movie included several nude scenes, and Cates also sang the theme song. Reflecting on the experience years later, she admitted, “What I learned was never to do a movie like that again.” Co-star Willie Aames noted that she was upset about the film and refused to promote it.
Later in 1982, Cates starred in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, delivering one of the most iconic moments in cinema history with her memorable bikini scene. She described filming the movie as “the most fun” she had experienced on set. The following year, she appeared in Private School (1983), singing two songs on the film’s soundtrack, showing off her musical talent as well.
In 1984, Cates took on television, starring in the mini-series Lace based on Shirley Conran’s novel. She played the character Lili, hoping to avoid repetitive roles. During auditions, she impressed the writer so much that he wanted to hire her on the spot. Her famous line, “Which one of you b**** is my mother?” was later named the greatest line in television history by TV Guide in 1993. She also appeared in the sequel, Lace II.
That same year, Cates co-starred in Steven Spielberg’s Gremlins, the biggest box office hit of her career. She reprised her role in Gremlins 2: The New Batch. She also made her stage debut in The Nest of the Wood Grouse in 1984 and later appeared in Rich Relations and the Broadway revival of The Tenth Man. Cates has said theater offered her the kind of challenging roles that film often lacked, admitting, “I’ve only felt happy as an actress for about two years.”
Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cates appeared in films such as Date with an Angel, Shag, and Drop Dead Fred. She was set to appear in Father of the Bride (1991) but withdrew due to her first pregnancy. Her last major film before stepping back from acting was Princess Caraboo (1994), starring alongside her husband, Kevin Kline.
Cates made a brief return in The Anniversary Party (2001) as a favor to Jennifer Jason Leigh. In 2005, she opened the boutique Blue Tree on Madison Avenue.
Cates married Kevin Kline in 1989, and they raised two children, Owen and Greta Kline. Both children have pursued creative careers, with Owen working as a filmmaker and Greta fronting the band Frankie Cosmos.
Phoebe Cates’s journey from teen model to Hollywood icon shows her versatility and dedication. She remains admired not just for her early film roles but also for the grace and intelligence she brought to her career choices.
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