You may know Phoebe Cates for the iconic role she played in a classic teen movie from the ’80s. Or you may recognize her as the wife of Oscar Award-winning actor Kevin Kline. However you know her, you’re probably wondering, “Where is Phoebe Cates now?” While the 58-year-old actress has made an indelible mark on the film industry, she’s been shying away from the spotlight for decades now.
Although she began her professional life with a brief modeling career, it was her role as sexy and sophisticated Linda Barrett in Fast Times at Ridgemont High that catapulted her to fame. Cates will always be remembered for being involved in one of the movie’s most memorable (and racy!) scenes, which features her in an iconic bright red bikini.
Her low profile since the ’90s is even more surprising in contrast to her movie star status in the ’80s. We take a deep dive into this beauty’s history and find out what life is like for Phoebe Cates now.
So Where Is Phoebe Cates Now?
After Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cates went on to appear in a string of popular movies throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, including Gremlins and Gremlins II, Bright Lights, Big City, Shag, Heart of Dixie, and Drop Dead Fred. But in 1994, she decided to step away from acting to focus on starting a family with her husband, actor Kevin Kline, whom she married in 1989. The couple had two children together—son Owen Joseph, born in 1991, and daughter Greta Simone, born in 1994. In fact, you may recognize Greta if you’re into music. Now 28, she’s the lead singer of the indie rock band Frankie Cosmos.
Since ditching the Hollywood scene for motherhood more than 25 years ago, Cates has only returned to acting professionally two times. In 2001, she appeared in the movie The Anniversary Party, which also starred her Fast Times at Ridgemont High co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh. We suspect Leigh had a hand in convincing Cates to take the part, as she also co-wrote and co-directed the movie.
In 2015, Cates lent her voice to a Lego-themed video game, playing her character from Gremlins. This was her last acting credit to date.
She Owns Her Own Clothing Boutique
As for her other interests, Cates owns and operates a clothing boutique in Manhattan called Blue Tree, which she opened in 2005. Located on Madison Avenue, the store carries a variety of unique goods, including jewelry, clothing, antiques, candles, books, and vintage LPs. “I always wanted to have a general store,” she told USA Today in 2006. “If I could have had a photo booth and sold candy, I would have.”
Cates says she has her husband to thank for coming up with the shop’s unique name. “It’s a gentle reference to the blue trees in the Fauvist paintings,” she told USA Today. “It’s the idea that this is not a natural thing to find in this neighborhood.”
Is Phoebe Cates Still Married?
Yes! Cates has now been married to Kevin Kline for more than 30 years. When they first got together, much was made about their age difference—she was just 25 while he was 41. But time has proven that the pair were meant to be. In fact, Kline says their age difference was a definite advantage when it came to starting a family.
“I was 40-ish, when I finally stopped obsessing about acting and thought it would be nice to have a life and actually got married,” he explained in a 2014 interview with the Guardian. “If I had married someone my own age, the possibility of progeny would have been very slim. I didn’t consciously say: ‘Hey, we could make babies; want to get married?’ It just happened that way.”
So what’s the secret to keeping their relationship alive for three decades? Kline says it’s simple. “We’re both sensible, and we don’t separate for long periods of time,” he explained in a 2002 interview with Entertainment Weekly. ”We take care of the marriage.”
Will She Ever Make A Comeback?
While anything is possible, fans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for Cates to resurrect her acting career. It appears as though she is perfectly happy with her life as it is. Her husband even admits that while they met because they were both in the acting biz, he was much more focused on hitting it big. “That was one of the many things I loved about her,” he told the Guardian. “She loved acting while she was doing it, but she was not driven [he goes grand, declamatory; cocks an eyebrow] by it, as I had been.”
Cates can still be seen on occasion attending red-carpet events with her husband. Back in 2017, for example, she was by his side when he won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of the Noel Coward play, Present Laughter. Of course, even if she never acts again, her legacy is secure with her hits from the 80s.