
Phoebe Cates was an actress and model who gained popularity for her roles in films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. She was known for her willingness to take on sexually charged roles, which made her a favourite among teenage viewers. Cates was born in New York City and began modelling at the age of ten, appearing in magazines such as Seventeen. She pursued acting and made her motion picture debut in Paradise in 1982. While Cates did not star in the film Sixteen Candles, she did act alongside Molly Ringwald, who starred in the film, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Cates and Ringwald were both teen idols of the 1980s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Was Phoebe Cates in 16 Candles? | No |
| Phoebe Cates' notable films | "Paradise" (1982), "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), "Private School" (1983), "Gremlins" (1984), "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988), "Heart of Dixie" (1989), "Shag" (1989) |
| Phoebe Cates' spouse | Kevin Kline |
| Phoebe Cates' children | Owen Joseph Kline, Greta Kline |
| Phoebe Cates' career outside acting | Owner of the boutique "Blue Tree", launched in 2005 |
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What You'll Learn

Phoebe Cates was not in *Sixteen Candles*
It is a common misconception that Phoebe Cates was in *Sixteen Candles*. However, this is not true. Cates was not in the 1984 film, which starred Molly Ringwald and was written and directed by John Hughes.
Cates was a model-turned-actress who gained popularity in the early 1980s for her roles in films like "Paradise" (1982), "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), and "Private School" (1983). Her willingness to appear nude on camera made her a favourite among teenage viewers, but also pigeonholed her into sexually charged roles.
Despite this, Cates went on to star in several successful films, including the box office hit "Gremlins" (1984), its sequel "Gremlins 2: The New Batch", and "Footloose" (1984). She also appeared in Off-Broadway plays like "The Nest of the Wood Grouse" (1984) and "Rich Relations" (1986).
In 1989, Cates married actor Kevin Kline, with whom she had two children: a son, Owen, born in 1991, and a daughter, Greta, born in 1994. By the early 1990s, Cates had stopped acting altogether to focus on her family and pursue other business ventures, including opening her own boutique, Blue Tree, in 2005.
While Phoebe Cates had a successful acting career, it is important to clarify that she was not in the film *Sixteen Candles*.
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Cates' film debut was in *Paradise* (1982)
Phoebe Cates did not star in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. Cates' film debut was in *Paradise* (1982), in which she played the role of Sarah. The film was shot in Israel between March and May 1981, when Cates was 17 years old. She performed several full-frontal and rear nude scenes in the film, which made her a favourite of teenage viewers and devotees of cinematic skin. However, it also eventually pigeonholed her as wanton.
In the same year as her debut, Cates starred in *Fast Times at Ridgemont High*, which featured what Rolling Stone described as "the most memorable bikini-drop in cinema history". The film was directed by Amy Heckerling and included a young male fantasy of Cates striding topless in a soft-porny sprinkler mist. Cates herself said that she had "the most fun" filming this movie.
In 1983, Cates starred in the comedy *Private School*, co-starring Matthew Modine and Betsy Russell. She sang on two songs of the film's soundtrack: "Just One Touch" and "How Do I Let You Know". The following year, she co-starred in the box office hit *Gremlins*, the
Cates also appeared in several Off-Broadway plays, including *The Nest of the Wood Grouse* in 1984 and *Rich Relations* in 1986. In December 1989, she made her Broadway debut in a revival of Paddy Chayefsky's *The Tenth Man*.
Cates met her husband, actor Kevin Kline, in 1985 during an audition for *The Big Chill*. They married in 1989 and have two children: a son, Owen, born in 1991, and a daughter, Greta, born in 1994. Cates stopped acting entirely by the mid-1990s to focus on her family and business opportunities.
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She modelled as a teenager
Phoebe Cates was not in the 1984 film "Sixteen Candles". However, she did star in other popular 1980s films such as ''Fast Times at Ridgemont High', ''Gremlins', and 'Private School'.
Cates was born in New York City in 1963 to a showbiz family. Her father, Joseph Cates, was a Broadway producer and television pioneer, and her uncle, Gil Cates, was a director and producer. Cates began modelling at the age of ten, appearing in teen-oriented magazines like Seventeen. She had glossy raven hair and a perfect pout, and quickly became a fixture in the pages of these magazines.
Cates graced the cover of Seventeen magazine four times, her first being the April 1979 issue. She also appeared within the magazine on the editorial pages in 1979 and 1980. Despite her success, Cates grew dissatisfied with the repetitive nature of modelling and pursued acting instead.
Cates' first acting role was in the 1982 film "Paradise", where she performed several full-frontal and rear nude scenes at the age of 17. She later regretted this role, feeling that the producers had exploited her by filming nude close-ups with a body double without her consent.
In addition to her acting career, Cates ventured into business and opened a boutique called Blue Tree on New York's Madison Avenue in 2005. She modelled the decor of the boutique on the Penny Whistle gift store, which she had frequented in the 1990s.
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Cates is married to actor Kevin Kline
Phoebe Cates was not in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. However, she did meet her future husband, Kevin Kline, at an audition in 1982 or 1983. At the time, they were both dating other people. Their relationship did not begin until two years later when they reconnected at New York City's Public Theater.
Cates and Kline married in a private ceremony in New York in 1989. They moved to the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where they raised their two children: Owen Joseph Kline, born in 1991, and Greta Kline, born in 1994.
Cates took a break from acting to focus on motherhood. The couple agreed to alternate working so that one parent would always be at home with the children. However, whenever it was Cates's turn to work, she chose to stay with the children.
Kline has praised Cates for her decision, saying, "That was one of the many things I loved about her. She loved acting while she was doing it, but she was not driven by it, as I had been."
The couple has been photographed at premieres, awards ceremonies, and basketball games together, but they generally keep their relationship out of the spotlight. They will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary in 2024.
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She retired from acting in the 1990s
Phoebe Cates did not star in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. However, she did star in other popular films in the 1980s, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Private School, Gremlins, and its sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch.
Cates retired from acting in the 1990s to focus on her family and business opportunities. She moved to the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York, with her husband, actor Kevin Kline, and the couple raised their two children, son Owen Joseph Kline, born in 1991, and daughter Greta Kline, born in 1994.
Cates had started her career as a model at the age of ten, appearing in magazines such as Seventeen. She transitioned into acting in the early 1980s, gaining attention for her sexually charged roles and willingness to appear nude on camera. Her role in the box office hit Gremlins in 1984 moved her towards more wholesome roles, but she struggled to find substantial parts.
By the early 1990s, Cates had abandoned acting altogether, choosing to focus on her family and exploring other interests. She opened her own boutique, Blue Tree, in 2005, selling a hand-picked selection of gifts, including perfume, candles, stuffed animals, and photography. Cates was heavily involved in selecting the products, ensuring they reflected her personality and taste.
While Cates generally stayed out of the spotlight after retiring from acting, she did briefly come out of retirement in 2001 to appear in The Anniversary Party, a film by her longtime friend and Fast Times costar, Jennifer Jason Leigh.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Phoebe Cates was not in 16 Candles.
Phoebe Cates has starred in several films, including "Paradise" (1982), "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), "Private School" (1983), "Gremlins" (1984), and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch".
Phoebe Cates stopped acting in the mid-1990s, although she briefly came out of retirement in 2001 for the film "The Anniversary Party".
After retiring from acting, Phoebe Cates focused on her family and business opportunities. She opened her own boutique, Blue Tree, in 2005, selling a range of signature gifts, including candles.
Phoebe Cates is married to the actor Kevin Kline. They wed in 1989 and have two children together, a son, Owen, and a daughter, Greta.
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