Iconic ’80s star Phoebe Cates, known for her role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, hasn’t seemed onscreen since 2001. But the former actor has been busy with a new career and the children with her husband, actor Kevin Kline.

Cates Left Hollywood Ater Her Marriage to Focus on Motherhood

Cates left acting after the birth of her second child, Greta Kline, in 1994. Cates has two children—Greta and Owen Kline, born in 1991—with theater and film actor Kevin Kline. 

The couple has been married since 1989. According to Country Living, they first met while auditioning for The Big Chill. Cates didn’t get the role, but the two sparked a connection that would come back around years later. Two years later, Kevin reportedly hired Cates’ former assistant to get him a date with the actor, and the rest is history.

As Country Living reports, Kevin told Playboy in 1998 that the couple “agreed to alternate so that we’re never working at the same time.” However, “whenever it’s been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to stay with the children.” Kevin is still acting.

The Couple’s Children have Persued Careers in the Arts

Both of the couple’s children appeared in the films The Squid and the Whale and The Anniversary Party. Greta is currently a musician. She was part of the band Porches from 2013 to 2015, and she now performs as Frankie Cosmos. Owen has done some producing and writing.

Cates Own A Store

Cates opened her Madison Avenue store, Blue Tree, in 2005. She wrote on the shop’s website that her dream was “to have it be like a general store but according to me.” 

The store sells unique clothing, accessories, jewelry, and homewares. In 2009, Cates described Blue Tree as a “mom-and-pop store without the pop” to Travel + Leisure. However, she added that her husband did help come up with the name for the store, which references the blue trees in Fauvist paintings.

Cates Had An Amazing Career

Phoebe made her film debut with the romantic flick ‘Paradise’, released on May 7, 1982. She played a bold character in the film and impressed the audience with her acting skills.

The film’s plot revolves around two teenagers, David and Sarah, who get stranded in a desert. Their journey, during which they discover the different aspects of sexuality, brings them together.

The plot was quite similar to the 1980 film ‘Blue Lagoon,’ which too was based on teenagers exploring sexuality. The director of ‘Paradise’, Stuart Gillard, was criticized for showcasing ‘Blue Lagoon’ in the backdrop of a desert.

However, Phoebe was praised for her skills and was branded as a daring actress. She was also praised for her singing skills. The title song, played along with the end credits, was sung by her.

Her next film, ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ was a sex comedy. Released on August 13, 1982, the movie made headlines primarily because of a topless scene that featured Phoebe. Unlike her first film, this received relatively positive reviews, and the unforgettable soundtracks and detailed cinematography walked away with most of the praises.

Phoebe was next seen in ‘Private School’, yet another sex comedy. Christine Ramsey, played by Phoebe, is a beautiful high school girl who desperately seeks ways to win her crush’s heart. On July 29, 1983, the film failed to impress the critics. The critics thought that the movie had unnecessary scenes with many logical errors. However, a commercial success made it big at the box office.

Two of the soundtracks from the film, namely ‘Just One Touch’ and ‘How Do I Let You Know’, were sung by Phoebe.

‘Gremlins’, a comedy-horror, was released on June 8, 1984, and it gave a new direction to Phoebe’s acting career. ‘Gremlins’ was about an imaginary creature called Mogwai, and the film was a hit among kids and other movie buffs. It also received positive reviews from critics.

She was named one of America’s 10 Most Beautiful Women the same year. She was also honored by the makers of a Japanese series titled ‘Kimagure Orange Road’ when they decided to create one of Ayukawa Madoka’s characters based on Phoebe’s real-life achievements.

Phoebe then went on to star in the sequel of ‘Gremlins’. Unfortunately, the film tanked at the box office. All her subsequent films too failed to impress the audience, and hence Phoebe’s stardom started to fade away. She eventually lost her interest and enthusiasm for acting and decided to call it quits. In the 2001 film, ‘The Anniversary Party.’

Phoebe then turned her attention toward entrepreneurship. In 2005, she opened a variety store named ‘Blue Tree’ in New York City. The store sells fragrances, jewelry, toys and gifts. ‘Blue Tree’ went on to become famous after the introduction of its special creation, the Abraham Lincoln doll.

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