Phoebe Cates starred in many movies, such as “Gremlins” and “Drop Dead Fred,” but she is best known for her famous pool scene in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” from 1982.
However, Phoebe Cates left Hollywood more than 20 years ago. Nowadays, she has a regular job that she really enjoys.
Phoebe Belle Cates was born on July 16, 1963, in New York City. When she was a young girl, she went to private schools and studied ballet at Juilliard.
Acting was a big part of Phoebe’s family. Her father, Joe Cates, was a producer and director, her uncle was the president of the Director’s Guild, her brother used to be an actor, and her sister, Valerie, worked in theater.
Phoebe wanted to be a dancer when she was younger, but she had to stop after a knee injury.
At 14, Phoebe Cates started modeling and did pretty well. She was even on the cover of Seventeen magazine four times. But she didn’t really enjoy it and wanted to try something new.
“It was just the same thing, over and over. After a while, I did it solely for the money,” Phoebe said about her short modeling career.
One night, at a party at New York’s famous Studio 54, she met her film agent. After that, she trained with Robert Ravan, who founded The Actors’ Circle in New York.
“I just knew that I didn’t want to go to college. I thought if I could get a few movie roles, it would be a great way to avoid college. Seriously, it’s true,” Phoebe told The Daily Item in 1985.
Phoebe also trained with Alice Spivack at the H.B. Studios. She made her acting debut in 1982, playing Sarah in “Paradise.” Less than a year later, she starred in “Experienced” and then “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” which featured the famous swimming pool scene.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” was a big hit with teenagers and became an important part of pop culture. It’s especially famous for one scene that Rolling Stone magazine called “the most memorable bikini-drop in cinema history.”
As a friend of mine said, that scene made a lot of teenage boys’ hearts beat faster than they should have!
In 1982, Phoebe shared her thoughts on acting. “In this business, if a girl wants a career, she has to be willing to strip. If you’ve got a good body, then why not show it?” she said.
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” had an impressive cast, including future stars like Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Eric Stoltz, and Forest Whitaker.
Jennifer Jason Leigh reflected on the film, saying, “Well, it was a funny thing because we were all so young when we made it. Then it came out and was this big hit. You’d go to the theater, and people would say the lines along with it. People had obviously seen the movie over and over again,” she told The Daily News.
Later on, Phoebe continued working in theater and starred in “Private School” as Christine Ramsey in 1983. She also co-starred in Steven Spielberg’s “Gremlins” in 1984.
Phoebe met Kevin Kline, a well-known theater actor, while auditioning for the 1983 film “The Big Chill.” Although she didn’t get the role, she did meet her future husband.
Kevin was 16 years older than Phoebe, but they didn’t start dating until two years after they first met. Kevin hired Phoebe’s former assistant and asked for help to ask Phoebe out.
In 1989, Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline got married in New York City when she was 25 and he was 41. They had their first child, Owen Joseph, in 1991 and their daughter, Greta Simone, in 1994.
By 2017, the couple had been married for 27 years, and many people wondered how they stayed so happy together for so long. “We take care of the marriage,” Kline said.
Although Phoebe was successful, she decided to step away from acting after having their children. In the 1990s, she gradually left the entertainment industry.
In 1998, Phoebe told Playboy that she and her husband had agreed to alternate their acting jobs so that their children would always have one parent at home.
Kevin Kline mentioned that even when it was Phoebe Cates’ turn to work, she often chose to stay home with their children. Although she did some acting occasionally, she was more often seen with her husband at red-carpet events, as he continued acting regularly.
In 2005, Phoebe opened a store called Blue Tree near Carnegie Hall. The store sells fragrances, clothing, and gifts.
Phoebe dedicated herself to running the store full-time, often working there personally or searching for new products to sell. Today, you can visit her store at 1283 Madison Avenue in New York City, located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where she also lives.
And just so you know, Phoebe still looks amazing!
What do you think of when you hear Phoebe Cates’ name? I always thought she was a pretty good actress, but the first things that come to mind are her shower scene in the cave in “Paradise” and the bikini scene in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
WHO IS THIS ACTOR, WHO WAS LIVING WITH $150 A MONTH, AND NOW HAS A FARM WITH HIS FAMILY
Renowned in the movie industry, this actor recently clinched a Golden Globe for his standout performance in an HBO project. Surprisingly, prior to his foray into television, he had never actually watched any of his own performances.
In a candid interview, he confessed his initial skepticism towards TV projects, stating: “If my agent had called me and said, ‘I think you should do a series,’ I would have fired my agent…”
However, it was his actress wife who ultimately persuaded him to reconsider. He fondly recalled the joy of sharing the screen with her and attending award ceremonies together.
Reflecting on his wife’s versatile acting career, he drew inspiration from the legendary Meryl Streep, noting: “You know, when I started to see her film work, you know, she does one part, and then she does another part, and it’s like barely recognizable, and to me, that was what I had always envisioned being an actor was, to be able to put on these different hats and become different people”.
This accomplished actor, none other than the charismatic 65-year-old Kevin Bacon, has journeyed from struggles to stardom, finding solace and happiness alongside his wife.
During a recent chat with Kelly Clarkson, Bacon reminisced about his humble beginnings. In 1976, he made the leap from Philadelphia to New York, where he had previously visited with his sister.
Arriving in the Big Apple, Bacon initially bunked with his sister until he could secure his own place. With just $150 to his name for the month, he stumbled upon a makeshift living situation advertised in The Village Voice. “Artists, actors, musicians, residents” were welcomed, and he found himself in what he describes as “basically a flophouse”.
For four years, he shared a space with a pianist in a rental office, unable to afford a proper apartment. Despite the challenges, Bacon’s determination and talent eventually paved the way to success, leading him to cross paths with his future wife, Kyra Sedgwick.
Their serendipitous encounter occurred in 1987 on the set of “Lemon Sky”. Bacon was smitten from the start, though Sedgwick needed a bit more convincing. After some persistence, their first date unfolded, marked by laughter and a deep connection that sealed their fate.
“We’ve always been each other’s biggest support and fans. A sense of humor is crucial. He is very freaking funny”, Sedgwick fondly remarked.
Together, they navigated the journey of parenthood, raising two children, Travis and Sosie, who are now adults. For Bacon, being a father is paramount, as he strives to instill values of honesty, integrity, and compassion in his children, emphasizing the importance of caring for the world and each other.
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