What Iconic '80s Actor Phoebe Cates Looks Like These Days
Just as there are some throwback fashion trends that only Gen X will remember, there are some actors that feel quintessentially tied to the '80s and '90s. Phoebe Cates is one of these Hollywood icons, as the New York City native appeared in some major films before retiring from acting. She played Linda Barrett in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," stealing hearts in the movie's famous pool scene, and starred opposite Zach Galligan in "Gremlins." Then, she was plagued by her childhood imaginary friend the following decade in "Drop Dead Fred."
Cates has withdrawn from the spotlight since her stint in teen movies, but her occasional public appearances show just how much she's grown up. While she was pictured at the Tony Awards as well as a Breakthrough Prize Foundation event alongside husband Kevin Kline in 2017, the former star occasionally shares snapshots of herself on the Instagram page for her New York City boutique, Blue Tree. In 2020, she posted a photo of her holding a sock monkey, tagging the clothing brand Antipast and marking her location as Paris, France.
Cates is pictured wearing her hair partially pulled back, accenting her brown eyes with butterfly-shaped glasses. Her face has shed some of the natural fullness of her youth and developed minimal wrinkles. The former actor's style is notably eclectic, as she's pictured in a knitted navy top over a striped long-sleeved tee, a patterned scarf, and suede-look bottoms.
Phoebe has kept busy despite being outside of the spotlight
As she left the limelight behind, Phoebe Cates shifted her focus from Hollywood to family life and entrepreneurship. She married fellow actor Kevin Kline, known for "A Fish Called Wanda" and "Sophie's Choice," in 1989, and the duo welcomed children in 1991 and 1994. The former star continued acting as a young mother, but said goodbye to the industry after starring in "The Anniversary Party" in 2001 when her kids were nine and seven.
Cates told Fox News at the time that she was content with prioritizing marriage and motherhood. "Some people have trouble with that," she said. "But I love it. I do it all. We have no help whatsoever except for a housekeeper who comes in and cleans because, let's face it, I hate doing that. But I cook dinner every night, and we're all there together."
Cates launched her NYC boutique, Blue Tree, in 2005, after expressing how the closure of a local gift store impacted her neighborhood. While the business allowed her to curate a collection of unique goods and clothing from around the world, it also gave her a sense of normalcy. "I started acting and modeling so young that at a young age I craved a normal existence, dealing with people who have no preexisting idea about you," she told WWD in 2006. Her physical and emotional transformation over the decades is a clear example that your career doesn't define you.