Trivia

Met her future husband, Kevin Kline, when she auditioned for the role of Chloe in The Big Chill (1983), that eventually went to Meg Tilly.

Cates was originally going to play the role of Annie Banks in the remake of Father of the Bride (1991), but became pregnant so she had to drop out. The role then went to Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Although retired from making films, she has put her son Owen Kline into the movies, often showing up on the set to make sure he is behaving. He has appeared in The Anniversary Party (2001) and as a lead role in The Squid and the Whale (2005).

She is good friends with actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. They met while filming Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) together.

Phoebe sings the "theme song" for the adventure romance movie Paradise (1982), which is heard during the ending credits.

One of her first jobs at age 15 was being a plainclothes security person at Gallery Drug Store. She was given a basket and walked up and down the aisles pretending to shop whilst patrolling for shoplifters. She only ever caught one old woman stealing Band-Aids, but didn't turn her in.

Has a daughter, Greta Kline (born 1994), and a son, Owen Kline (born 1991).

She appeared on the cover of Seventeen Magazine at age 15 with braces. It was her first big modeling job, so she told the magazine that she would have her braces taken off before she shot her cover, but they insisted that she keep them.

Opened a New York City boutique called Blue Tree. (October 2005)

Phoebe's paternal grandparents were Jewish emigrants from Podolia, Ukraine. Phoebe's mother was born in Shanghai, China, of Russian Jewish and Chinese descent.

In the comedy movie Private School (1983), Cates sings two of the soundtrack songs: "Just One Touch" and "How Do I Let You Know".

Before turning to acting, she worked as a teen model in the pages of "Seventeen", etc.

Both she and her husband Kevin Kline studied at Julliard School in New York City.

The punk band "Fenix TX" wrote a song about her entitled "Phoebe Cates".

Named on Harper's Bazaar's list of America's 10 Most Beautiful Women (1984)

According to Izumi Matsumoto, the creator of Kimagure Orange Road (1985) a popular manga series (Japanese comic) and animated series. Ms. Cates was the inspiration behind the beautiful character Ayukawa Madoka.

She has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).

Daughter of producer/director Joseph Cates and Lily Cates.

Godmother was Jacqueline Susann.

Has an older sister, Valerie Cates, and a younger sister, Alexandra Cates.

Since her 'retirement' from films, she and her movie star husband, Kevin Kline, divide their time between their country estate in upstate New York and their luxury penthouse in Manhattan's tony upper east side. When not supporting her husband's continuing fine stage and film work, she fills her time attending openings and benefits and her favorite activity, hosting dinner parties and 'dishing the dirt' with her celebrity friends.

Niece of producer/director Gilbert Cates.

She turned down the films Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), The Fly (1986), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Adventures in Babysitting (1987), The Princess Bride (1987), and The Accused (1988).

She is good friends with celebrity stylist / television personality David Evangelista.

Sister-in-law of producer Kate Kline May.

Cousin of Gil Cates Jr..

She made her acting debut in the 1982 film Paradise (1982).