---
name: "Phoebe Cates"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/phoebe-cates"
fi1m_id: "phoebe-cates"
imdb_id: "nm0000121"
tmdb_id: 16171
wikidata_id: "Q14439"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "16 July 1963"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 66
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-04T21:50:19.661295+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Phoebe Cates

## Identity

Phoebe Cates

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/phoebe-cates
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** phoebe-cates
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000121
- **TMDB ID:** 16171
- **Wikidata ID:** Q14439
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_Cates, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14439, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000121/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16171

Actor. Born 16 July 1963 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 16 July 1963, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1982–1991
- **Also known as:** Phoebe Belle Cates, Phoebe Cates Kline, Phoebe Belle Cates-Kline, Belle Phoebe Katz
- **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (2), 1990s 48 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 58 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 2, Fantasy 2, Family 1, Horror 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $194m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_Cates, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14439, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000121/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16171

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Gremlins*](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md) (80)
- **AMC+:** [*Fast Times at Ridgemont High*](https://film.one/film/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Phoebe Cates

> Phoebe Cates is at her most persuasive when a comedy gives her something uncomfortable to say. We rate the directness she brings to *Gremlins*; her films do not always give her enough to do.

The creatures in *Gremlins* (1984) get most of the attention, until Phoebe Cates has something uncomfortable to say. Her Christmas speech as Kate Beringer asks for a difficult change of mood, and she makes us accept it. We were unsettled by the seriousness she brings to a comedy otherwise so pleased with its bad behaviour. This is where we rate her most highly: making a person's distress matter in a film that could easily get another joke out of it.

Two years earlier, *Fast Times at Ridgemont High* (1982) had established her as a teen-film presence, playing Linda Barrett alongside Jennifer Jason Leigh. Her natural ease suits Amy Heckerling's ensemble, although the memorable pool sequence gives only a narrow idea of her usefulness as an actor. We like the film's consideration for its teenagers, with reservations about the loose storytelling and occasional cruelty. Cates belongs comfortably in this company, but *Gremlins* provides the more revealing test of what she can do when the tone changes.

Joe Dante's handling of that speech also shows what the film misses elsewhere. Zach Galligan supplies a mild human centre as Billy Peltzer, but the human story becomes thin once the creatures take charge. Cates cannot fix that shortage of writing, and too often the human scenes leave us waiting for another creature. The film improves when it gives her reaction as much attention as the effects; this is a good performance with less space than it needs. She reprised Kate in Dante's *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990).

A lead role in the comedy-fantasy *Drop Dead Fred* (1991) was followed by *Princess Caraboo* (1994), her final major film role before stepping back from regular acting. She briefly returned as Sophia Gold in *The Anniversary Party* (2001), alongside Leigh, who also directed. For a first encounter, choose *Gremlins*, and give the human reactions as much attention as the creatures.

## Biography

Phoebe Cates is an American actress, model and businesswoman. Born Phoebe Belle Cates on 16 July 1963 in New York City, she began her career as a model in her teens before making her film debut in *Paradise* (1982). That same year she played Linda Barrett in *Fast Times at Ridgemont High*.

She is best known for her roles as Kate Beringer in *Gremlins* (1984) and its sequel *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), as well as appearances in *Private School* (1983), *Drop Dead Fred* (1991) and *Princess Caraboo* (1994). Her final screen role was in *The Anniversary Party* (2001). Cates has also worked in theatre and founded the Blue Tree boutique in New York in 2005.

In 1989 she married actor Kevin Kline; they have two children. She is the daughter of producer Joseph Cates and niece of director Gilbert Cates.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Drop Dead Fred* (1991), Fi1m 48, as Elizabeth — [page](https://film.one/film/drop-dead-fred.md)
- *Gremlins* (1984), Fi1m 80, as Kate Beringer — [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)
- *Fast Times at Ridgemont High* (1982), Fi1m 70, as Linda Barrett — [page](https://film.one/film/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high.md)

## Complete filmography (20)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins* (2014), as (archive footage)
- *The Anniversary Party* (2001), as Sophia Gold
- *Princess Caraboo* (1994), as Princess Caraboo / Mary Baker
- *Bodies, Rest & Motion* (1993), as Carol
- *Drop Dead Fred* (1991), as Elizabeth — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/drop-dead-fred.md)
- *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), as Kate Beringer
- *Largo Desolato* (1990), as Marguerite
- *I Love You to Death* (1990), as Disco Girl
- *Heart of Dixie* (1989), as Aiken Reed
- *Shag* (1989), as Carson McBride
- *Bright Lights, Big City* (1988), as Amanda
- *Date with an Angel* (1987), as Patty Winston
- *Lace 2* (1985), as Lili
- *Lace II* (1985), series, as Lili
- *Gremlins* (1984), as Kate Beringer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)
- *Lace* (1984), series, as Lili
- *Private School* (1983), as Christine Ramsey
- *Baby Sister* (1983), as Annie Burroughs
- *Fast Times at Ridgemont High* (1982), as Linda Barrett — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high.md)
- *Paradise* (1982), as Sarah

## Gallery

- ![Phoebe Cates](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-50b78c93b4af.jpg) Phoebe Cates — Greg in Hollywood (Greg Hernandez), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Phoebe_Cates_at_81st_Academy_Awards.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Kevin Kline and wife Phoebe Cates talk with Tom Hanks at the Governor's Ball following the telecast of the 61st Annual Academy Awards, 1989. NOTE: Permission gr](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-d1e185db4bee.jpg) Kevin Kline and wife Phoebe Cates talk with Tom Hanks at the Governor's Ball following the telecast of the 61st Annual Academy Awards, 1989. NOTE: Permission gr — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Kevin_Kline%2C_Phoebe_Cates_and_Tom_Hanks_%282071237127%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Oscar-winner Kevin Kline and his wife Phoebe Cates at the Governor's Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-6720c68cebee.jpg) Oscar-winner Kevin Kline and his wife Phoebe Cates at the Governor's Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 (2006) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Kevin_Kline_-_Phoebe_Cates.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Phoebe Cates and husband Kevin Kline at the Governor's Ball following the telecast of the 61st Annual Academy Awards, 1989. NOTE: Permission granted to copy, pu](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-c8c9c267c937.jpg) Phoebe Cates and husband Kevin Kline at the Governor's Ball following the telecast of the 61st Annual Academy Awards, 1989. NOTE: Permission granted to copy, pu — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Phoebe_Cates%2C_Kevin_Kline_%282072029906%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Phoebe Cates](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-94996e3d9e73.jpg) Phoebe Cates — Image via TMDB
- ![Phoebe Cates](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-4466bc3a6496.jpg) Phoebe Cates — Image via TMDB
- ![Phoebe Cates](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-f9afb89d2223.jpg) Phoebe Cates — Image via TMDB
- ![Oscar-winner Kevin Kline and his wife Phoebe Cates at the Governor's Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 - Permission granted to copy, publ](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-f9e772208e5d.jpg) Oscar-winner Kevin Kline and his wife Phoebe Cates at the Governor's Ball party after the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 - Permission granted to copy, publ — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Phoebe_Cates_%26_Kevin_Kline_%28252969353%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline at 81st Annual Academy Awards. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-49c9a04b0680.jpg) Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline at 81st Annual Academy Awards. (2009) — Greg in Hollywood (Greg Hernandez), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Phoebe_Cates_%26_Kevin_Kline_at_2009_Academy_Awards.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Phoebe Cates](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-9530d76f0f0e.jpg) Phoebe Cates — Image via TMDB
- ![Phoebe Cates](https://film.one/media/person/117695/gallery-174d1a30bc2c.jpg) Phoebe Cates — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/phoebe-cates