Phoebe Cates

Phoebe Belle Cates Kline (née Cates; July 16, 1963), known professionally as Phoebe Cates, is an American film actress, singer and former model. She is known primarily for her roles in several 1980s films, most notably Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. 2Early life Cates was born in New York City, to a family of television and Broadway production insiders. She is the daughter of Lily and Joseph Cates (originally "Joseph Katz"), who was a major Broadway producer and a pioneering figure in television, and who helped create The $64,000 Question. Her late uncle, Gilbert Cates, produced numerous television specials, often in partnership with Cates's father, as well as several annual Academy Awards shows. Her father and maternal grandmother were of Russian Jewish descent, and her maternal grandfather was Chinese-Filipino. Cates' mother was born in Shanghai, China. Cates attended the Hewitt School, the Professional Children's School, and the Juilliard School. When she was ten, she wanted to become a dancer. She eventually got a scholarship to the School of American Ballet, but after suffering a serious knee injury at age 15, she gave up her dancing caree