Phoebe Cates (born July 16, 1963) is an
American film
actress and
entrepreneur known for her roles in several
teen films, most notably
Fast Times at Ridgemont High and
Gremlins.
Early life
Cates was born in
New York City, New York, to a family of TV and Broadway production insiders. Her father Joseph Cates (originally Katz) was a major Broadway producer and a pioneering figure in television, who helped create
The $64,000 Question.
Her uncle
Gilbert Cates produced numerous TV specials, often in partnership with Cates' father, and several annual
Academy Awards shows.
Her maternal grandfather was of
Chinese/
Filipino descent, and her father as well as her maternal grandmother were of
Russian Jewish origin.