The Cast of Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Then and Now

After Fast Times, Cates went on to star in hits like Gremlins, Gremlins 2, and Bright Lights, Big City. She became known for her natural charm and girl-next-door appeal, balancing comedy, romance, and fantasy in her film choices throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1989, she married actor Kevin Kline, with whom she has two children. Cates retired from acting in the early 2000s to focus on family and her boutique, Blue Tree, in New York City. Fun fact: despite her short career, she remains an enduring ’80s icon.