Kevin Kline is a bit of an anomaly. In a world where celebrity marriages usually have the shelf life of an open carton of milk, he and Phoebe Cates have been married for over 36 years. It's wild when you think about it. They met at an audition for The Big Chill back in 1982—she didn’t get the part, by the way—and they’ve been a "thing" since 1985.
Honestly, the secret isn't some complex Hollywood formula. It’s basically just New York. As of early 2026, the couple is still anchored on the Upper East Side, miles away from the Los Angeles bubble. Kline recently quipped that if your marriage lasts more than six months in Hollywood, you're practically a record-breaker. But by staying in Manhattan, Kevin Kline and family managed to build a life that feels remarkably... normal.
The "Non-Hollywood" Lifestyle on the Upper East Side
You won’t find Kevin Kline or Phoebe Cates on a reality show or posting "get ready with me" videos on TikTok. That’s just not their vibe. They’ve always been pretty low-key, non-celebrity types. Kline once joked that his face is 100% Botox-free, pointing out that what you see is just "what's left" of his lips. There’s a refreshing lack of pretension there.
While Kevin has kept his foot on the gas with his acting career—most recently gearing up for the 2026 premiere of the MGM+ series American Classic—Phoebe took a different path. She was the "it girl" of the '80s, the girl from the pool in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. But after their kids came along, she just sort of stepped away.
✨ Don't miss: Nathan Griffith: Why the Teen Mom Alum Still Matters in 2026
It wasn't some tragic retirement. She just liked being a mom more than she liked being a movie star. Since 2005, she’s been running Blue Tree, her boutique on Madison Avenue. If you walk in, there’s a decent chance you’ll actually see her there, curating high-end gifts and quirky items. She traded the red carpet for retail, and she seems completely fine with it.
How they raised their kids
The couple had a deal early on: they would alternate jobs so one parent was always home. The funny thing is, whenever it was Phoebe’s turn to work, she’d usually pass and stay with the kids anyway. Kevin has admitted that he was always more "driven" by the craft, while Phoebe enjoyed it but wasn't obsessed.
They raised their two children, Owen and Greta, in a home that was "artist-friendly" but grounded. We're talking about a family that reportedly ordered so much Domino’s Pizza at one point they got a special "membership" status. Even when you're an Oscar winner, sometimes you just want a cheap slice in your living room.
🔗 Read more: Mary J Blige Costume: How the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Changed Fashion Forever
Meet the Next Generation: Owen and Greta Kline
If you're looking for "nepo babies" who are just famous for being famous, you’re looking at the wrong family. Both Owen and Greta have carved out very specific, slightly "indie" niches for themselves that feel miles away from their father’s Broadway-to-Oscar trajectory.
- Owen Kline (born 1991): Most people remember him as the kid who smeared beer on his face in The Squid and the Whale. He’s in his mid-30s now and has moved largely behind the camera. He’s a director, cartoonist, and total film nerd who studied at Pratt. He’s gone on record saying he never really wanted to be "in the industry" in the traditional sense. He’s more about the DIY, gritty New York creative scene.
- Greta Kline (born 1994): You probably know her better as Frankie Cosmos. She’s been a staple of the indie-pop and "bedroom pop" scene for over a decade. She started out posting songs on Bandcamp and eventually signed with Sub Pop. She’s super introspective and her music is these short, poetic bursts of emotion. She even did a 10th-anniversary tour for her album Zentropy not long ago.
The whole family is incredibly supportive of each other. Owen and Greta both appeared in the 2001 film The Anniversary Party, which was basically a family affair. Even now, Kevin says the four of them try to get together for dinner at least once a week.
A Legacy of Staying Power
What’s interesting about Kevin Kline and family is the blend of heritages and traditions. Kevin was raised Catholic in St. Louis (his dad was German-Jewish, his mom Irish-Catholic), while Phoebe comes from a Russian-Jewish and Chinese-Filipino background. This mix of cultures and a shared love for the arts—Kevin’s dad owned a record store, after all—seems to have created a very stable foundation.
💡 You might also like: Mariah Kennedy Cuomo Wedding: What Really Happened at the Kennedy Compound
Kevin is 78 now, and he’s still working at the highest level. His new show, American Classic, sees him playing a Broadway star who has a public meltdown and has to go back to his family’s theater. It’s a bit meta, considering Kline’s own legendary status on the stage.
People often ask what the "trick" is. Kline usually points to Phoebe. He says she keeps him honest and that he’s basically just "hanging onto her shoulders" half the time. It’s a partnership that lacks the drama Google usually feeds us about celebrities, and maybe that’s why we’re still talking about them in 2026.
Actionable Takeaways from the Kline-Cates Playbook
If you're looking for a bit of that stability in your own life, there are a few things we can actually learn from how they’ve handled fame:
- Geography matters. You don't have to live in the "hub" of your industry. Sometimes putting physical distance between your work and your home life is the only way to keep your head on straight.
- Prioritize the "Weekly Dinner." Even with a touring musician daughter and a filmmaker son, they make time for a regular meal. It sounds cliché, but it’s the glue.
- Support the pivot. Phoebe Cates didn't "quit"; she transitioned to something that made her happier (her boutique). Supporting a partner’s change in career is huge for long-term success.
- Stay "low-key." You don't have to prove your status to anyone. Being "non-celebrity types" while being actual celebrities is a high-level skill.
If you find yourself in New York, a trip to Blue Tree on Madison Avenue is a great way to see that "private life" in action. It’s a reminder that even in the 2020s, you can be a household name and still live a life that belongs mostly to you and your family.