The stage was set for Cates to take Hollywood by storm - but she had other ideas. She appeared in the sequel to 'Gremlins' in 1990, and then 1991's 'Drop Dead Fred.' Although the latter film is now well loved by a modern audience, it was hated at the time. That seemed to sting Cates, who started falling out of love with acting. She stuck around to make 'Princess Caraboo' in 1994, but after that declared herself retired from acting at the grand old age of 31.
Aside from tiring of performing, Cates had met and fallen in love with Kevin Kline. They married in 1989 and had their first son in 1991. Cates was happy to have a family, raise her children and stay out of the public eye. All these years later she and Kline remain married, and the place you're most likely to find Cates is her boutique store 'Blue Tree' on Madison Avenue in New York.