Singer and actress Irene Cara, known for her title track in Fame (1980) and for co-writing and singing Flashdance… What a Feeling in the 1983 movie Flashdance passed away at the age of 63 on 25 November.
Cara won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1984 for Flashdance… What a Feeling.
She has starred opposite Clint Eastwood in City Heat (1984) and Tatum O’Neal in Certain Fury (1985). Cara also took to stage acting, performing in a 1980 production of The Wiz and a 1992 production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Her publicist Judith A. Moose posted via Cara’s Twitter account: “It is with profound sadness that, on behalf of her family, I announce the passing of Irene Cara. The Academy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home. Her cause of death is currently unknown and will be released when information is available.”
Adding that Cara’s family members have requested privacy as they process their grief, Moose wrote: “She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.”
The verified Twitter account later posted: “To everyone who has taken the time to express their grief, thank you. For those who are posting spam about cryptocurrencies, please stop. For those who are blaming a vaccine for her death, please don’t. We don’t have medical answers yet and won’t until an autopsy is completed.”
Cara was born in 1959 in New York City and started her career in Spanish-language TV. As a child, she recorded music in both Spanish and English, and shot to fame when she played Coco Hernandez in Fame, and sang its title track.
Tribute pours in
Singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz said: “Irene Cara, you inspired me more than you could ever know. Your songwriting and vocals created pure energy that will never cease. You also defined an era that is so close to my heart.”
Filmmaker Clay Cane wrote: Rest in power, Irene Cara. One thing I remember her for – along with that incredible voice – was how she fought back against her record label (sued and won) and her career was ruined. She was a Black artist in the 1980s demanding a fair wage and the powers that be ended her career.”
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Jody Watley shared that Irene Cara was an incomparable multi-talented actress on stage and screen, singer, songwriter, performer, and Oscar and Grammy winner. “A trailblazer and inspiration. My condolences to her family. She’s going to live forever, leaving an incredible impactful legacy.”
“Her gifts empowered. Her songs fuelled coming-of-age years. My favourite memory is a childhood one: Seeing people of colour in a love story for the first time: Aaron Loves Angela. Her NY light will shine in this NYer,” actress and director Kim Fields wrote.
Stephanie Mills shared: “Saddened by the death of my Broadway co-star Irene Cara. We were both so young on Broadway in the play Maggie Flynn. My condolences to her family. Such an amazing talent and sweet person.”