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Irene Cara

Pianist / Stage Actress / Television Actress / Film Actress | * 03/18/1959 († 63, 11/26/2022) | The Bronx, New York City, New York (United States of America (USA))
Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress who rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film Fame, and for recording the film's title song "Fame", which reached No. 1 in several countries. In 1983, Cara co-wrote and sang the song "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (from the film Flashdance), for which she shared an Academy Award for Best Original Song and won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984. Before her success with Fame, Cara portrayed the title character Sparkle Williams in the original 1976 musical drama film Sparkle. Cara died as a result of hypertensive heart disease after hypercholesterolemia at age 63. ()
Photo of Irene Cara

Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 - November 25, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and actress. Cara sang and co-wrote the song Flashdance... What a Feeling from the film Flashdance. She won an Oscar for Best Original Song as a co writer.Cara rose to Fame as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame, and the hit song "Fame" spawned from the movie.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Kids & Family

Known for these Movies & Shows

Alex Owens, a teen juggling between two odd jobs, aspires to become a successful ballet dancer. Nick, who is her boss and lover, supports and encourages her to fulfil her dream. ...

Flashdance

R

1983 | 3.3/5 | 1h 35min
Drama, Romance / Love
available on:
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A chronicle of the lives of several teenagers who attend a New York high school for students gifted in the performing arts. ...

Fame

R

1980 | 3.3/5 | 2h 14min
Drama, Music
available on:
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The three Williams sisters start out singing in their church choir in Harlem in the late 1950s and become a successful girl group in the 1960s. ...

Sparkle

PG

1976 | 3.8/5 | 1h 38min
Drama, Music
available on:
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The tale of a hapless group of cabbies and a rundown cab company owned by Harold. Albert comes to town with a dream of starting his own cab company but needs to motivate Harold's employees to want to ...

D.C. Cab

R

1983 | 2.7/5 | 1h 40min
Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Action
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Awards & Nominations for Irene Cara

Academy Award for Best Original Song Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Grammy Award for Best New Artist BAFTA Award for Best Original Song
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Movies with Irene Cara as Actress(16)

as Leonette1994 The Jungle King
as Marilyn (voice)1992 The Magic Voyage
as Beauty (voice)1992 Beauty and the Beast
as Eva1989 Caged in Paradiso
as Snow White (voice)1989 Happily Ever After
as Simone1986 Busted Up
as Tracy1985 Certain Fury
as Ginny Lee1984 City Heat
as herself1983 Style Wars
as herself1983 D.C. Cab
as Myrlie Evers1983 For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers
as Sissy Lovejoy1982 Sister, Sister
as Jane1982 Killing 'em Softly
as Coco1980 Fame
as Sparkle1976 Sparkle
as Angela1975 Aaron Loves Angela

TV Shows/Series with Irene Cara as Actress(14)

2005 Hit Me, Baby, One More Time
as herself2003 Die ultimative Chartshow
as herself1999 Where Are They Now?
as herself1982 Champs-Elysées
as herself1981 Wetten, dass..?
as herself1980 Verstehen Sie Spaß?
as Alice Jefferson1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones
as herself1980 Solid Gold
as Bertha Palmer Haley1979 Roots: The Next Generations
1976 What's Happening!!
as Amy1973 Kojak
1971 The Electric Company
??? Search for Tomorrow
??? Love of Life

TV Shows/Series with Irene Cara as Crew(1)

Sound/Theme Song Performance1984 Going Bananas

Additional Information

Full Name: Irene Cara
Born: Wednesday, 03/18 1959 (March) in The Bronx, New York City, New York (United States of America (USA))
Died: Saturday, 11/26 2022 (November) in Largo (aged: 63)
Zodiac sign: Pisces (Chinese zodiac sign: Pig)
Languages: English (EN, native language), Spanish (ES)
Educated at: Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, Professional Children's School
Member of: The Harlem Children's Chorus
Record Label: Casablanca Records, Epic Records, RSO Records, Elektra
Spouses (current/former): Conrad Palmisano
Other names for Irene Cara (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Irene T. Escalera"
"Irene Cara Escalera"
"Айрин Кара"
"Ирен Кара"
Irene Cara frequently works together with these people:
Michael Jackson (6x, Actor)
Angelo Kelly (5x, Actor)
Chris De Burgh (5x, Actor)
Cliff Richard (5x, Actor)
Joel Schumacher (4x, Crew)
Maite Kelly (4x, Actress)
Malachi Throne (4x, Actor)
Patricia Kelly (4x, Actress)
Michelle Hunziker (4x, Actress)
Lionel Richie (4x, Actor)
Dieter Bohlen (4x, Actor)
John Kelly (4x, Actor)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:1142107, Added: 12/26/2018, Last updated: 04/19/2024