{"id":140965,"date":"2022-11-27T15:10:02","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T15:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/fame-and-flashdance-singer-actor-irene-cara-dies-at-63\/"},"modified":"2022-11-27T15:10:02","modified_gmt":"2022-11-27T15:10:02","slug":"fame-and-flashdance-singer-actor-irene-cara-dies-at-63","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/fame-and-flashdance-singer-actor-irene-cara-dies-at-63\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ singer-actor Irene Cara dies at 63"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Oscar, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy winning singer-actress Irene Cara, who starred and sang the title cut from the 1980 hit movie \u201cFame\u201d and then belted out the era-defining hit \u201cFlashdance .. What a Feeling\u201d from 1983\u2032s \u201cFlashdance,\u201d has died. She was 63. <\/p>\n

Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, announced the news on social media, writing that a cause of death was \u201ccurrently unknown.\u201d Moose also confirmed the death to an Associated Press reporter on Saturday. Cara died at her home in Florida. The exact day of her death was not disclosed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIrene’s family has requested privacy as they process their grief,\u201d Moose wrote. \u201cShe was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.\u201d <\/p>\n

During her career, Cara had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including \u201cBreakdance,\u201d \u201cFame\u201d and \u201cFlashdance … What A Feeling,\u201d which spent six weeks at No. 1. She was behind some of the most joyful, high-energy pop anthems of the early ’80s, including \u201cOut Here On My Own\u201d and \u201cWhy Me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tributes poured in on Saturday on social media, including from Deborah Cox, who called Cara an inspiration, and Holly Robinson Peete, who recalled seeing Cara perform: \u201cThe insane combination of talent and beauty was overwhelming to me. This hurts my heart so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

She first came to prominence among the young actors playing performing arts high schoolers in Alan Parker’s \u201cFame,\u201d with co-stars Debbie Allen, Paul McCrane and Anne Meara. Cara played Coco Hernandez, a striving dancer who endures all manner of deprivations, including a creepy nude photo shoot.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world. And I mean to be a major contributor!\u201d she says in the movie.<\/p>\n

Cara sang on the soaring title song with the chorus \u2014 \u201cRemember my name\/I’m gonna live forever\/I’m gonna learn how to fly\/I feel it coming together\/People will see me and cry\u201d \u2014 which would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award for best original song. She also sang on \u201cOut Here on My Own,\u201d \u201cHot Lunch Jam\u201d and \u201cI Sing the Body Electric.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen took to Twitter Saturday to mourn, posting pictures of them together and calling Cara a \u201ca gifted and beautiful genius. Her talent and her music will live forever! Forever remember her name!\u201d Lenny Kravitz addressed Cara in a tweet: \u201cYou 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\u201d<\/p>\n

Three years later, she and the songwriting team of \u201cFlashdance\u201d \u2014 music by Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey and Cara \u2014 was accepting the Oscar for best original song for \u201cFlashdance … What a Feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

The movie starred Jennifer Beals as a steel-town girl who dances in a bar at night and hopes to attend a prestigious dance conservatory. It included the hit song \u201cManiac,\u201d featuring Beals’ character leaping, spinning, stomping each feet and the slow-burning theme song. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere aren’t enough words to express my love and my gratitude,\u201d Cara told the Oscar crowd in her thanks. \u201cAnd last but not least, a very special gentlemen who I guess started it all for me many years ago. To Alan Parker, wherever you may be tonight, I thank him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The New York-born Cara began her career on Broadway, with small parts in short-lived shows, although a musical called \u201cThe Me Nobody Knows\u201d ran over 300 performances. She toured in the musical \u201cJesus Christ Superstar\u201d as Mary Magdalene in the mid-1990s and a tour of the musical \u201dFlashdance\u201d toured 2012-14 with her songs.<\/p>\n

She also created the all-female band Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel and put out a double CD with the single \u201cHow Can I Make You Luv Me.\u201d Her movie credits include \u201dSparkle\u201d and \u201cDC Cab.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Associated Press reporters Hillel Italie and Freida Frisaro contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

___ <\/p>\n

Mark Kennedy is at http:\/\/twitter.com\/KennedyTwits<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n