Irene Cara

Biography

Irene Cara was an American singer and actress known for her significant contributions to music and film. She gained fame for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film "Fame" and for recording the film's title song, which topped charts internationally. In 1983, Cara achieved further acclaim by singing and co-writing "What a Feeling" from the film "Flashdance," earning an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984. Prior to her breakout role in "Fame," Cara portrayed Sparkle Williams in the 1976 musical drama film "Sparkle." She passed away at the age of 63 due to hypertensive heart disease complicated by hypercholesterolemia.