Who Is Irene Cara? Age, Biography and Wiki
Irene Cara was born on March 18, 1959, in The Bronx, New York City. Rising to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, she became an iconic figure in the entertainment industry as both a singer and actress. Cara is best known for her powerful performances in films like "Fame" and "Flashdance," where her musical talents shone through with hits like "What a Feeling." Even after her passing in November 2022, her legacy continues to inspire and influence countless artists.
| Occupation | Country Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 18, 1959 |
| Age | 63 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 25 November, 2022 |
| Died Place | Largo, Florida, U.S. |
Popularity
Irene Cara's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As of her passing, Irene Cara stood at approximately 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall. Throughout her career, she maintained a healthy physique, often seen dancing and performing with vigor. Her weight was typically around 125 pounds (57 kg), but exact measurements varied during different periods of her life as she engaged in various roles that required physical transformations.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Irene Cara cherished her family deeply and often credited them for her success. Throughout her life, she was reported to have had several significant relationships, but much about her personal life remained private. Notably, she was in a long-term relationship with musician Jimmy Webb in the 1980s. As of 2025, since her passing, the focus remains on her contributions to music and film rather than personal relationships.
Her father, Gaspar Cara, a steel factory worker and retired saxophonist, was Puerto Rican, and her mother, Louise Escalera, a movie theater usher, was Cuban. Cara had two sisters and two brothers. She began taking dance lessons when she was five.
Her performing career started with her singing and dancing professionally on Spanish-language television. She made early TV appearances on The Original Amateur Hour (singing in Spanish) and Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show.
In 1971, she was a regular on PBS's educational program The Electric Company as a member of the Short Circus, the show's band, appearing as a member during the show’s first season. As a child, Cara recorded a Spanish-language record for the Latin market and an English-language Christmas album.
She also appeared in a major concert tribute to Duke Ellington, which featured Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., and Roberta Flack. Cara attended the Professional Children's School in Manhattan.
In 1985, Cara told Cosmopolitan "I don't mean to sound immodest, but I'd never had any doubt that I'd be successful, nor any fear of success; I was raised as a little goddess who was told she would be a star."
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her passing in 2022, Irene Cara’s estimated net worth was around $2 million. Her earnings were derived from a successful career in music and film, including album sales, concert tours, and acting roles. Though exact figures of her salary varied, her most significant income came from her chart-topping hits and acting projects across her decades-long career.
Career, Business and Investments
Irene Cara’s career exploded in the music scene during the late '70s, bolstered by her role in "Fame," which won her an Academy Award for Best Original Song. She later gained further fame with the hit "Flashdance... What a Feeling," showcasing her exceptional vocal range. Aside from her performances, she ventured into songwriting and music production.
In the years leading up to her passing, Cara remained active in the industry, participating in various music projects and collaborations. Though not widely publicized, her investments primarily focused on music rights and royalties, ensuring that her legacy continued to generate income long into the future.
The 1980 hit film Fame, directed by Alan Parker, catapulted Cara to stardom. She originally was cast as a dancer, but when producers David Da Silva and Alan Marshall and screenwriter Christopher Gore heard her voice, they re-wrote the role of Coco Hernandez for her to play.
In this part, she sang both the title song "Fame" and the single "Out Here on My Own", which were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
These songs helped make the film's soundtrack a chart-topping, multi-platinum album, and it was the first time that two songs from the same film and sung by the same artist were nominated in the same category.
Cara had the opportunity to be one of the few singers to perform more than one song at the Oscar ceremony; "Fame", written by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford, won the award for best original song that year, and the film won the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
Cara earned Grammy Award nominations in 1980 for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical. Billboard named her Top New Single Artist, and Cashbox magazine awarded her both Most Promising Female Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist.
Asked by Fame TV series producers to reprise her role as Coco Hernandez, she declined, wanting to focus her attention on her recording career; Erica Gimpel assumed the role. In 1980, she briefly played the role of Dorothy in The Wiz on tour, in a role that Stephanie Mills had portrayed in the original Broadway production.
Coincidentally, Cara and Mills had shared the stage together as children in the original 1968 Broadway musical Maggie Flynn, starring Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, in which both young girls played American Civil War orphans.
Social Network
Irene Cara was known to engage with her fans on social media platforms. She often shared updates regarding her work and personal sentiments, helping to keep her fans informed and connected. Her legacy can still be felt on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, where tributes to her music and impact continue to flourish among followers and fans.
Television brought Cara international acclaim for serious dramatic roles in Roots: The Next Generations and Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones. John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 28, named her one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1976"; that same year, a readers' poll in Right On! magazine named her Top Actress.
Education
Irene Cara attended the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan, where she honed her craft in music and acting from a young age. After moving on, she pursued further studies in music at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, which helped lay the foundation for her successful career in both film and music.
