Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American actor, singer, and performer from New York City, New York. Cara was a performer from an early age, singing and dancing as a child and even learned how the play the piano by ear. Cara made a few appearances on television as a young performer, eventually landing a regular role in the Short Circus band in the children's series The Electric Company.
Cara is best known for starring in the film Fame as Coco Hernandez. Cara also sang the film's title song, "Fame", as well as a few other songs on the film's soundtrack. Cara also co-wrote and performed "Flashdance... What a Feeling", title song for the film Flashdance, which she won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Cara also starred in the 1976 film Sparkle and several other films in the 1980s.
Cara passed away at her home on November 25, 2022.
Filmography
Film
- Aaron Loves Angela (1975) - Angela
- Sparkle (1976) - Sparkle Williams
- Apple Pie (1976) - Dancer
- Fame (1980) - Coco Hernandez
- Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980) - Alice Jefferson, TV movie
- For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story (1983) - Myrlie Evers, TV movie
- Killing Em Softly (1982) - Jane
- Sister Sister (1982) - Sissy Lovejoy
- D.C. Cab (1983) - Herself
- City Heat (1984) - Ginny Lee
- Certain Fury (1985) - Tracy
- Busted Up (1986) - Simone Bird
- Caged In Paradiso (1989) - Eva
- Happily Ever After (1990) - Snow White, voice role
- Beauty and the Beast (1992) - Beauty, voice role
- The Magic Voyage (1992) - Marilyn, voice role
- The Jungle King (1994) - Leonette, voice role; direct-to-video
- Beyond Awareness To Action: Ending Abuse of Women (1995) - Herself/host, documentary short
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Golden Films) (1996) - Melody, voice role; direct-to-video
- Downtown: A Street Tale (2004) - Neighbor, cameo
Television
- Love of Life (1970–71) - Daisy Allen
- The Electric Company (1971–72) - Iris, band member of the Short Circus
- Kojak (1976) - Amy, episode: "A Hair-Trigger Away"
- What's Happening!! (1977) - Maria, episode: "Rerun Gets Married"
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) - Bertha Palmer Haley, 3 episodes
- Irene (1981) - Irene Cannon, sitcom pilot
- Bustin Loose (1988) - Herself, episode: "What's a Nice Girl Like You...?"
- Gabriels Fire (1991) - Celine Bird, episode: "Birds Gotta Fly"
- Hearts Are Wild (1992) - Dorah, episode 1.8
Discography
Studio Albums
- Anyone Can See (1982)
- What a Feelin' (1983)
- Carasmatic (1987)
- Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel (2011)
Notable Singles
- "Fame" (1980)
- "Hot Lunch Jam" (1980)
- "Out Here on My Own" (1980)
- "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (1983)
- "Love Survives", with Freddie Jackson (1989)
