Star of the stage and silver screen Irena Cara died suddenly on November 25, at 63.
Known for her contributions to big-name musicals on Broadway and film, Irene was a breakthrough in the 70s in theatres.
Working on soundtracks and acting made her a natural performer. Her Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage made her an obvious fit on classic Black production like The Wiz and Ain’t Misbehavin.
By 1980, Irene had become a rising star in cinema, starring in Fame, a blockbuster production grossing over 40$ million at the box office and received nominations at the Golden Globes and Grammy Awards, a sign of her streak of success in the 80s.
Having succeeded in three different branches of showbiz makes her a rare breed, the stage, cinema, and record business was her bread and butter, having found mainstream success in all three.
Irene’s peak came in 1983 and 1984, when she scored a #1 hit with Flashdance and reached another top 10 single with Breakdance, she starred in D.C Cab and City Heat and won an Oscar, People’s Choice Award, Billboard Award, Golden Globe, and two Grammy’s within two calendar years making her a sensation of time.
After the mid-80s, Irene’s hot streak came to an end, but she still managed to be a busy worker well into the 90s, continuing her work in the film and record industry. By the turn of the millennium, Irene had few projects on her hands and eventually led a quieter life leaving a 30 -year career of prolific success.
The cause of her death is still unknown.
Irene Cara mastered TV, film and stage and sang the hits
