Irene Cara, the singer best known for the title tracks of Fame and Flashdance, has died at the age of 63.
Her publicist said she had died at her Florida home and the cause of death was unknown.
“It is with deep sadness that on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara,” read a statement on her website.
“He was a wonderfully gifted soul whose legacy will live on forever through his music and films.”
Cara won an Oscar for the song Flashdance… What A Feeling from the 80s hit film Flashdance.
Irene Cara in Fame. Rex images.
Irene Cara performing in Solid Gold in 1984 Credit: Ron Wolfson/MediaPunch /IPX/AP
Born in 1962 in New York City, she first dazzled audiences when she was just five years old.
He began his career singing and dancing on Spanish television performing with his father’s mambo band.
During her starring role in the acclaimed 1980 musical Fame, she was signed to be a recording artist in her own right and went on to score her biggest hit in the 1983 film Flashdance.
Her performance in Flashdance earned her an Academy Award for Best Original Song—the first African-American woman to win the coveted award since Hattie McDaniel in the 1939 classic Gone with the Wind.
Ms Cara has become one of the most awarded artists of her generation, winning Grammys as both singer and songwriter.
She has also appeared in films such as DC Cab and City Heat as well as various television shows. She has also performed in live stage shows and musicals.
