Irene Cara, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning actress and songwriter best known for her work in the 1980s cult films “Flashdance” and “Fame,” has died, her publicist said Saturday.
Cara, 63, died at her home in Florida, her publicist Judith Muse said in a statement posted on Twitter, and the cause of death is currently unknown.
“She was a beautiful, gifted soul whose legacy will live on forever through her music and films,” the statement said.
Carr’s career in show business began at an early age and spanned theatre, television, music and film. The actress got her big break in 1980, when she was chosen to play Coco Hernandez in the cult film-musical “Fame”, which tells about the vicissitudes of a group of New York high school students.
The musical drama’s title song, performed by Kara, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and earned the artist two Grammy Award nominations, among other accolades.
Curry’s ascent to Hollywood stardom continued in the years that followed. In 1983, she co-wrote and performed the theme song for the blockbuster Flashdance, which earned Carr the coveted Academy Award for Best Original Song and became one of the defining songs of the decade.
Muse, a publicist, said a memorial for Kara’s fans “will be planned in the future” and funeral services for the artist are pending.
Tributes were paid to Cara on social media on Saturday.
“Irene Cara, you have inspired me more than I could have imagined. Your lyrics and vocals created a pure energy that will never stop,” musician Lenny Kravitz wrote on Twitter.