Irene Cara was a famous American actress who rose to prominence after appearing in the 1980 hit film Fame.
When Irene was three years old, she was one of the top three finalists in the Little Miss America pageant. She also began studying music, dance, and acting at a young age. Her music career peaked in the early 1980s.
Aside from TV and film roles, Irene has appeared in a number of off- and on-Broadway theatre productions, including “The Me Nobody Knows,” Ain’t Misbehavin’, Via Galactica, and Maggie Flynn.
In this article, we will discuss Irene Cara’s net worth, career, and many other aspects of her life. So, stick with us until the end of the article.
Quick Facts About Irene Cara
| Name | Irene Cara |
|---|---|
| D.O.B | Mar 18, 1959 |
| Died on | November 25, 2022 |
| Gender | Female |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Profession | Actor, Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Pianist, Dancer, Musician |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
How Much Net Worth Does Irene Cara Have?
Irene Cara had a net worth of $2 million at the time of her death in November 2022, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
Irene Cara’s Early Life
Irene Cara Escalera was born on March 18, 1959, in The Bronx, New York City. Gaspar Escalera, a retired saxophone, was a manufacturing worker, and Louise worked as a cinema usher. Irene’s mother’s family is Cuban-American, and her father’s side is Puerto Rican.
Cara has four elder siblings and was a finalist in the Little Miss America competition when she was three years old. Irene learnt to play the piano by ear as a child and studied acting, music, and dance.
She began her career on Spanish-language television singing and dancing, then in the early 1970s, she performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and was a member of The Short Circus band on the PBS series “The Electric Company.”
During her childhood, Cara recorded a Spanish-language CD and an English-language Christmas album, and she attended Manhattan’s Professional Children’s School.
Let’s have a look into Irene Cara
Irene made her television debut as Daisy Allen on CBS’s “Love of Life” in 1970 and appeared in off-Broadway productions of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “The Wiz,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
She starred in “Sparkle,” “Aaron Loves Angela,” and “Apple Pie.” Cara played Bertha Palmer Haley in “Roots: The Next Generations,” which earned a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series, and she guest-starred on “Kojak” (1976) and “What’s Happening!!” (1977).
“John Willis‘ Screen World, Vol. 28″ named her a “Promising New Actor of 1976,” and “Right On!” magazine readers voted her the year’s best actress. Irene sang “Fame” and “Out Here on My Own” in “Fame” in 1980 as Coco Hernandez.
Both songs received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song, with “Fame” winning. “Fame” topped the “Billboard” Dance Club Songs list and hit #1 in five countries.
“Out Here on My Own” hit #19 on “Billboard” Hot 100. “Billboard” recognized Cara Top New Single Artist and “Cashbox Magazine” Top Female Vocalist and Most Promising Female Vocalist.
Irene guest-starred on “Gabriel’s Fire” (1991) and “Hearts Are Wild” (1992) and hosted the documentary short “Beyond Awareness to Action: Ending Abuse of Women” (1992).
Elektra Records released her third album, “Carasmatic,” in 1987. She appeared in “Downtown: A Street Tale” in 2004 and won the third round of NBC’s “Hit Me, Baby, One More Time” after performing “Flashdance… What a Feeling” and Anastacia’s “I’m Outta Love.” “Forever My Love” was on “Gay Happening Vol. 12” in 2006, and “Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel” was her fourth album in 2011.
“What a Feelin” Royalty Fight
Irene’s 1983 album “What a Feelin'” included “Flashdance… What a Feeling,” and by mid-1984, she had only received $183 in royalties from her record company, Network Records.
In 1985, Cara sued Network Records for $10 million in punitive damages, saying that Network Records executive Al Coury had withheld $2 million in “Flashdance… What a Feeling” transactions. Network paid her $60,000 over the next few months.
After filing the lawsuit, Irene noticed a change in the way she was being treated in the entertainment industry and suspected that Coury had begun a smear campaign against her. In 1993, a Los Angeles judge awarded Cara $1.5 million after concluding that her career had been damaged.
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Irene Cara’s Death
Cara, 63, died at home in Largo, Florida, on November 25, 2022. Her death reason is unknown.
Final Words
Irene Cara was a singer and actress from the United States. Cara rose to prominence in 1980 for her role as Coco Hernandez in the musical film Fame, as well as for recording the title song “Fame,” which reached number one in several countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Husband of Irene Caras?
In April 1986, Cara married stuntman and film director Conrad Palmisano in Los Angeles. In 1991, they divorced.
Irene Cara Was How Old When She Died?
Irene Cara was 65 years old when she died.
Was Irene Cara Appeared in Flashdance?
Irene Cara is a singer-actress best known for her roles in and vocal performances in the 1980s films Fame and Flashdance.