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Irene Cara

Highest Rated: 81% Fame (1980)

Lowest Rated: 18% Sparkle (1976)

Birthday: Mar 18, 1959

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

One of the most recognizable voices of the late 70s and early 80s, Irene Cara contributed two iconic songs to American film history. Raised in the Bronx to Puerto Rican and Cuban parents, Cara had performing in her blood from a very young age, making it to the Little Miss America semi-finals at the age of three. She began playing piano as a child and became a regular on the PBS educational series "The Electric Company." In 1980, she auditioned to be a backup dancer in the film "Fame," but the producers were so taken with her talent that they wrote the role of Coco Hernandez for her and had her sing the title theme, which became a smash hit. Cara turned down the opportunity to star in the "Fame" spin-off TV series, and NBC offered her her own show, "Irene," which was not picked up for a full season. Undeterred, Cara continued to pursue both acting and music. In 1983, her title theme for the film "Flashdance" became a worldwide hit, winning Cara an Academy Award, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe all in one year. She continued to act in movies and TV shows throughout the 90s, and now lives in Florida, recording music and playing shows with her band Hot Caramel. Irene Cara died on November 25, 2022 in Tampa, FL at the age of 63.

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Highest rated movies

81% 69% Fame Watchlist
40% 51% Happily Ever After
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22% 24% City Heat
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18% 90% Sparkle
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Killing 'Em Softly
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Sister, Sister
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43% Certain Fury
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78% For Us, the Living: The Medgar Evers Story
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20% Busted Up
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83% Aaron Loves Angela
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 25% The Magic Voyage Marilyn (Voice) - 1994
40% 51% Happily Ever After Snow White (Voice) $3.2M 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Caged in Paradiso Eva (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 20% Busted Up Simone (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 43% Certain Fury Tracy (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Killing 'Em Softly Jane (Character) - 1985
22% 24% City Heat Ginny Lee (Character) - 1984
No Score Yet 78% For Us, the Living: The Medgar Evers Story Myrlie Evers (Character) - 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sister, Sister Sissy Lovejoy (Character) - 1982
81% 69% Fame Coco Hernandez (Character) - 1980
18% 90% Sparkle Sparkle (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 83% Aaron Loves Angela Angela (Character) - 1975

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Wendy Williams Show Guest 2011
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gone Country Contestant 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fame Unknown (Guest Star) 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet What's Happening!! Unknown (Guest Star) 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kojak Amy (Guest Star) 1976