At the time that we reported on the passing of ‘Fame’ singer, Irene Cara, the cause of death was unknown. However, according to medical records obtained by TMZ, Cara died as a result of hypertension and high cholesterol.
TMZ shared that the medical examiner in Pinellas County ruled Irene’s official cause of death is Arteriosclerotic and Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease. It was also noted Irene was diabetic.
A triple threat – actress, singer, and songwriter – Cara became known for her lead role in the 1976 cult classic, Sparkle. However she rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the musical film, Fame. She later went on to co-write “Flashdance… What a Feeling” earning her an Academy Award for Best Original Song and Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984.
In 1982, Irene was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress for the NBC movie-of-the-week Maya Angelou’s ‘Sister, Sister’.
Cara was honored in 2004 with the Prestige Award for Lifetime Achievement. The following year, she was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fort Lauderdale Film Institute in 2005.
Cara visited the studio in the 2010s to release what would be her fifth and final studio album, Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel. She also joined the podcast space, forming her own show ‘The Irene Cara Show’ talking about acting and the music business.
Irene Cara’s indelible contribution across film and TV will always be remembered.