Hollywood celebrities paid tribute to Oscar winner Irene Caras on Saturday, whose death was announced by her publicist late Friday.
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Cara, 63, real name Irene Escalera, died at her home in Florida. It was unclear when she died and in which apartment. According to the Tampa Bay Times, she bought a home in Largo in 2014. She also had an address in New Port Richey, where her music company Caramel Productions is based, the newspaper reported.
Flashdance star Jennifer Beals, Debbie Allen and Questlove were among the people who remembered the singer, who rose to fame in the 1980 musical Fame and won an Oscar for the 1983 hit Flashdance…What A Feeling.
Beals, who starred in Flashdance, shared a photo of herself with Cara on Instagram at the 1984 Academy Awards.
“Thank you brilliant Irene for your open heart and fearless triple threat talent,” Beals wrote. “It took a beautiful dreamer to write and perform the soundtracks for those who dare to dream.”
Allen, who starred in 136 episodes of the television version of Fame, which was based on the film and aired from 1982 to 1987, tweeted: “My heart is broken. #IreneCara was such a gifted and beautiful genius. Her talent and music will live forever! REMEMBER THEIR NAMES!”
Allen also directed 11 episodes of the television series.
“Stranger Things” star Matthew Modine also offered his condolences, tweeting: “What a presence. What a vote. She shaped a decade with her songs.”
Cara began her career as a child singer and dancer before breaking into the 1980 musical film Fame. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she played Coco Hernandez and sang the theme song and “Out Here on My Own.” Both songs were nominated for Academy Awards.
“Flashdance… What a Feeling” from the 1983 film Flashdance earned her an Academy Award and a Grammy Award. Other credits include the 1976 film Sparkle and a number of Broadway productions.
John Leguizamo tweeted that Cara “was one of the reasons I’m here today! She made me believe if you were latin you could do it! She fueled my community.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams tweeted that Cara, who was born in the Bronx, New York, “sang the song of New York City.”
“She reached for the stars and delivered a soundtrack to last forever,” added Adams.
Irene Cara sang the New York City song.
Born in the Bronx, she reached for the stars and delivered a soundtrack to last forever.
She will really be missed. Rest in peace. https://t.co/QNioRdBP32
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 26, 2022
“Now…there’s nothing,” Questlove tweeted. “Goodbye, Irene Cara. I’m sad about it.”
#IreneCara, her talent, her beauty, THAT VOICE were revolutionary to me as a teenager. Seeing her on FAME, hearing her on the radio, ignited my imagination. Thank you Mrs Cara. Rest now, Bellesa. 😔 https://t.co/MPVIrGjjVj
— Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) November 26, 2022
When I saw Irene perform for the first time, I was blown away! The insane combination of talent and beauty overwhelmed me. This hurts my heart so much. 💔💔💔💔
I’ve been a fan of for so many years…
Rest In Peace 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #IreneCara https://t.co/j6UpSILnXz pic.twitter.com/fq5tTn8kmx
— Holly Robinson Peete 💃🏾♍️ (@hollyrpeete) November 26, 2022
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