Her publicist, Judith A. Moose, introduced the information on social media, writing that reason for loss of life was “currently unknown.” Moose additionally confirmed the loss of life to an Associated Press reporter on Saturday. Cara died at her house in Florida. The actual day of her loss of life was not disclosed.

“Irene’s family has requested privacy as they process their grief,” Moose wrote. “She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.”

During her profession, Cara had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, together with “Breakdance,” “Fame” and “Flashdance … What A Feeling,” which spent six weeks at No. 1. She was behind a number of the most joyful, high-energy pop anthems of the early ’80s, together with “Out Here On My Own” and “Why Me?”

Tributes poured in on Saturday on social media, together with from Deborah Cox, who known as Cara an inspiration, and Holly Robinson Peete, who recalled seeing Cara carry out: “The insane combination of talent and beauty was overwhelming to me. This hurts my heart so much.”

Irene Cara is who impressed me rising as much as be a “triple threat” you could possibly not solely have hit data but additionally star in films and have a success television present and slay…..a shiny gentle for the tradition.

Irene Cara bear in mind her title💫 https://t.co/BZj20lwYFB pic.twitter.com/cBwBF3VAL1

— Deborah Cox (@Deborah_Cox) November 26, 2022

She first got here to prominence among the many younger actors taking part in performing arts excessive schoolers in Alan Parker’s Fame, with co-stars Debbie Allen, Paul McCrane and Anne Meara. Cara performed Coco Hernandez, a striving dancer who endures all method of deprivations, together with a creepy nude photograph shoot.

“How bright our spirits go shooting out into space, depends on how much we contributed to the earthly brilliance of this world. And I mean to be a major contributor!” she says within the film.

Cara sang on the hovering title track with the refrain — “Remember my name/I’m gonna live forever/I’m gonna learn how to fly/I feel it coming together/People will see me and cry” — which might go on to be nominated for an Academy Award for finest unique track. She additionally sang on “Out Here on My Own,” “Hot Lunch Jam” and “I Sing the Body Electric.”

Allen took to Twitter Saturday to mourn, posting footage of them collectively and calling Cara a “a gifted and beautiful genius. Her talent and her music will live forever! Forever remember her name!”

Lenny Kravitz addressed Cara in a tweet: “You inspired me more than you could ever know. Your songwriting and vocals created pure energy that will never cease. You also defined an era that is so close to my heart.” Stephanie Mills. who co-starred with Cara in “Maggie Flynn” on Broadway in 1968, wrote: “Such an amazing talent and sweet person.”

Your portrayal of “Coco” in Alan Parker’s “Fame” is immortal and know that I used to be head over heels in love together with her. Thank you Irene. You’re gonna dwell eternally.

— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) November 26, 2022

Three years after her triumph with Fame, she and the songwriting group of Flashdance — music by Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Keith Forsey and Cara — have been accepting the Oscar for finest unique track for “Flashdance … What a Feeling.”

The film starred Jennifer Beals as a steel-town lady who dances in a bar at evening and hopes to attend a prestigious dance conservatory. It included the hit track “Maniac,” that includes Beals’ character leaping, spinning, stomping her toes and the slow-burning theme track.

“There aren’t enough words to express my love and my gratitude,” Cara informed the Oscar crowd in her thanks. “And last but not least, a very special gentleman who I guess started it all for me many years ago. To Alan Parker, wherever you may be tonight, I thank him.”

The New York-born Cara started her profession on Broadway, with small components in short-lived reveals, though a musical known as “The Me Nobody Knows” ran over 300 performances. She toured within the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” as Mary Magdalene within the mid-Nineteen Nineties and a tour of the musical Flashdance toured 2012-14 together with her songs.

She additionally created the all-female band Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel and put out a double CD with the one “How Can I Make You Luv Me.” Her film credit embrace Sparkle and D.C. Cab.