Iconic 'Fame' and 'Flashdance' singer Irene Cara has sadly passed away at the age of 63, multiple sources have confirmed.
The singer was most widely known for her smash-hit single 'Fame,' which was featured in the film of the same name. She also co-wrote and sang the international hit 'Flashdance... What A Feeling,' earning her both a Grammy and an Academy Award, the BBC detailed.
Her publicist Judith A Moose - who announced her death on Twitter - revealed that she passed away at her home in Florida but that her cause of death is "currently unknown."
"This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can't believe I've had to write this, let alone release the news. Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I'll be reading each and every one of them and know she'll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans," Moose wrote.
Accompanying her tweet was a post of Cara with text that read: "It is with profound sadness that on behalf of her family that I announce the passing of Irene Cara. The Academy Award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and producer passed away in her Florida home. Her cause of death is currently unknown and will be released when information is available.
"Irene's family has requested privacy as they process their grief. She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films. Funeral services are pending and a memorial for her fans will be planned at a future date," the post concluded.
Cara was born in 1959 in the Bronx, New York City, and was one of five children born to a Puerto Rican father and a Cuban-American mother. As a child, she appeared on Spanish-language TV and recorded music in both Spanish and English. She even appeared in on and off-Broadway musicals.
In 1980, she shot to fame playing the role of Coco Hernandez in the movie Fame - for which she sang the title track. She was nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe for her portrayal in 1981.
Several years later, Cara co-wrote and sang 'Flashdance... What A Feeling' for the 1983 flick Flashdance - a performance that earned Cara a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance as well as an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Our thoughts go out to the family, friends, and fans of Irene Cara at this difficult time.
