Fame and Flashdance fans were devastated when news broke of Irene Cara's sudden death on November 25 last year.
The 63-year-old singer and actress had gained a cult following after her smash-hit single 'Fame', which was the theme song of the teen musical drama movie of the same name.
Cara was also renowned for her 1983 song 'Flashdance... What a Feeling,' earning her both a Grammy and an Academy Award the following year, Yahoo! detailed.
At the time of her passing, Cara's publicist Judith A Moose made an announcement on Twitter, revealing that she had passed away at her home in Largo, Florida.
"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.
Now, the Pinella County Medical Examiner has released Cara's cause of death, revealing that she had died from hypertension and high cholesterol. In documents obtained by TMZ, Cara's official cause of death is Arteriosclerotic and Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease. The report also noted that she had been a diabetic.
Speaking of the success of the Fame movie, Cara told Songwriter Universe in 2018: "I was asked to play Coco as a singer and dancer. So they cast me to play Coco, and also to sing the main theme song for the film. The movie was shot about six blocks from my apartment. So working on the movie felt very much like home."
After Cara's passing, Flashdance actress Jennifer Beals took to Instagram to pay tribute to the late singer, writing: "Thank you brilliant Irene for your open heart and your fearless triple threat talent. It took a beautiful dreamer to write and perform the soundtracks for those who dare to dream."
Debbie Allen - who starred in the TV version of Fame - took to Twitter to send her condolences. "My Heart Is Broken [...] [Irene Cara] was such a gifted and beautiful genius. Her talent and her music will LIVE FOREVER! FOREVER REMEMBER HER NAME!" she wrote.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Cara's family, friends, and fans at this time.
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