
Irene Cara
Biography
Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 - November 25, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and actress. Cara sang and co-wrote the song Flashdance... What a Feeling from the film Flashdance. She won an Oscar for Best Original Song as a co writer. Cara rose to fame as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame, and the hit song "Fame" spawned from the movie.
Also Known As
Movie Appearances

Fame
as Coco Hernandez
1980

Sparkle
as Sparkle
1976

Happily Ever After
as Snow White (voice)
1989

City Heat
as Ginny Lee
1984
Bring Back... Fame
as Self
2008

Certain Fury
as Tracy
1985

Busted Up
as Simone
1986

Aaron Loves Angela
as Angela
1975

Caged in Paradiso
as Eva
1989

D.C. Cab
as Irene Cara
1983

For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers
as Myrlie Evers
1983

Disco Explosion - Flash Back
as Self
2007
On Location with: FAME
as Self - ‘Coco’
1980

Style Wars
as Self
1984

Sister, Sister
as Sissy Lovejoy
1982

Killing 'em Softly
as Jane
1982

Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion - Vol. 1
as Self
2006

Apple Pie
as Dancer
1976
TV Appearances
Hit Me, Baby, One More Time
as Self
2005

Solid Gold
as Self
1980
Love of Life
as Daisy Allen
1951

Kojak
as Amy
1973

The Electric Company
as Iris - Member of the Short Circus
1971

Roots: The Next Generations
as Bertha Palmer Haley
1979
Where Are They Now?
as Self
1999

Wetten, dass..?
as Self
1981

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones
as Alice Jefferson
1980

Verstehen Sie Spaß?
as Self
1980

Gone Country
as Self
2008