Irene Cara, 1959 - 2022

Updated 2/4/23.

Sad news today.

Hearing today's news about the passing of singer/actress Irene Cara reminded me that I ran into several of the actors of Flashdance (1983) in an elevator of the Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles. Cara wasn't one of them, I don't believe. I was there to attend a meeting of the Los Angeles County Republican Central Committee on a different floor.

At the time, Flashdance was in production and Bob Hope Patriotic Hall and was where the final dance scene with Alex (Jennifer Beals) ("blowing away the five judges with her routine") was filmed.

Irene Cara was only 63 years old at the time of her death.

She is best known for (source: Wikipedia):

Irene Cara Escalera was an American singer and actress. Cara sang and co-wrote the song "Flashdance... What a Feeling", for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984.  

Cara is also known for playing the role of Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame, and for recording the film's title song "Fame". 

Above, Irene Cara, 1959 - 2022.

As of now, it is not known what caused Cara's death. Her publicist said that as soon as they know, they will release the information. 

R.I.P., Irene.

UPDATE (2/4/23):

Finally, over two months since her passing, Irene Cara's cause of death has been revealed.

From Fox News:

"Flashdance" singer Irene Cara’s official cause of death has been revealed.

The Pinellas County medical examiner’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Cara's cause of death was hypertension and high cholesterol, specifically arteriosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes was also listed as a contributing factor in her death.

From my own experience, I have a good idea on how her final moments were like. If she (I'm assuming) weren't alone, she could possibly have been saved. It has been reported that she lived her final years alone like a hermit in Largo, Florida. 

To read more, go here.