Irene Cara


Actor, Singer
Irene Cara

About

Birth Place
New York City, New York, USA
Born
March 18, 1959

Biography

One of the most recognizable voices of the late 70s and early 80s, Irene Cara contributed two iconic songs to American film history. Raised in the Bronx to Puerto Rican and Cuban parents, Cara had performing in her blood from a very young age, making it to the Little Miss America semi-finals at the age of three. She began playing piano as a child and became a regular on the PBS education...

Family & Companions

Conrad Palmisano
Husband
Married.
Conrad Palmisano
Husband
Stuntman. Married on April 13, 1986 in Palos Verdes, California; divorced in 1991.

Biography

One of the most recognizable voices of the late 70s and early 80s, Irene Cara contributed two iconic songs to American film history. Raised in the Bronx to Puerto Rican and Cuban parents, Cara had performing in her blood from a very young age, making it to the Little Miss America semi-finals at the age of three. She began playing piano as a child and became a regular on the PBS educational series "The Electric Company." In 1980, she auditioned to be a backup dancer in the film "Fame," but the producers were so taken with her talent that they wrote the role of Coco Hernandez for her and had her sing the title theme, which became a smash hit. Cara turned down the opportunity to star in the "Fame" spin-off TV series, and NBC offered her her own show, "Irene," which was not picked up for a full season. Undeterred, Cara continued to pursue both acting and music. In 1983, her title theme for the film "Flashdance" became a worldwide hit, winning Cara an Academy Award, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe all in one year. She continued to act in movies and TV shows throughout the 90s, and now lives in Florida, recording music and playing shows with her band Hot Caramel.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Happily Ever After (1993)
Voice
The Magic Voyage (1992)
Caged in Paradiso (1990)
Eva
Busted Up (1986)
Simone
Certain Fury (1985)
City Heat (1984)
D.C. Cab (1983)
Herself
For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story (1983)
Sister, Sister (1982)
Killing 'em Softly (1981)
Janes Flores
Fame (1980)
Sparkle (1976)
Sparkle
Aaron Loves Angela (1975)
Angela

Music (Feature Film)

Peter Rabbit (2018)
Song
Teen Spirit (2018)
Song
The Internship (2013)
Song
The Internship (2013)
Song Performer
What Happens in Vegas (2008)
Song
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Song Performer
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Song
Busted Up (1986)
Song Performer ("Busted Up")
Busted Up (1986)
Songs ("I Can'T Help Feeling Empty" "Busted Up")
Certain Fury (1985)
Song
Certain Fury (1985)
Song Performer
City Heat (1984)
Song Performer
City Heat (1984)
Song
D.C. Cab (1983)
Song
Flashdance (1983)
Song
D.C. Cab (1983)
Song Performer
Flashdance (1983)
Song Performer ("Flashdance...What A Feeling")
Fame (1980)
Music Arranger
Fame (1980)
Song Performer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

D.C. Cab (1983)
Other

Cast (Special)

The Disco Ball (2003)
It's Black Entertainment (2000)
The 58th Annual Academy Awards Presentation (1986)
Performer
Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope Goes to College (1983)
Guest
Irene (1981)

Music (Special)

Irene (1981)
Theme Song Performer

Cast (Short)

On Location with: FAME (1980)
Herself

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Guyana Tragedy: Story of Jim Jones (1980)
Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

Life Events

Videos

Movie Clip

Sparkle (1976) -- (Movie Clip) She's Bustin' At The Seams Neat two opening scenes, introducing Phillip Michael Thomas and Dorian Harewood on the front steps, with Lonette McKee, Irene Cara and Dwan Smith as “Sister,” Sparkle and Delores, Mary Alice their mom, Beatrice Winde the neighbor, Sam O’Steen directing, in the cult hit (re-made by Whitney Houston in 2012), Sparkle, 1976.
Sparkle (1976) -- (Movie Clip) Hooked On Your Love Among the reasons for buzz about Lonette McKee, singing the lead as eldest sister “Sister,” backed up by 16 year-old Irene Cara (title character) and Dwan Smith (as Delores), with a Curtis Mayfield original, certainly more in the contemporary style than that of the setting, Harlem ca. 1958, in the fictional show-biz drama Sparkle, 1976.
Sparkle (1976) -- (Movie Clip) Jump (Curtis Mayfield Composition) The first musical number, an original from Curtis Mayfield, not to be confused with the Pointer Sisters’ 1984 hit, the fictional Williams sisters (Lonette McKee, Irene Cara and Dwan Smith), with Philip Michael Thomas and Dorian Harewood, all doing their own vocals, performing at a Harlem amateur show, in Sparkle, 1976.
Aaron Loves Angela (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Jose Feliciano Maybe not plausible that Jose Feliciano would play such a small venue in Spanish Harlem, with an original tune, but teens Kevin Hooks and Irene Cara (title characters), his pal (Leon Pinkney) backing him up, have serious business to discuss, in Gordon Parks Jr.'s Aaron Loves Angela, 1975.
Aaron Loves Angela (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Too Much Like My Old Man Pal Willie (Leon Pinkney) has not only broken in at Coney Island but also turned on the merry-go-round, good fun for mutually-attracted African American and Latin teens Kevin Hooks and Irene Cara (title characters), getting to know each other, in Gordon Parks Jr.'s Aaron Loves Angela, 1975.

Trailer

Family

Louise Cara
Mother
Mother, Marta Meszaros.
Louise Cara
Mother
Retired cashier.
Gaspar Cara
Father
Saxaphone player, factory worker. Born in Puerto Rico; died in 1994.
Gaspar Cara
Father
Has two; mother, Marta Meszaros.

Companions

Conrad Palmisano
Husband
Married.
Conrad Palmisano
Husband
Stuntman. Married on April 13, 1986 in Palos Verdes, California; divorced in 1991.

Bibliography