FAME

Oscar-Winning ‘Flashdance’ Singer Irene Cara’s Cause of Death Revealed: Report

Irene Cara died in November of hypertension and high cholesterol, according to medical documents obtained by TMZ.

Irene Cara, the star whose song “Flashdance... What a Feeling” won both an Oscar and a Grammy in 1984, died of hypertension and high cholesterol, according to TMZ. Cara’s official cause of death was listed as arteriosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease in documents from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s office obtained by the outlet on Thursday. Cara died on Nov. 25 at her Florida home, her publicist confirmed at the time. She was 63. The New York native became a household name at age 20 after winning the role of Coco Hernandez in 1980’s Fame, for which she also performed the title track. Her song, “Fame,” won best original song at that season’s Academy Awards. Less than three years later, she won another Oscar for the song she co-wrote and performed for Flashdance. On Jan. 26, her representative—who continues to battle skeptics who believe Cara’s death to be part of an elaborate hoax—said on Twitter that a public memorial was tentatively scheduled for March 18, or what would have been the singer’s 64th birthday.