Irene Cara was born on March 18, 1959 in New York, New York.
Irene Cara Escalera is Irene Cara's birth name.
Playing Coco Hernandez is the role that brought Irene Cara
fame and attention world wide. The role was for a hit movie
of the 80's, FAME, this was a film that got kids and adults up
and motivated to dream and get involved.
In 1976 Irene Cara was listed as one of twelve "Promising
New Actors in John Willis Screen World, Vol. 28.
Usually a debut role is a small role but not for Irene Cara,
her first role was playing the lead in ARRON LOVES ANGELA.
Getting started in the business at the age of five, Irene
Cara debuted on stage in MAGGIE FLYNN, a Jack Cassidy-Shirley
Jones Broadway musical.
In July 2001 an announcement that shocked no one came out that Irene
Cara was making her own all girl band called Hot Caramel.
Irene Cara has a great voice and it was heard loud and clear
in the hit movie FAME. Cara sang both the title
song Fame and the movie's second biggest hit single Out Here
On My Own.
The success of FAME brought Irene Cara a 1980 Grammy nomination
for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocalist," as well
as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture Actress
in a Musical.
From Theater to Television, then to Records, it was no surprise
to see Irene Cara make it just as big in Feature films.
In the 70's Irene Cara was on her first TV series, playing
Iris on the hit series THE ELECTRIC COMPANY the series was
educational teaching music and grammer.
THE ELECTRIC COMPANY was a great start for Irene Cara as
the series also starred Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, and Morgan
Freeman.
On the hit TV series for one year (1970) Irene Cara played
Daisy Allen on LOVE OF LIFE.
Irene Cara's other notable credits include...