They reveal the cause of death of Irene Cara due to hypertension and high cholesterol

Flashdance…What a Feeling singer Irene Cara, Academy Award winner, has died of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, TMZ reports.

The acclaimed entertainer was found dead inside it Florida home on November 25, 2022, at just 63 years old, and his publicist, Judith Moose, confirmed his death.

Irene’s official cause of death is arteriosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and the late star was noted as a diabetic in documents from the Pinellas County medical examiner and obtained by TMZ.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Irene Cara on behalf of her family,” Moose said in a statement. “The cause of her death is currently unknown and will be released as information becomes available.”

The post came on the heels of a death hoax about Cara, who starred in Fame and sang its theme song, and many fans feared the latest announcement could be part of another lie.

“Sorry if this is true but after the hoax I’m afraid it’s hard to believe,” Twitter user Rachael L wrote in response to Moose. On Friday (November 25), representatives for the actress officially confirmed that Irene Cara is not dead.

“She joins the long list of celebrities who have fallen victim to this hoax,” the previous ad read.

Moose, however, confirmed that Saturday’s announcement was real, adding that “we are all in shock.”

Born in the Bronx as Irene Escalera, Cara had humble roots: her mother, Louise, was a cashier, while her father, Gaspar, was a steel worker and musician.

Cara inherited her father’s talent, becoming a trained singer, actress, and dancer who made many stage and television appearances as a child, including on PBS and Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show.

The artist rose to fame in 1980 playing Coco Hernández in the hit musical Fama.

She received two Grammy nominations for the musical, winning Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Artist.

Cara won a Grammy and an Oscar in 1984 with the title song for Flashdance, which starred Jennifer Beals.

Cara was loved for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 hit musical film Fame (pictured)

Many fans were in shock and did not immediately believe the news of Cara’s passing following the hoax.

Pictured: Cara (far left) posing with her fellow Fame actors in 1980. Her rendition of the theme song remains one of the most memorable tunes from a decade packed with classics.

Pictured: Cara holding her Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female Singer. She released some of the most memorable hits of the early ’80s.

She dropped out of the spotlight after suing her old record company during the 1990s over her winnings. That got Cara $1.5 million by a California jury in 1993. But as a result, the music industry turned her down and her career suffered.

Confirming Cara’s death, Moose wrote: “She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live on forever through her music and films.”

The publicist also expressed sympathy for the artist’s fans over the recent death hoax.

Neither of us was contacted regarding the hoax on a Facebook page. I fully understand that it is hard to believe. We are all in shock.

The youngest of five children, Cara made her stage debut at the young age of three, earning a spot as a finalist in the Little Miss America pageant in 1962.

The daughter of a Puerto Rican and a Cuban-American, Cara made a few appearances on Spanish-language television shows before becoming a regular on the PBS educational show The Electric Company.

Along with her television work, Cara acted in a host of Off-Broadway productions, her first big role being as Sparkle Williams in the 1976 musical drama film Sparkle.

Prior to Fame, Cara also had a starring role in the 1979 sequel to the classic Roots TV miniseries.

Although her stardom peaked in the 1980s, Cara continued to act throughout the decades, appearing in films like DC Cab, City Heat, and Downtown, A Street Tale.

Following the confirmation of Cara’s death, fans of the iconic singer flooded social media to share their grief.

Twitter user Jimmy Pavolic said that he has loved Cara’s singing ever since he watched Fame as a child.

“Very sad to hear of the passing of Irene Cara, this song has stayed with me since I heard it when I was 12 years old, my sincere condolences to her family, friends and fans. RIP Irene Cara.

Journalist and Disney alumnus Steven McCoy wrote: “I met Ms. Irene Cara many years ago, she was truly a beautiful, kind and spiritual woman. She even sent me a gift package to my house and I still keep it in my heart. She will be greatly missed.

Another Twitter user with the handle Cromwell described Cara as the soundtrack of the 1980s.

‘This is very sad. Irene was a writer, voice, and performer of many of the greatest songs and movie tracks of the ’80s. There’s a special place in my heart for #OutHereOnMyOwn from #Fame. Sleep well, lovely lady.

Cara was loved for her performance singing the title track Fame. She appears alongside Lee Curreri, who played Bruno.