Irene Cara Net Worth - Pulptastic

What Is Irene Cara’s Net Worth?

Irene Cara, an American actress and singer, passed away in November 2022, leaving behind a net worth of $2 million. Cara received numerous accolades for her work in the music industry, including an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy for co-writing and performing the song “Flashdance… What a Feeling” for the 1983 film “Flashdance.”

Cara gained recognition for her portrayal of Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical drama “Fame” and her performance of the title song, which topped charts in several countries and earned her a Grammy nomination. She released several studio albums, including “What a Feelin'” and “Carasmatic,” and appeared in Broadway productions such as “Maggie Flynn” and “Got Tu Go Disco.”

Cara also acted in films such as “Sparkle,” “D.C. Cab,” and “City Heat,” and lent her voice to animated films such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Jungle King.” She voiced Snow White in the 1990 animated musical “Happily Ever After.”

Overall, Irene Cara was a multi-talented artist who made a significant impact in the entertainment industry during her lifetime.

Irene Cara’s Early Life

Irene Cara Escalera was born on March 18, 1959, in The Bronx, New York City, to Gaspar Escalera and Louise. Her father was a retired saxophonist who worked in a factory, and her mother was a movie usher. Irene is of Cuban-American and Puerto Rican heritage, and she has four older siblings. At the age of 3, she was a finalist in the Little Miss America pageant.

During her youth, Irene learned to play the piano by ear, and she studied acting, music, and dance. She began her performing career singing and dancing on Spanish-language television, and in the early ’70s, she appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and was a member of The Short Circus band on the PBS series “The Electric Company.”

Cara recorded a Spanish-language album and an English-language Christmas album during her childhood, and she attended Manhattan’s Professional Children’s School.

Irene Cara’s Career Highlights

Irene Cara has performed in numerous off-Broadway productions and made her onscreen acting debut in 1970. She appeared in several films and TV shows in the ’70s and ’80s, including “Roots: The Next Generations” and “Fame,” which earned her an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe for the song “Flashdance… What a Feeling.”

Cara also released several albums throughout her career and continued to make cameo appearances in films and TV shows. In 2005, she competed on the NBC series “Hit Me, Baby, One More Time” and won the third round after performing “Flashdance… What a Feeling” and a cover of Anastacia’s “I’m Outta Love.”

Irene Cara’s Lawsuit Against Network Records

In 1984, Irene Cara had only received $183 in royalties from her record company, Network Records, for her album “What a Feelin’,” which included her hit song “Flashdance… What a Feeling.” After receiving around $60,000, Cara filed a lawsuit against the record company for $10 million in punitive damages, claiming that Network Records executive Al Coury had withheld $2 million in deals involving the song. Cara alleged that after filing the lawsuit, Coury began a smear campaign against her, which caused damage to her career. In 1993, a Los Angeles judge awarded Cara $1.5 million for the damage to her career.

Marriage to Conrad Palmisano

Irene Cara married actor/film director/stuntman Conrad Palmisano on April 13, 1986, in Los Angeles. They divorced five years later.

Cara starred in Palmisano’s 1986 film “Busted Up,” and Conrad also directed the 1985 sci-fi Western “Space Rage.”

Accolades

Cara won an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song in 1984 for “Flashdance… What a Feeling.” She also won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture for the same track. In 1981, she received a Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical nomination for “Fame,” as well as Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for “Fame.” Irene Cara won Grammys in 1984 for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for “Flashdance” and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for “Flashdance… What a Feeling.” The song also won a National Music Publisher’s Association Award for Best Song in a Movie, and received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Original Song. Cara won an NAACP Image Award in 1982 for Best Actress in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Drama Special for “Sister, Sister.” She was inducted into the Ciboney Cafe Hall of Fame in 2004, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Prestige Awards.

Irene Cara Passes Away at Age 63

Irene Cara, the singer and actress best known for her role in the 1980 film “Fame,” has died at the age of 63. According to reports, Cara passed away on November 25, 2022 at her home in Florida.

Cara’s career spanned several decades, during which she released numerous albums and appeared in films and on television. She won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 for co-writing “Flashdance…What a Feeling” from the movie “Flashdance.”

News of her passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow artists alike, who have praised her talent, energy, and impact on the entertainment industry.