‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ singer-actor Irene Cara dies at 63
The musician died on Wednesday night in New York after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was best known as the voice of the character Lula in the Disney show “Aladdin,” but also starred in her own films and won an Emmy Award.
She also was a regular on “The Late Show With David Letterman” and had a popular TV show on BET called “The Irene Cara Show.”
Cara’s death brings to an end one of the most popular singer-actors in television history.
A statement from her publicist said: “Irene Cara passed away at her New York City home this evening surrounded by her loving family.”
Her family said that she died at a hospital. She is survived by her husband and daughters.
Cara was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which was first detected in 2003. A specialist found traces of cancer in her liver and in August, she underwent major surgery.
A family statement said she would have been “lucky to live a few more months.”
Cara, who was born in Los Angeles, said “You’ve been very, very kind to me in making me the person I am.”
She said, “I hope I can offer someone something I never did: To be able to bring people to know the real me.”
She added: “I want to thank everyone, even the strangers. People have always been there for me, always. Not just for my talent, but for my life.”
She said people could relate to her as she struggled to deal with the death of the father she said she “loved more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
Cara, who had a history of substance abuse, was taken off alcohol in 1995 and spent years in recovery, according to her daughter, Aisha.
In 2006, she checked herself into rehab for substance abuse, and the following year, she had a duet with rapper Lil’ Kim in the video for her song “We’re All in This Together.”
After her first and only marriage ended, she was married for a third time to singer and actor Michael Damian. The pair divorced in 2007.
She then was married to dancer and actor Chris LeD
