Irene Cara Net Worth

What Is Irene Cara's Net Worth?

Irene Cara was an American actress and singer with a net worth of $2 million at her death in November 2022. She won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy for the song "Flashdance… What a Feeling," which she co-wrote and performed for the 1983 film "Flashdance." Cara also made waves in the 1980 musical drama "Fame," starring as Coco Hernandez and performing the title song, which reached #1 on charts globally and earned her first Grammy nomination.

She released four studio albums, including "Carasmatic" (1987) and "Irene Cara Presents Hot Caramel" (2011). Her stage presence was cemented with Broadway productions such as "Maggie Flynn" and "The Me Nobody Knows." Onscreen, she appeared in films like "Sparkle" (1976), "Killing 'em Softly" (1982), and "City Heat" (1984) as well as TV mini-series "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979). She lent her voice to animated films like "Happily Ever After" (1990) and "The Magic Voyage" (1992).

Early Life

Irene Cara Escalera was born on March 18, 1959, in The Bronx, New York City. Her father, Gaspar Escalera, was a retired saxophonist and factory worker, while her mother, Louise, worked as a movie usher. Irene was of Cuban-American descent on her mother's side and Puerto Rican on her father's side. She had a passion for music and acting from an early age, being a finalist in the Little Miss America pageant at age 3. She learned to play the piano by ear and attended Manhattan's Professional Children's School.

Cara's television debut came early as she sang and danced on Spanish-language TV. She appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and was part of The Short Circus band on the PBS series "The Electric Company." She recorded both Spanish and English-language albums during her childhood.

Career

Cara's career began with Off-Broadway musicals like "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "The Wiz." She made her screen debut as Daisy Allen on the CBS soap opera "Love of Life" in 1970. Her role in the 1976 musical drama "Sparkle" was one of her early significant works. She guest-starred on shows like "Kojak" and "What’s Happening!!" and played Bertha Palmer Haley in the Emmy-winning miniseries "Roots: The Next Generations."

The role of Coco Hernandez in "Fame" marked a pinnacle in her career. The film's title song won an Academy Award and was a commercial success. Cara's debut album, "Anyone Can See" (1982), reached notable chart positions, and her 1983 single "Flashdance… What a Feeling" became a global sensation, earning numerous awards and recognitions.

Getty

Throughout the '80s, Cara appeared in TV movies like "Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones" and "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story." Her recording career continued with albums like "Carasmatic" and performances on shows such as "Hearts Are Wild" in 1992.

"What a Feelin" Royalty Fight

Cara’s 1983 album "What a Feelin'" included the hit song "Flashdance… What a Feeling." By mid-1984, she received only $183 in royalties from Network Records. Network later paid her around $60,000, but Cara filed a $10 million lawsuit in 1985 against the company, alleging $2 million in unpaid royalties. She believed that Al Coury, an executive at Network Records, initiated a smear campaign against her. In 1993, she won $1.5 million in damages from a Los Angeles judge.

Personal Life

Irene married actor/director/stuntman Conrad Palmisano in 1986 but divorced in 1991. She starred in Palmisano’s film "Busted Up" in 1986.

Awards and Nominations

Cara’s achievements include an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song for "Flashdance… What a Feeling," Golden Globe, and multiple Grammy Awards. She was also nominated for Album of the Year and Record of the Year in 1984. Further accolades include an NAACP Image Award for "Sister, Sister" and an induction into the Ciboney Cafe Hall of Fame in 2004, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Prestige Awards.