Cara was well-known for singing the title track of the hit 1980s film Fame, with its indelible refrain “I’m gonna live forever, I’m gonna learn how to fly.” It follows the triumphs and tribulations of students at a performing arts high school in New York.

In the film she played Coco Hernandez, a role written for her after she was initially cast as a dancer. Cara’s work earned her Grammy award nominations for best new artist and best female pop artist.

Cara also co-wrote and performed the smash hit Flashdance … What a Feeling for the 1983 movie of the same name, depicting the life of an aspiring dancer played by Jennifer Beals.

The tune earned Cara an Oscar for best original song in 1984 and two Grammys.

Cara was trained as a child in music, dance and singing, and appeared on stage and in television, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson – at the time, a huge step to becoming someone in showbiz in America – at a young age in the 1970s.

Later in her career Cara appeared in such films as DC Cab and City Heat and on various television shows. She also performed in theatre and musicals.

“This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist. I can’t believe I’ve had to write this, let alone release the news,” Moose wrote.

“Please share your thoughts and memories of Irene. I’ll be reading each and every one of them and know she’ll be smiling from Heaven. She adored her fans,” she added.

Tributes to Cara poured in on social media, with many fans reminiscing about their younger selves back when Fame first came out.

“On behalf of every Eighties’ teenager who donned their leotard and leg warmers, danced to Fame in front of the mirror and dreamed of one day enrolling at the High School of Performing Arts … thank you Irene Cara. May you rest in peace,” wrote a woman named Jo Lake.