Cara died at her Florida home on Friday, according to her rep. Details about his death have not been released.
Cara's publicist, Judith A. Moose, announced the news of his death in a statement shared on the singer's Twitter account early Saturday morning.
Bronx-born Cara is a child actresswho appeared in shows such as Electric Company before starring in Broadway musicals such as Via Galactica.
Irene also scored big with her monster hit, "Fame" from the movie of the same name. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Best Actress" for her work in the movie.
"She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live on forever through his music and movies," a publicist said of theOscar and Grammy-winning actor.
In 2004, Irene was honored with a Prestige Award for Lifetime Achievement.