Fame and Flashdance singer Irene Cara has died at the age of 63.

The American singer and actress was best known for her title track in the 1980 film Fame, as well as co-writing and singing the smash hit Flashdance...

But it was in 1980 that Cara shot to fame when she bagged the role of Coco Hernandez - and sung Fame's title track.

Her performance earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 1981 Golden Globe Awards.

Cara later co-wrote and sang the vocals for Flashdance… What A Feeling, from the 1983 blockbuster Flashdance, and won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance as well as an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

She also said Cara had been working on forthcoming projects when she died, which she and the singer's manager now plan to finish.