Raquel Welch.Photo: Everett
“By age 7 I knew I wanted to be an actress,“Raquel Welchtold PEOPLE in 2010. “My parents enrolled me in a theater program. You could get away from some of the painfulness of real life. I always had flights of fancy.“Those flights of fancy led her to a lengthy career that included a string of movie hits, television cameos and careers beyond the screen. On Feb. 15, 2023,PEOPLE confirmedthe actress had died at the age of 82 following a brief illness.Here, a look back on the late actress' life in photos, on what would have been her 83rd birthday.
“By age 7 I knew I wanted to be an actress,“Raquel Welchtold PEOPLE in 2010. “My parents enrolled me in a theater program. You could get away from some of the painfulness of real life. I always had flights of fancy.”
Those flights of fancy led her to a lengthy career that included a string of movie hits, television cameos and careers beyond the screen. On Feb. 15, 2023,PEOPLE confirmedthe actress had died at the age of 82 following a brief illness.
Here, a look back on the late actress' life in photos, on what would have been her 83rd birthday.
01of 11Raquel Welch’s Early LifeEverettJo Raquel Tejada, a.k.a.Raquel Welch, was born on Sept. 5, 1940, in Chicago to Bolivian-born engineer Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and his American wife, Josephine Sarah Halland.
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Raquel Welch’s Early Life
Everett
Jo Raquel Tejada, a.k.a.Raquel Welch, was born on Sept. 5, 1940, in Chicago to Bolivian-born engineer Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and his American wife, Josephine Sarah Halland.
02of 11Raquel Welch in ‘One Million Years B.C.‘EverettShooting her star-making movieOne Million Years B.C.in the Canary Islands in the late 1960s, “it was freezing cold,” she recalled. “They had to put hot coals below the cameras so they wouldn’t ice up.” As for that famous fur bikini, “I still have it in storage,” she shared. “It’s not like I wear it to the beach.“However, she added, after finding fame, “I didn’t know whether to cry because I was so frightened or be thrilled.”
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Raquel Welch in ‘One Million Years B.C.’
Shooting her star-making movieOne Million Years B.C.in the Canary Islands in the late 1960s, “it was freezing cold,” she recalled. “They had to put hot coals below the cameras so they wouldn’t ice up.” As for that famous fur bikini, “I still have it in storage,” she shared. “It’s not like I wear it to the beach.”
However, she added, after finding fame, “I didn’t know whether to cry because I was so frightened or be thrilled.”
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Raquel Welch’s Workout Routine
The actress told PEOPLE the secret to her fabulous physique was “10 years of classical ballet,” but added, “I never enjoyed being photographed that much. It makes me more self-conscious than usual.”
04of 11Raquel Welch’s ChildrenCourtesy Raquel WelchThe actress married four times, first to high school sweetheart James Welch, with whom shehad son Damon, born in 1959, and daughter Tahnee, born in 1961.She later told PEOPLE that after she made it big, “it was difficult for [my kids]. I was making movies. I had long hours.“After her split from Welch, she married producer Patrick Curtis in 1967, divorcing him in 1972.
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Raquel Welch’s Children
Courtesy Raquel Welch
The actress married four times, first to high school sweetheart James Welch, with whom shehad son Damon, born in 1959, and daughter Tahnee, born in 1961.
She later told PEOPLE that after she made it big, “it was difficult for [my kids]. I was making movies. I had long hours.”
After her split from Welch, she married producer Patrick Curtis in 1967, divorcing him in 1972.
05of 11Raquel Welch and Burt Reynolds20TH Century FoxThe first time Welch saw her100 Riflescostar Burt Reynolds in 1969, “I was on a plane waiting to be taken to the Spanish desert to make the film,” she recalled. “I saw him walking across the tarmac and I said, ‘Who the hell is that?’ Wow, he was hot!” They would make four films together. “I always thought he was so cool,” she added.
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Raquel Welch and Burt Reynolds
20TH Century Fox
The first time Welch saw her100 Riflescostar Burt Reynolds in 1969, “I was on a plane waiting to be taken to the Spanish desert to make the film,” she recalled. “I saw him walking across the tarmac and I said, ‘Who the hell is that?’ Wow, he was hot!” They would make four films together. “I always thought he was so cool,” she added.
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Raquel Welch and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Frank Edwards/Getty
07of 11Raquel Welch’s RolesRaquel Welch in 1967.Silver Screen Collection/GettyIn her time on screen, Welch starred in other memorable projects, includingC.P.W., Spin City, American Family, Legally Blondeand even on Broadway in 1982’sWoman of the Year.She was also active in Bob Hope’s USO tours of the 1960s.“I never thought life was going to give me something for nothing,” she said. “I’ve had a great life.”
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Raquel Welch’s Roles
Raquel Welch in 1967.Silver Screen Collection/Getty
In her time on screen, Welch starred in other memorable projects, includingC.P.W., Spin City, American Family, Legally Blondeand even on Broadway in 1982’sWoman of the Year.She was also active in Bob Hope’s USO tours of the 1960s.
“I never thought life was going to give me something for nothing,” she said. “I’ve had a great life.”
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Raquel Welch and André Weinfeld
Welch and Weinfeld split in 1990. She later wed restaurateur Richard Palmer in 1999, but split from him in 2003.
09of 11Raquel Welch on ‘Seinfeld’Everett"I was a big fan of the show,” she said of her memorable guest turn onSeinfeld(here, with Michael Richards) in 1997. “They made me into a Broadway diva.”
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Raquel Welch on ‘Seinfeld’
“I was a big fan of the show,” she said of her memorable guest turn onSeinfeld(here, with Michael Richards) in 1997. “They made me into a Broadway diva.”
10of 11Raquel Welch’s Wig LineL. Cohen/WireImageAlong the way, Welch became famous for launching aneponymous line of wigs.“These are not your grandmother’s wigs,“she told Wigs.comin 2011. “Your hair is such an important part of how you present yourself as a woman. Why not utilize the advantage of wigs and help yourself? Achieve your best self.”
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Raquel Welch’s Wig Line
L. Cohen/WireImage
Along the way, Welch became famous for launching aneponymous line of wigs.
“These are not your grandmother’s wigs,“she told Wigs.comin 2011. “Your hair is such an important part of how you present yourself as a woman. Why not utilize the advantage of wigs and help yourself? Achieve your best self.”
11of 11Raquel Welch’s Final YearsDonato Sardella/GettyThe actress was last seen in public in 2017 at PORTER Hosts Incredible Women Gala in Association with Estée Lauder at NeueHouse Los Angeles, where she mingled with celebrities like Brie Larson and gave a speech. That year marked her final roles, too, inHow to Be a Latin Loverand 10 episodes ofDate My Dad.On Feb. 15, 2023,PEOPLE confirmedthe actress had died at the age of 82 following a brief illness.
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Raquel Welch’s Final Years
Donato Sardella/Getty
The actress was last seen in public in 2017 at PORTER Hosts Incredible Women Gala in Association with Estée Lauder at NeueHouse Los Angeles, where she mingled with celebrities like Brie Larson and gave a speech. That year marked her final roles, too, inHow to Be a Latin Loverand 10 episodes ofDate My Dad.
On Feb. 15, 2023,PEOPLE confirmedthe actress had died at the age of 82 following a brief illness.
source: people.com
