Raquel Welch was an American actress and singer who became a prominent sex symbol and Hollywood star during the 1960s and 1970s. Born Jo Raquel Tejada on September 5, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, she started her career as a model before transitioning to acting.
Welch’s breakthrough role came in the 1966 film “Fantastic Voyage,” but it was her role in the 1966 movie “One Million Years B.C.” that propelled her to international fame. In that film, Welch played a prehistoric woman clad in a fur bikini, which became an iconic image of 1960s popular culture.
Welch went on to appear in numerous other films, including “Bedazzled” (1967), “Bandolero!” (1968), and “The Three Musketeers” (1973). She also appeared in several TV shows and made-for-TV movies.
Throughout her career, Welch had been known for her beauty, glamour, and sex appeal. She had been nominated for several awards and had won a Golden Globe for her role in the 1974 film “The Three Musketeers.” Today, she was considered a Hollywood icon and one of the most beautiful women in film history.
How Raquel Welch career started in Hollywood and became Hollywood Icon?
Raquel Welch’s career in Hollywood began in the early 1960s when she moved to Los Angeles and started working as a model and actress. Her first significant acting role was in the TV show “A House Is Not a Home” in 1964. She then appeared in a number of small film and television roles before landing her breakthrough role in the 1966 science fiction film “Fantastic Voyage.”
However, it was her appearance in the 1966 film “One Million Years B.C.” that made her an international sex symbol and helped to cement her status as a Hollywood icon. The film, which featured Welch in a fur bikini, became an instant sensation and made her one of the most recognizable and popular actresses in the world.
After the success of “One Million Years B.C.,” Welch went on to star in a number of other popular films, including “Fathom” (1967), “Bandolero!” (1968), and “The Three Musketeers” (1973). She also appeared in several television shows and made-for-TV movies.
Throughout her career, Welch had been known for her beauty, glamour, and sex appeal, and had been a popular figure in popular culture. She has also been regarded as a trailblazer for women in Hollywood, breaking through as a leading lady and sex symbol in a male-dominated industry. She was considered a Hollywood icon and one of the most beautiful women in film history.
About Family of Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch has been married four times and has two children.
Her first marriage was to James Welch, a publicist, in 1959. They had two children together, Damon and Tahnee, before divorcing in 1964.
Welch then married producer Patrick Curtis in 1966, but they divorced a year later. In 1980, she married Andre Wein Feld, but they also divorced a few years later in 1990.
Her most recent marriage was to Richard Palmer, which lasted from 1999 until their divorce in 2008.
In addition to her marriages, Welch has had several high-profile relationships throughout her career, including with actor Sean Connery and filmmaker Stanley Donne.
Highly Regarded Movies of Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch has appeared in many films throughout her career, and here are some of her most well-known and highly regarded movies:
- “One Million Years B.C.” (1966) – This film, in which Welch played a prehistoric woman, is one of her most iconic roles and includes the famous image of her in a fur bikini.
- “Fantastic Voyage” (1966) – Welch appeared as a member of a team of scientists who are miniaturized and injected into a man’s body to perform a life-saving operation.
- “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and “The Four Musketeers” (1974) – In these adventure films, Welch played Constance de Bonacieux, the love interest of d’Artagnan (played by Michael York).
- “Myra Breckinridge” (1970) – Welch took on the title role in this satirical comedy, playing a woman who undergoes a sex change operation and sets out to conquer Hollywood.
- “Bandolero!” (1968) – In this Western, Welch played Maria Stoner, a woman who is kidnapped by a group of outlaws led by Dean Martin’s character.
- Other notable Raquel Welch films include “Fathom” (1967), “Bedazzled” (1967), “Kansas City Bomber” (1972), and “Mother, Jugs & Speed” (1976).
Awards won by Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch has been nominated for and won several awards throughout her career, including:
- Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, for “The Three Musketeers” (1974)
- Photoplay Award for Most Popular Female Star (1967)
- Laurel Award for Female New Face (1967)
- Bambi Award for Best Actress – International (1978)
- Golden Boot Award for her contribution to the Western genre (1998)
- In addition to these awards, Welch has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the entertainment industry.
Raquel Welch Reason of Death
Hollywood Icon Raquel Welch has died at age of 82 after a brief illness on Wednesday morning (15 February). No information has been shared by her family about her death but fans are shocked, after hearing the news that her Hollywood icon Raquel Welch is no more.
May her Soul rest in peace.