Legendary Hollywood Actress Raquel Welch Passes Away at 82

Legendary Hollywood actress Raquel Welch has died at the age of 82, her representative confirmed to Fox News Digital.[0]

Welch is survived by her two children, son Damon Welch and her daughter, actor Tahnee Welch.[1] She first gained prominence for her role in the 1966 adventure film “Fantastic Voyage” and her career took off with her next film, “One Million Years, B.C.”[2] In the movie, she had only a few lines, yet her image on the film's poster wearing a fur bikini propelled her to become an international sex symbol almost immediately.[3]

Welch won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy in 1974 for her role in “The Three Musketeers” as Constance de Bonacieux, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[4]

Welch died Wednesday morning in Los Angeles following a brief illness, her manager confirmed in a statement to the PA news agency.[5] She was[6]

Welch, born in Chicago and raised in San Diego, had an immigrant parent from Bolivia.[7] The evolution of representation on the big screen is illustrated by her journey through Hollywood in the '60s and beyond.[7] At the age of 18, Jo Raquel Tejada married and kept her husband's Anglo name, even after their separation, in an effort to make it in Hollywood and sidestep the typecasting of Latina actresses which was common during that period.[7]

Welch rose to fame for her 1960s roles in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C. (Image: Getty Images).[8] In 1987, she was nominated again for her role in the movie Right To Die.[8] Her illustrious list of credits includes 100 Rifles, The Prince and the Pauper, Chairman of the Board, Legally Blonde and many more.[9] The last movie she acted in was How to Be a Latin Lover in 2017.[9] In 1975, Cher and She had a memorable performance of “I'm a Woman” on The Cher Show.[9]

Welch was also named one of the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History” in a 1995 issue of Empire magazine and was also ranked No. 3 in Playboy’s “100 Sexiest Stars of the 20th Century.[10]

0. “Raquel Welch, ‘One Million Years BC' and ‘Fantastic Voyage' star, dead at 82” Fox News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/raquel-welch-dead-82

1. “Raquel Welch, ‘One Million Years B.C.’ Star and Hollywood Sex Symbol, Dead at 82” Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/raquel-welch-dead-obituary-1234680617

2. “What caused Raquel Welch’s death?” AS USA, 15 Feb. 2023, https://en.as.com/entertainment/what-caused-raquel-welchs-death-n/

3. “Raquel Welch, “Fantastic Voyage” actress and 1960s icon, is dead at 82″ CBS News, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raquel-welch-fantastic-voyage-dead-at-82

4. “Actress Raquel Welch dead at 82” NPR, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/02/15/1157263420/raquel-welch-actress-and-hollywood-sex-symbol-dead-at-82

5. “Raquel Welch, ‘Fantastic Voyage’ star, has died at age 82” WTOP, 15 Feb. 2023, https://wtop.com/celebrities/2023/02/raquel-welch-fantastic-voyage-star-has-died-at-age-82

6. “Golden Globe-winning actress Raquel Welch dies at 82” KCRA Sacramento, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.kcra.com/article/actress-raquel-welch-dies-at-82/42922459

7. “Raquel Welch Dead at 82: Actress Was a Symbol of the Liberated ’60s” IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.indiewire.com/2023/02/raquel-welch-dead-1234810441/

8. “Raquel Welch dead: Reluctant sex symbol catapulted to stardom by three lines of speech” The Mirror, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/raquel-welch-dead-reluctant-sex-29228271

9. “Raquel Welch Dead: Actress Was 82” PEOPLE, 15 Feb. 2023, https://people.com/movies/raquel-welch-dies-at-82/

10. “Raquel Welch, one of the 100 sexiest stars of the 20th century, has died” Marca, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/movies/2023/02/15/63ed4705e2704ee0408b45d7.html