Raquel Welch, Sex Symbol and Screen Legend, Dies at 82
Rocketing to stardom in the 1960s, Welch became a global sex symbol after her iconic turn as a bikini-clad cavewoman in One Million Years B.C. (1966).
“I’m not imperceptible to masculine charm, but, well, you know, I can flirt.”
— Raquel Welch
Despite what many of her fans would like to see, Raquel never posed completely topless. Even when wearing no bra or bikini top, her breasts were hidden behind long hair or in her arms. But she posed on several occasions in wet white swimwear, which created a see-through effect. Her figure can be easily rated based on these photos from different angles.
Personal life
Raquel Welch was married and divorced four times. Her first husband was James Welch, her high school sweetheart, whom she married in 1959. The couple had two children together: Damon and Tahnee Welch. Tahnee later pursued a career in acting and modeling, following in her mother’s footsteps, though with only modest success. Raquel kept her first husband’s surname professionally even after their divorce in 1964.
Her second husband was Patrick Curtis, her former agent and a film producer. They were married from 1967 to 1972. In 1977, she began a relationship with French director André Weinfeld, who later moved to Los Angeles to be with her. They married in 1980 and divorced in 1990. Her final marriage was to Richard Palmer, a pizzeria owner, in 1999. That union ended in divorce in 2003.
How did Raquel Welch die?
Raquel Welch passed away peacefully at her Los Angeles home on February 15, 2023, at the age of 82. The cause was cardiac arrest, and she had also been living with Alzheimer’s disease. According to her manager, her passing followed a brief illness.