Raquel Welch Dead: Sex Symbol Actress Dies At 82

Raquel Welch has died. Famed as a sex symbol and an actress for blockbuster movies such as One Million Years B.C., Raquel passed away at age 82. Her two children survive Raquel.

Learn about Welch’s legendary acting career. And discover more about her life. Get all the details below. 

Raquel Welch Dead At 82

From her sex symbol fame to her movie career, Raquel Welch will forever be remembered in entertainment history. And fans joined her friends and family in mourning her death at 82. The Golden Globe winner “passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness,” her manager Steve Sauer told People.

Raquel’s career covered more than 50 years. And Welch starred in over 50 television series as well as more than 30 movies. Most recently, the actress expanded her career by creating a line of wigs.

Welch’s son Damon Welch and her daughter Tahnee Welch join her fans, friends, and other family members in mourning the loss of their mother. Raquel’s career began in the film industry in the mid 1960s. But her acting success in 1966’s Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C. turned Welch from novice to superstar.

Raquel Welch Earned Golden Globe

Although box office numbers showed that the world loved Raquel, Welch waited until 1973 for an award. That year marked her appearance in The Three Musketeers. And the actress received a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture comedy or musical.

However, Raquel also wowed in movies such as 100 Rifles, The Prince and the Pauper, Chairman of the Board, and Legally Blonde. And for her last movie role, Welch chose 2017’s How to Be a Latin Lover. But the actress didn’t limit herself to films and TV shows.

US actress and model Raquel Welch dies at 82 https://t.co/wXGWuLXuwh

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 16, 2023

For instance, Raquel famously teamed up with Cher to croon “I’m a Woman” in 1975 on The Cher Show. However, despite roles that asked her to show off her curvy body, such as One Million Years B.C., Welch viewed herself as a focused single mother. And she used her career as a sex symbol to raise her children after her split from her first husband in 1964.

Raquel Welch Loved Her ‘Great Life’!

In addition to acting, the One Million Years B.C. star penned a book, Beyond the Cleavage. And Raquel took pride in watching it become a best-selling success. But Welch repeatedly underscored her work ethic in interviews. 

For instance, when Raquel celebrated her 70th birthday in 2010, she shared that she believed in setting goals. And she added, “I never thought life was going to give me something for nothing.” But Welch also shared that she grew up longing to become a star. And her parents, a Bolivian-born engineer and his American wife, supported that goal.

“By age 7 I knew I wanted to be an actress,” recalled Welch. “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. I’ve had a great life — and it’s not over yet!”

Tell us what you think. Which Raquel Welch movie do you like best? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more celebrity news.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com