Raquel Welch, born Jo Raquel Tejada, was an American actress, singer, and model who became an iconic figure in the 1960s and 1970s. Her rise to fame was not an easy one, but she persevered and became one of the most recognizable actresses of her time.
In this article, we will reveal Raquel Welch’s life and career, exploring her early years, her sex symbol status, her Latino roots, her rise to fame, and her lasting impact on American culture.
Welch developed a unique film persona that made her an icon of the 1960s and 1970s, her portrayal of solid female characters helped in breaking the mold of Hollywood’s traditional blonde bombshell sex symbol.
Her contributions to this pivot in Hollywood history was done (talent aside), simply by being who she was on and off screen; a driven, smart, beautiful, sensuous but reserved actress. Welch never posed or did nude scenes, she was as, one Hollywood pundit said, “Raquel Welch became a sex symbol by leaving her clothes on”, that’s how amazing she and her raw magnetism was.
Welch became a pin-up during the 1960s to 70s era after her bikini-clad appearance in the famous poster from 1966, advertising her role as Loana, the cave woman for the film “One Million Years B.C.”. In it, she stands firmly arms stretched and legs balanced on what appears to be sand and rocks.
She looks majestic with her cinnamon hair and bronze skin, that along with her properly aligned bodily curves, gave Raquel Welch Goddess status within popular culture in America at the time. Many offers came her way to do nude scenes and photo shoots, but Welch was firm and never posed naked in her entire career.
In a talk show interview in 2014, Welch, 75 years at the time admitted she respected her father and her upbringing. Further, she added that she was her father’s daughter and because of this, she was the kind of woman who would not behave in a sexually explicit manner.
Early Life:
Welch was born on September 5, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, she was the oldest of three children in her family. Her parents, Josephine Sarah Hall and Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo, were both immigrants, Josephine was of English ancestry, while Armando was of Bolivian descent.
When Raquel was two years old, her family moved to San Diego, California, where she grew up. Welch’s father passed away when she was 14 years old, leaving her mother to raise her and her siblings.
The family faced financial struggles, due to her father’s death and Welch often had to work odd jobs to make ends meet.
Despite the hardships that came from her father’s passing, Welch was determined to pursue her passion for dancing and acting. She took ballet lessons and was an active member of her high school drama club. She also competed in beauty pageants and won several titles, including Miss San Diego County.
After graduating from high school Welch attended San Diego State College, where she studied drama. She later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to continue her studies.
Welch’s cousin, Bolivian politician Lidia Gueiler Tejada, became the first female president of Bolivia, she served as the country’s 56th president on an interim basis from 1979 to 1980, she was also the 2nd female head of state in the history of the America’s with Eva Peron being the first.
Raquel’s first role was in the film “A Swingin’ Summer” (1965), in which she played the lead. The film was not a critical success, but it helped Raquel get noticed in Hollywood. She then appeared in several small roles in films and television shows, including “The Virginian” and “Bewitched.”
In 1966, Raquel was cast in the film “Fantastic Voyage,” which was a science fiction adventure film. The film was a commercial success and helped Raquel become a household name.
She then appeared in the film “One Million Years B.C.” (1966), in which she played a prehistoric woman. The film was a huge success and helped establish Raquel as a sex symbol.
Rise to Fame:
In 1967, Raquel starred in the film “Fathom,” in which she played a skydiver. The film was a critical and commercial success and helped solidify Raquel’s status as a leading actress. She then appeared in the film “Bandolero!” (1968), in which she played opposite James Stewart and Dean Martin.
First Interfacial Love Scene in Hollywood’s History:
In 1969, Raquel starred in the film “100 Rifles,” in which she played a Mexican revolutionary. The film was controversial because of its interracial love scene between Raquel and co-star Jim Brown. The scene was one of the first interracial love scenes in mainstream American cinema.
Raquel continued to appear in films throughout the 1970s, including “Myra Breckinridge” (1970), “Hannie Caulder” (1971), and “The Three Musketeers” (1973). She also appeared in the television movie “The Legend of Walks Far Woman” (1982), for which she received critical acclaim.
Marriages:
Welch’s personal life has been a topic of interest for many of her fans. She has been married four times, and she has two children Her first marriage was to James Welch, a publicist, in 1959. The couple had two children, Damon and Latanne. They divorced in 1964.
In 1967, Welch married Patrick Curtis, a producer, but the marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in 1972.Welch’s third marriage was to Andre Weinfeld, a French producer. They were married from 1980 to 1990.
In 1999, Welch married Richard Palmer, a restaurateur. The couple remained married until Palmer’s death in 2020.In addition to her marriages, Welch has been romantically linked to several high-profile men, including Elvis Presley, Sean Connery, and Frank Sinatra.
Welch has also been an advocate for health and fitness. She has released several exercise videos and has written a book on health and beauty. She has also been involved in various charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society.
Accolades:
Welch was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History”. In 1974, Welch won a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical Comedy for The Three Musketeers.
She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the TV drama Right to Die (1987). In 1994, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 (Hollywood Boulevard).
For her positive promotion of Americans of Latin heritage throughout her career, she was awarded the Imagen Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2012, the Film Society of Lincoln Centre presented a special retrospective of films of Welch at the Walter Reade Theatre. In 1995, Playboy magazine ranked Welch No.3 on their “100 Sexiest Stars of the Twentieth Century” list.
Raquel Welch passed away on January 15th 2023. Her representatives issued a statement and said, “Raquel Welch, the legendary bombshell actress of film, television and stage, passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness… The 82-year-old actress burst into Hollywood in her initial roles in One Million, B.C and Fantastic Voyage.”
“Her career spanned over 50 years starring in over 30 films and 50 television series and appearances. The Golden Globe winner, in more recent years, was involved in a very successful line of wigs. Raquel leaves behind her two children, son Damon Welch and her daughter, Tahnee Welch,” –End of statement
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