10 Interesting Facts About Raquel Welch: Net Worth, Cause Of Death, Kids, Husbands, Boyfriends, Age, Wiki, Bio

Iconic actress Raquel Welch has died at age 82 — Here are some biography facts about her including her fortune, cause of death, family, and more.

American actress Raquel Welch, a film icon of the 1960s who achieved sex symbol status by portraying various powerful female characters, has sadly passed away. She was 82 years old.

She has a varied acting career with roles in feature films, tv films and shows, and Broadway theatre. She’s credited with breaking the mold of the blonde bombshell sex symbol that reigned in 1950s Hollywood.

In the wake of her death, many would want to know more about her. TheVibely has gathered some quick facts about her including her cause of death, family, net worth, biography, and many more.

10 Things You Might Not Have Known About Raquel Welch

Celebrated Name:Raquel Welch
Net Worth:$40 million
Real Name:Jo Raquel Welch
Profession:Actor, Businessperson
Birthday:Sep 5, 1940
Age:82 years old
Death Date:Feb 15, 2023
Birthplace:Chicago
Gender:Female
Ethnicity:Bolivian American
Height:5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Parents:Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and Josephine Sarah Hall
Children:Tahnee Welch and Damon Welch
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch in 1966
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Who was Raquel Welch?

Jo Raquel Welch was a successful American actress. Welch became an international sex symbol in the 1960s, widely remembered for playing a bikini-clad cavewoman in the 1966 film One Million Years B.C. She also won a Golden Globe for her role in 1974’s The Three Musketeers.

Welch first won attention for her role in Fantastic Voyage (1966), after which she won a contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her contract to the British studio Hammer Film Productions, for whom she made One Million Years B.C. (1966). Although Welch had only three lines of dialogue in the film, images of her in the doe-skin bikini became bestselling posters that turned her into an international sex symbol. She later starred in Bedazzled (1967), Bandolero! (1968), 100 Rifles (1969), Myra Breckinridge (1970), and Hannie Caulder (1971). She made several television variety specials.

What ethnicity was Raquel Welch?

Raquel Welch (real name Jo-Raquel Tejada) was born on September 5th, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to a Bolivian father and an American mother. Her father, an aeronautical engineer, hailed from Bolivia, and her mother was of English descent. She was the first child of her parents whose names are Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and Josephine Sarah Hall.

In her autobiography, she recounts going to church every Sunday with her mother. She spent her formative years in San Diego and toured the California beauty pageant circuit where she won numerous titles, including Miss San Diego.

Her parents divorced when she finished her school years.

Does Raquel Welch have siblings?

Welch was named after her paternal grandmother. Her mother, Josephine Hall, was the daughter of architect Emery Stanford Hall and his wife Clara Louise Adams; she was of English ancestry. Welch had a younger brother, James “Jim” Tejada, and a younger sister, Gayle Tejada.

The family moved from Illinois to San Diego, California, when Welch was two years old. Welch attended the Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church every Sunday with her mother. As a young girl, Welch had the desire to be a performer and entertainer.

Where did attend school?

She began studying ballet at age seven, but after ten years of study, she left the art at seventeen after a disheartening comment from her instructor and later attended La Jolla High School.

Welch graduated with honors from high school in 1958. Seeking an acting career, she entered San Diego State College on a theater arts scholarship, and the following year she married her high school sweetheart, James Welch. She won several parts in local theater productions. In 1959, she played the title role in The Ramona Pageant, a yearly outdoor play at Hemet, California, which is based on the novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson.

In 1960, Welch got a job as a weather presenter at KFMB, a local San Diego television station. Because her family life and television duties were so demanding she decided to give up her drama classes. After her separation from James Welch, she moved with her two children to Dallas, Texas, where she made a “precarious living” as a model for Neiman Marcus and as a cocktail waitress.

Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch
Raquel’s kids; Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Raquel Welch was the biggest celebrity advocate for ladies’ wigs.

Raquel Welch is infamous for wearing wigs for many years and despite the years rolling on for Raquel, the magic of her wigs kept her looking younger than ever!

Raquel Welch famously said in her 2010 autobiography Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage “with the aid of a wig, I have more versatility in my life, and so can you!” And versatility really is the key here as one of her wigs can give you as much freedom as if your salon-inspired tresses sprung naturally from your own head!

Raquel Welch Wigs come in a beautiful array of colors and styles leaving you spoilt for choice. It is not surprising, therefore, that Raquel Welch wigs are characterized by the highest quality craftsmanship, fresh fashion-forward designs, and the latest in coloring, fibers, and cap design.

Raquel Welch with ex-husband, Patrick Curtis
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Actress Rachel Welch was married four times before her death.

Before her death, Raquel revealed she didn’t regret her marriage even if she didn’t get it right when it came to picking a partner.

“I never did get it right. And a lot of men don’t like the fact that when we go somewhere I am the one who gets focused on,” she told The Irish Mirror. “I don’t regret the marriages. I had real feelings for all of them. At the time I thought it was love and we could make a great life but it wasn’t in the cards.”

Raquel married her high school sweetheart James Welch in 1959.

raquel welch damon
Raquel Welch with son Damon in 1974.
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Before her first big role in Hollywood, Raquel married her high school sweetheart James Welch, and the couple had two children, Damon and Tahnee Welch.

They were married for five years before they divorced in 1964. However, she famously kept his last name.

In 1967, she married producer, Patrick Curtis.

raquel welch patrick curtis
Raquel with her second husband Patrick Curtis in 1965.
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

A few years later, she married producer Patrick Curtis. He produced several of her films, including A Swingin’ Summer and Hannie Caulder.

The couple split in 1972 and had no children together.

Raquel Welch’s third husband was producer André Weinfeld.

raquel welch andre
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

The third time was not the charm for Raquel, who married André Weinfeld in 1980 before calling it quits after 10 years together.

“We had a very happy marriage,” André told Closer in 2015, before revealing that distance drove them apart. “She moved back to La La Land and I stayed in New York [City] and Paris… She promised me she would sail into the sunset, and I can see she hasn’t. She married after me.”

Raquel’s fourth and final husband was Richard Palmer, a restaurant owner.

raquel welch richard palmer
Raquel Welch with her then fiancé, Richard Palmer in 1999.
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Following her divorce from André, Raquel went on to marry one final time. She wed Mulberry Street Pizzeria owner Richard Palmer in 1999, but by 2003, they were officially separated.

Following their divorce, Raquel vowed to never get married again, and she kept her word.

“I’m just not suited for it any longer. I love men and I love their company, but I am too independent and self-motivated,” she told British Elle, per IMDB. “I’m willing to date but, quite frankly, there is a diminishing group of eligible people at my age. I don’t mind the traditional roles of male and female but, as you can tell, I am a very strong minded woman. I’m sure I would be a challenge for an awful lot of men. They wouldn’t want to deal with it or, if they would like to deal with it, maybe I’m just not that interested.”

Raquel Welch dated a few men after her four marriages.

Raquel was rumored to have dated several famous men before she passed away, including TV director Nigel Lythgoe and actor Gary Stretch. In her lifetime, she was also linked to several Hollywood heartthrobs such as Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, and Warren Beatty — to name a few.

Who are Raquel Welch’s children?

In 1959, Raquel married her first husband and high school sweetheart James Welch. The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas one year after the model graduated from high school. Raquel and James welcomed two children — a son and a daughter — during their marriage.

On Nov. 6, 1959, the couple’s first child, Damon Welch, was born. Two years later, their daughter, Latanne Rene “Tahnee” Welch, was born on Dec. 26, 1961. After five years of marriage, Raquel and James divorced, and the actress married Patrick Curtis in 1967.

Raquel Welch’s daughter Tahnee Welch is a renowned actress and model.

Tahnee Welch
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Raquel Welch’s daughter Tahnee Welch spent the majority of her childhood in England, Italy, and Spain and attended an all-girls school in the United States. At age 16, Tahnee dropped out of school and proceeded to study acting in New York after working as a hairdresser and maid.

In 1984, she kick-started her acting career in Italy and starred alongside famed Italian actress Virna Lisi in Amarsi un po’. The young actress went on to star in acclaimed films such as CocoonSleeping BeautyI Shot Andy WarholSearch and Destroy, and more.

In addition to acting, Tahnee Welch made a name for herself in the modeling industry. The actress appeared on the November 1995 cover of Playboy magazine and graced the pages of American and Italian Vogue as well as Marie ClaireInterviewModaBunte, and British GQ.

Raquel Welch’s son Damon Welch also went into the film industry like his mother.

Raquel Welch and Damon Welch
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Raquel Welch’s firstborn previously followed in his mother’s footsteps by seemingly pursuing the entertainment industry, although it’s unclear what he’s doing today. In 1971, Damon Welch appeared in the film The Beloved. He was later a production assistant for 1979’s The Day the Earth Got Stoned. He also served as a production assistant for his mom’s 1984 exercise video Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness.

In 1990, Damon tied the knot with Rebecca Trueman, daughter of English cricket icon Fred Trueman. However, they were married for only 15 months before divorcing in 1992.

Damon and Rebecca’s formal wedding occurred at Bolton Abbey in 1991, and his mother’s dress caused quite a scandal. Arriving in a form-fitting black dress, Raquel sparked controversy at the time with her ensemble, but Rebecca recently vouched for her attire choice in an interview with Daily Express.

“She was trying to respect English tradition and tried to wear an English dress and jacket ensemble. I actually thought she looked very stylish and beautiful on the day,” Rebecca said.

“But of course, everyone just picked up on her most famous asset — her chest — which was revealed when she removed the jacket for the reception.”

What was Raquel Welch’s net worth?

Raquel Welch is an American actress, singer, model, and businesswoman who has a net worth of $40 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. Raquel was a very successful American personality who made a salary of $5 million per year, per CA knowledge.

In 1997 Raquel Welch paid $2 million for a home in Beverly Hills, Ca. The seller was comedian Jeff Foxworthy. She then performed a significant and thorough renovation. In 2005 Raquel sold this home to reality television surgeon Dr. Robert Rey for $4.5 million.

In 2001 she bought a second Beverly Hills mansion which was her primary residence for the rest of her life. This home is worth an estimated $4-5 million.

Raquel Welch
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

What was Raquel Welch’s cause of death?

On Feb. 15, 2023, TMZ reported that Raquel Welch had died following a brief battle with an undisclosed illness. Many fans were quick to hop on social media and pay tribute to the Fantastic Voyage actress.

“We’ve lost an absolute legend,” one person said.” Raquel Welch will be remembered for countless roles, but her highlight for me will forever be Myra Breckinridge. #RIP.” Another wrote that Raquel “was not just another pretty face. She was kind and funny as hell,” while a third fan added, “We were blessed to have her; she was a [goddamn] delight.”

Raquel Welch as Sarita in '100 Rifles'
Raquel Welch as Sarita in ‘100 Rifles’
SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

Raquel first won attention for her role as Cora Peterson, the technical assistant for Dr. Duval in Fantastic Voyage. She then earned a contract with 20th Century Fox, and from there, she starred in films such as Fathom, Bedazzled, Bandolero!, Lady in Cement, 100 Rifles, and Myra Breckinridge.

20th Century Fox also lent Raquel’s contract to the British studio Hammer Film Productions, for whom she starred as Loana in the 1966 adventure fantasy film One Million Years B.C. She didn’t have much dialogue in the movie, but her wardrobe catapulted her to international sex symbol status, and images of her in the fur bikini became best-selling posters.

In recent years, Raquel starred in the PBS series American Family, a story about a Mexican American family in East Los Angeles. Throughout the 2000s, she appeared in the comedy films Legally Blonde and Forget About It as well as in sitcoms like Welcome to the Captain and Date My Dad.

Our thoughts are with Raquel’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.

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