Raquel Welch, the bombshell actress who was one of Hollywood’s most iconic sex symbols and movie stars of the 1960s, died aged 82 on February 15.
The actress, known for her stunning looks, embraced stardom as a sex symbol with roles in films like One Million Years B.C. and Fantastic Voyage, redefining the role and becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest lead actresses.00:00
According to TMZ, the news was confirmed by her family members, who said that she died at home after a brief illness.
Not long after the news broke, the final known photos of the actress resurfaced, showing the on-screen legend getting a painful-looking manicure.
According to the Daily Mirror, the pictures are actually from July 2022, but they are the last to be taken of Welch out in public.
While in the process of receiving her manicure, Welch looked to be some discomfort, but we can only assume she was left happy with the result.
Raquel Welch's last photos: Painful final public sighting https://t.co/cUT06OEtr7 via @nypost
— Dominick (@Dominic00719779) February 17, 2023
What makes the shots so special – obviously aside from them being the last ones taken of Welch alive – is the fact that the Hollywood star often shunned cameras and the limelight in the years following the height of her career.
Welch was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 5, 1940 and grew up in San Diego, California. Her father was from Bolivia, and her cousin Lidia Gueiler Tejada was the Bolivia’s first female head of state.
The young Welch appeared in beauty pageants as a teen, and later became interested in acting. Moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s to pursue her acting dreams, she found management who worked to turn her into a sex symbol.
After appearing in minor film roles and TV guest appearances, she had her first major breakout role with the hit film Fantastic Voyage.
Her next film made her even more iconic: the prehistoric fantasy film One Million Years B.C. Though Welch only had three lines in the film, she proved to be the most famous part of the film, as she was dressed in a now-iconic deerskin bikini.
Raquel Welch children
The famous American actress and sex symbol, did indeed have two children.
Her daughter, Latanne Rene “Tahnee” Welch, followed in her mother’s footsteps and pursued a career in acting. Tahnee Welch is best known for her role in the science fiction film Cocoon (1985).
It’s natural that she was often compared to her beautiful and famous mother. However, Tahnee was tired of these comparisons, even though she had learned to accept them. Perhaps that’s why her modest demeanor was sometimes interpreted as defensive.
ITahnee didn’t complete high school or attend college. She referred to herself as a “loner” and lived independently since the age of 16.
”I never felt really comfortable in White America,” she once confessed.
Raquel Welch also had a son named Damon Welch.
Damon has maintained a relatively private life, revealing little about himself to the public. One noteworthy aspect is his past marriage to Rebecca Trueman, who happens to be the daughter of a well-known English cricket player.
On the day of her son’s wedding, Raquel made a notable fashion choice, donning a chic little black dress that accentuated her cleavage. Rumors circulated that her son and daughter-in-law had clashed with her over her outfit selection.
Ethel, Fred’s mother, who was 87 years old at the time, reportedly approached the actress and model, expressing her disapproval by remarking, “You know, young lady, that’s not the appropriate attire for a wedding blessing.”
However, in later years, Rebecca addressed Welch’s choice of attire and confirmed what many suspected.
“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 later told Daily Expressand added:
“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.”
Rebecca and Damon’s marriage ended after just 15 months.
”The only thing we had in common was that we were both the child of a famous parent,” Rebecca said.
Raquel Welch family life
Despite her busy career in Hollywood, Raquel Welch tried to balance motherhood and her rise to stardom. But it wasn’t easy, something she confessed to while speaking with Oprah Winfrey.
According to Raquel, her family suffered because she couldn’t spend as much time with her children as she wished.
“When I’m running around the world and being Miss Sex Symbol and having this big career in film and everything and I’m running from place to place, I couldn’t always be with my children when I wanted to be,” she said. “Eventually, I could see that this was taking its toll on my kids, and it used to just break my heart.”
Over the course of her glittering career, Welch refused to undress on camera, stating that was the way she had been raised – she even posed for Playboy without ever going nude.
Needless to say, the internet was flooded with messages paying tribute to Welch after news of her passing became public knowledge.
Rest in peace, Raquel, and thanks for the great memories. I’ll simply never forget your appearance in Fantastic Voyage!
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