She was born Jo Raquel Tejada and she married her high school sweetheart James Welch. And even though they divorced in 1964 after five years of marriage she kept his name her entire life.
She became a sex symbol in the 1960's when she starred in the film One Million B.C.
Raquel Welch
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Actress Raquel Welch pictured at the Spanish Square in Rome, July 1966. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
In this movie she only wore was a two-piece deer skin bikini and even though she only had three lines in the whole movie the world was watching. The New York Times hailed her calling her a marvelous breathing monument to womankind. A still shot of her in the bikini soon became a bestselling poster and turned her into an instant pin-up girl.
Raquel Welch
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American actress Raquel Welch on the balcony of the Playboy Club, during a photo-call to promote the film 'The Beloved' in London, 3rd August 1970. (Photo by Michael Webb/Keystone/Getty Images)
In 2011, Time Magazine listed Welch's B.C. bikini in the top ten bikinis in pop culture.
In 1974 she won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the Three Musketeers.
She was again nominated for a Golden Globe in 1987 for her role in the movie Right to Die.
Raquel Welch And Richard Johnson
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Playboy ranked Welch #3 on their list of the 100 sexiest stars of the 20th century. Welch was born in Chicago, Illinois and was the daughter of Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo who was an aeronautical engineer from La Paz, Bolivia. Her mother was Josephine Sarah Hall.
Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' Governors Awards - Arrivals
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Actress Raquel Welch arrives at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 16, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Welch died February 15, 2023 at the age of 82.
Keep scrolling to see more pictures.
Variety & Women In Film Pre-Emmy Event presented by Yoplait Greek - Arrivals
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Actress Raquel Welch attends Variety & Women In Film Pre-Emmy Event presented by Yoplait Greek at Scarpetta on September 20, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Variety)
Premiere for Boynton Beach Club - Arrivals
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LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 01: Actress Raquel Welch arrives at the premiere for "Boynton Beach Club" held at the Pacific Design Centre Silver Screen Theatre on August 1, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
The Bicentenial Concert In Sydney
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SYDNEY - JANUARY 01: AUSTRALIAN ACTOR JACK THOMPSON WITH RAQUEL WELCH AND BOY FRIEND IN SYDNEY. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images).
Celebs At The Carousel Of Hope Ball
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380687 52: Actress Raquel Welch arrives October 28, 2000 at The Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. (Photo by Chris Weeks/Liaison)
Admiring Raquel
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9th January 1968: Two GI's admiring the American actress Raquel Welch during a visit to Vietnam. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Raquel Welch
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Portrait of actress Raquel Welch lying in a boat wearing a bathing suit, as she appears in the film 'The Biggest Bundle of Them All', 1966. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
32nd Anniversary Carousel Of Hope Gala - VIP Reception
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 23: Actors Jane Fonda (L) and Raquel Welch pose at the 32nd Anniversary Carousel of Hope Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 23, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Raquel Welch Tribute
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LOS ANGELES - MARCH 4: Actress Raquel Welch attends her career tribute held on March 4, 2004 at LACMA, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Giulio Marcocchi/Getty Images)
Celebrities with land in Idaho
Celebrities Who Own Property in Idaho
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