According to a report from TMZ, Raquel Welch, the American actress and renowned $ex symbol, passed away at the age of 82 after a brief illness.
In 1966, Welch gained worldwide recognition for her consecutive appearances in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C. Although she had limited dialogue in the latter film, her portrayal in a deerskin bikini firmly established her status as a $ex symbol.
Following her early career, Welch achieved great success as a film actress during the 1960s and 1970s, including a Golden Globe win for her performance in The Three Musketeers in 1974. Nearly three decades later, in 1995, she was recognized as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in Film History by Empire magazine, and was ranked as the third sexiest star of the 20th century by Playboy.
Jo Raquel Tejada, born on September 5, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois, launched her career in her 20s. Initially, she made guest appearances on popular television shows including Bewitched, The Virginian and McHale’s Navy.
Soon after, she landed her big break in the movies Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years BC. Welch also played the role of Lust, one of the deadly sins, in the 1967 comedy Bedazzled alongside Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Additionally, she starred as the titular secret agent in the spy comedy Fathom.
Welch also appeared in the 1969 western 100 Rifles and portrayed the transgender character Myra Breckinridge in the 1970s film.
During the 1970s, Welch continued to make a name for herself on television, appearing on Robin Williams’ comedy Mork and Mindy as his nemesis. She also starred in the television films The Girl’s Back in Town and Right to Die, winning a Golden Globe award for the latter.
In more recent years, Welch has made guest appearances on popular TV shows such as Lois & Clark, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Seinfeld, Spin City, and CSI: Miami.
Source: TMZ
