Raquel Welch, Actress and Legendary Bombshell, Dead at 82

Raquel Welch, the legendary Golden Globe-winning actress and legendary bombshell, has died, ET has confirmed. She was 82.

Welch's rep, Steve Sauer, tells ET, "the legendary bombshell actress of film, television and stage, passed away peacefully early [Wednesday] morning after a brief illness."

Sauer added, "The 82 year-old actress burst into Hollywood in her initial roles in One Million [Years], 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."

The cause of death has not been revealed. TMZ first broke the news.

Welch first earned fame in 1966 in the film Fantastic Voyage. It was her role in that sci-fi film that landed her a lucrative contract with 20th Century Fox, ultimately leading to her role in One Million Years B.C., which was released the same year. Welch, who said in 2017 she almost died shooting the British fantasy film, had just three lines in the entire movie. But it was her image as Loana in a "prehistoric" doeskin bikini for the film's poster that catapulted her into the limelight.

After earning worldwide fame thanks to that poster, Welch would become one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. She'd star in several big and small screen projects, including Bedazzled, Bandolero!, 100 Rifles, Myra Breckinridge and Hannie Caulder.

Her steady rise in the 1960s led to even more success the following decade, particularly after landing the role of Constance Bonacieux, the dressmaker of the Queen in The Three Musketeers. For her performance in the 1973 live-action film, Welch was honored with a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

She was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1987 for Best Actress in a Television Film for her role in Right to Die. Welch, who placed third on Playboy's 100 Sexiest Stars of the Twentieth Century list, also made a memorable appearance as herself on Seinfeld, playing a villain in "The Summer of George" episode in season 8.

Welch, who got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994, also stared in Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon and appeared in Spin City, CSI: Miami, House of Versace and, most recently, How to Be a Latin Lover.

She was married four times and had two children, Tahnee and Damon Welch.

Link to story: https://bikininewsdaily.com/bnd/RaquelWelchActressandLeg-3677

Raquel Welch has showcased her timeless beauty in a series of unearthed photos from the early days of the star's career

Hollywood veteran Raquel Welch, 81, rose to fame as an international starlet with her captivating looks and iconic frame.

The legend made her Hollywood name starring in classics such as Bedazzled, One Million Years B.C., Bandolero!, among many others.

In the early days of her career, the model and beauty pageant title winner posed for a series of sultry bikini snaps, which were taken over five decades ago.

The actress, then aged 26, showed off her youthful looks and has barely aged since after the icon made a rare public appearance.

It comes as Raquel was spotted out and about for the first time in over two years after being seen by the Heritage Auctions building in Beverly Hills in September.

In the unearthed pics, the brunette bombshell let her sizzling hourglass curves take centre-stage as she sauntered out of the water in one sultry shot which was taken in 1966 for the film La Bande à César.

The ageless beauty flaunted her toned midriff, as she beamed into the camera.

In another snap, she gave fans an eyeful of her shapely rear in the jaw-dropping shot while holding seaweed.

Link to story: https://bikininewsdaily.com/bnd/RaquelWelchhasshowcasedh-2557