Raquel Welch, ‘Fantastic Voyage’ star, has died at age 82

Raquel Welch is an American actress, singer, author, and sex symbol, known for her stunning beauty and captivating performances. She was born Jo Raquel Tejada on September 5, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to Josephine Sarah Hall, a housewife, and Armando Carlos Tejada-urquizo, an aeronautical engineer from Bolivia. Welch's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she moved with her mother and younger brother to San Diego, California.

Welch's childhood was marked by financial struggles, as her mother worked several jobs to support the family. Despite the hardships, Welch was a gifted student and excelled in athletics, particularly in gymnastics. She also had a love for performing, and would often participate in school plays and talent shows.

After graduating from high school in 1958, Welch attended San Diego State College, where she studied drama and performed in local theater productions. In 1959, she was crowned Miss Fairest of the Fair at the San Diego County Fair, which led to her being offered a job as a weather forecaster on a local television station. Welch worked as a weather girl for two years, using the name "Raquel" for the first time, and became a local celebrity in San Diego.

In 1962, Welch moved to Dallas, Texas, to work as a model and continue her acting career. She landed a small role in the film "Roustabout" (1964), starring Elvis Presley, and appeared in a few television shows, including "Bewitched" and "The Virginian."

Welch's breakthrough came in 1966, when she starred in the film "One Million Years B.C." She played a prehistoric cave woman named Loana, wearing a fur bikini that became an iconic image of the 1960. The film was a box office success and made Welch an international sex symbol. Her stunning looks and curvaceous figure made her an instant favorite of male audiences, and she was often compared to other sex symbols of the era, such as Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot.

Following the success of "One Million Years B.C.," Welch starred in a number of films, including "Fantastic Voyage" (1966), in which she played a scientist who is miniaturized and injected into a patient's body, and "Bandolero!" (1968), in which she played a Mexican revolutionary. She also starred in "Myra Breaking ridge" (1970), a controversial film about a transgender woman, and "The Three Musketeers" (1973), in which she played Constance Bonacieux.

Despite her success on the big screen, Welch struggled to find substantial roles in Hollywood. She was often typecast as a sex symbol and was not given the opportunity to showcase her acting abilities. In the 1980, she turned to television, appearing in several made-for-TV movies and miniseries, including "The Legend of Walks Far Woman" (1982) and "Right to Die" (1987).

In the 1990, Welch returned to the stage, appearing in the musicals "Woman of the Year" and "Victor/Victoria." She also had a recurring role on the television series "Central Park West" and appeared in the films "Tortilla Soup" (2001) and "Legally Blonde" (2001).

Throughout her career, Welch has also written several books. Her autobiography, "Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage," was published in 2010 and became a New York Times bestseller. In the book, Welch recounts her personal and professional struggles, including her battle with depression and her difficult relationships with men.

She rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s as a sex symbol, starring in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions.

Welch began her career as a weather forecaster in San Diego, California, before making her film debut in the 1964 film "A House Is Not a Home." She gained widespread recognition for her role in the 1966 film "One Million Years B.C.," in which she played a cave woman wearing a fur bikini.

Over the course of her career, Welch appeared in a number of other notable films, including "Fantastic Voyage" (1966), "Bandolero!" (1968), "Myra Breckinridge" (1970), and "The Three Musketeers" (1973). She also appeared in numerous television shows, including "Raquel!" and "Central Park West."

In addition to her acting career, Welch has written several books, including an autobiography titled "Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage" and a book on beauty and fitness called "Raquel Welch's Total Beauty and Fitness Program."