Hollywood star and “legendary bombshell” Raquel Welch has died at the age of 82. The American actress and model rose to fame after starring in Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years BC in 1966, despite only having a small number of lines in the latter.
Her performance in One Million Years BC garnered viewer attention after she donned a now-infamous deerskin bikini, going on to become regarded as a major sex symbol.
Welch died after a brief illness early on Wednesday, her manager said, in a statement shared with the PA news agency. After the announcement, tributes flooded in from famous faces including Reese Witherspoon, Carol Vorderman and even The Muppets. “Raquel Welch, the legendary bombshell actress of film, television and stage, passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness,” a statement from the family read. “The 82-year-old actress burst into Hollywood in her initial roles in One Million Years BC 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. ”Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada in Chicago to Bolivian father Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and American mother Josephine Sarah.
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