Film

Raquel Welch: A life in pictures

The Hollywood actor, star of the 1960s films One Million Years BC and Fantastic Voyage, dies aged 82

Portrait of actress Raquel Welch on August 9th, 1968. Photograph: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Portrait of actress Raquel Welch on August 9th, 1968. Photograph: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Thu Feb 16 2023 - 10:27

US actor and model Raquel Welch has died at the age of 82. She 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.

[ Raquel Welch obituary: Star who grabbed the spotlight with her defiant, take-no-prisoners stance ]

Raquel Welch arrives at London airport from Malaga on November 18th, 1966. She was travelling for the film Fathom. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch arrives at London airport from Malaga on November 18th, 1966. She was travelling for the film Fathom. Photograph: PA

[ Raquel Welch: unrecognised groundbreaker of Hollywood past had no illusions about how public perceived her, writes Donald Clarke ]

[ Raquel Welch, known for roles in One Million Years BC and The Three Musketeers, dies aged 82 ]

American actress Raquel Welch as Loana in the film One Million Years BC in 1966. Photograph: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
American actress Raquel Welch as Loana in the film One Million Years BC in 1966. Photograph: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
US actor Raquel Welch posing for photographers on the roof of London's Dorchester Hotel on April 1st, 1969. Photograph: PA
US actor Raquel Welch posing for photographers on the roof of London's Dorchester Hotel on April 1st, 1969. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch in London promoting the film The Beloved in 1970. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch in London promoting the film The Beloved in 1970. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch arrives at Heathrow airport with husband Patrick Curtis in 1971. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch arrives at Heathrow airport with husband Patrick Curtis in 1971. Photograph: PA
Portrait of Raquel Welch. Photograph: Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images
Portrait of Raquel Welch. Photograph: Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images
Raquel Welch in London for the Royal Film Performance of the Three Musketeers in March, 1974. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch in London for the Royal Film Performance of the Three Musketeers in March, 1974. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch showing her new book Raquel: The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program in 1984 in California. Photograph: Ron Galella Ltd/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Raquel Welch showing her new book Raquel: The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program in 1984 in California. Photograph: Ron Galella Ltd/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Raquel Welch for the film Right to Die, which ws asdirected by Paul Wendkos. Photograph: Jean-Louis Atlan/Sygma via Getty Images
Raquel Welch for the film Right to Die, which ws asdirected by Paul Wendkos. Photograph: Jean-Louis Atlan/Sygma via Getty Images
Raquel Welch appearing on the ABC TV special The Barbara Walters Special in 1985. Photograph: Erik Hein /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images
Raquel Welch appearing on the ABC TV special The Barbara Walters Special in 1985. Photograph: Erik Hein /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images
Actress Raquel Welch in 1995. Photograph: John Giles/PA
Actress Raquel Welch in 1995. Photograph: John Giles/PA
Actors Gina Lollobrigida (left) and Raquel Welch at the Bafta Awards ceremony at the London Palladium in April 1995. Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA
Actors Gina Lollobrigida (left) and Raquel Welch at the Bafta Awards ceremony at the London Palladium in April 1995. Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA
Raquel Welch (left), greets Bill and Melinda Gates at a gala in New York on March 3rd, 1998. Photograph: Bill Cunningham/The New York Times
Raquel Welch (left), greets Bill and Melinda Gates at a gala in New York on March 3rd, 1998. Photograph: Bill Cunningham/The New York Times
Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed greeting film star Raquel Welch (59), to his store in Knightsbridge, London, as she opened the January sale in 2000. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA
Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed greeting film star Raquel Welch (59), to his store in Knightsbridge, London, as she opened the January sale in 2000. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA
Raquel Welch arriving at the Carl Davis pre-Grammy party at the Beverley Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles in February 2008. Photograph: Ian West/PA
Raquel Welch arriving at the Carl Davis pre-Grammy party at the Beverley Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles in February 2008. Photograph: Ian West/PA
Raquel Welch (left), with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg at a gala in Los Angeles on January 10th, 2014. Photograph: Emily Berl/The New York Times
Raquel Welch (left), with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg at a gala in Los Angeles on January 10th, 2014. Photograph: Emily Berl/The New York Times
Raquel Welch arriving at the Samuel Goldwyn theatre in Beverly Hills, California, USA for the premiere of Serving Sara in August 2022. Photograph: PA
Raquel Welch arriving at the Samuel Goldwyn theatre in Beverly Hills, California, USA for the premiere of Serving Sara in August 2022. Photograph: PA
Flowers placed on the Raquel Welch star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California after her death. Photograph: Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE
Flowers placed on the Raquel Welch star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California after her death. Photograph: Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE