Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history in 1995, Raquel Welch had her first taste of the entertainment world by entering beauty contests as a teenager. Upon graduating from La Jolla High School in California she worked as a model, waitress, and television weather-girl until making her film debut in 1964 in an uncredited role in the Elvis Presley film, Roustabout. Around this time she divorced from James Welch, her high school sweetheart, whom she married in 1959 and had two children with; Tahnee, also an actress, and son Damon, a computer consultant and actor.
      In 1965 she landed the lead role in "Do Not Disturb". Although the film itself was mildly received, what resulted was a contract with Fox which won her a role in another sci-fi flick, Fantastic Voyage. But perhaps her most well-known work was in One Million Years B.C., a part which launched the five foot six beauty into international sex symbol status. It was during the climb up the rungs of the Hollywood ladder that Raquel met Patrick Curtis in 1962 whom she married in 1967, but later divorced in 1972. Interestingly, until she met Curtis she had only worked in the modeling industry. It was Curtis who got Raquel her Screen Actors Guild Card and thus sent the stunning beauty onto the path of Hollywood history.
      Being a sex symbol made her a household name, but failed to bring her the roles that would truly cement her worth as a thespian. Perhaps the closest she ever came to proving she could give a dramatic role a run for its money was in The Legend Of Walks Far Woman and The Right To Die, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
      During the 70's and 80's Raquel did continue to be cast in either supporting, uncredited, or lead roles, but unfortunately, most were considered box office bombs. Husband number three, Andre Weinfeld, came along in 1980 but again it was a marriage also headed for divorce. It lasted until 1990.
      For the majority of the 80's Raquel appeared in numerous television roles and it wasn't until 1994 that she returned to the big screen in The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult. Since then Raquel has remained primarily in the background. However she could still be seen in cameo appearances in such hit shows as Seinfeld.
      She continues to be regarded as one of the world's greatest beauties, making Playboy's list of the 100 sexiest stars of the 20th century; coming in 3rd after Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Her career has included nightclub entertaining, the Broadway musical Woman of the Year, and the publication of a Total Beauty and Fitness Programme.
      On July 17th 1999, she married restaurant-chain owner, Richard Palmer.
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