Who are Raquel Welch's exes? 'One Million Years BC' star and ‘60s sex symbol was married 4 times

Actress Raquel Welch, who was known as a sex symbol in the '60s, died on February 15 at the age of 82

UPDATED FEB 16, 2023

Raquel Welch captured with her second husband, Patrick Curtis , in 1971, and with fourth husband, Richard Palmer at the he premiere of the film 'Serving Sara' in 2002 (Vince Bucci and Central Press/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Raquel Welch, who shot to fame as a sex symbol in the 1960s and is known for her roles in films 'Fantastic Voyage' and 'One Million Years BC', died on Wednesday, February 15, at the age of 82. Raquel’s representative Steve Sauer confirmed the news in a statement saying, "The legendary bombshell actress of film, television, and stage, passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness."

Steve further stated, “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," as quoted by Diario AS. “I enjoy the fact that I was celebrated in that capacity. It was limiting, though. But the truth of the matter is that because my look was kind of exotic, I was never going to get cast in all the roles that I’d like to get cast in,” Raquel told AP News in 2015 while reflecting on her career choices. As the news of her death broke out, fans started pouring in tributes with one saying, "Rest in peace, Raquel Welch. You were a very cool actress, and you helped Andy Dufresne escape from Shawshank." Raquel was the poster girl in the classic film 'Shawshank Redemption.'

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'Most desired woman'

Born on September 5, 1940, as Raquel Tejada, she captured pop culture's attention with Playboy giving her the “most desired woman” of the ‘70s tag. She also occupied the number two spot on Men’s Health’s 'Hottest Women of All Time' list in 2013, states The Dallas Morning News. Being the oldest of three children to parents Armand Carlos Tejada and Josephine Sarah Hall, Welch's father was from Bolivia and her mother was American, she described the details in her 2020 book, 'Raquel: Beyond The Cleavage,' reports DailyMail. She won several teen beauty titles at the age of 14, reports VOA News, and became Maid of California in 1958, states CBR.

Actress Raquel Welch signing copies of 'Raquel: Beyond The Cleavage' at Barnes and Noble of the Grove on April 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Who were Raquel Welch's ex-husbands?

James Welch: In 1959, she married James Welch, her high school lover, at the age of 19 and started studying theater at San Diego State College in California, according to Diario AS. Talking about the marriage, she stated, "By marrying Jim [James], I was doing something for my own personal satisfaction and pretty much in defiance of my father’s wishes. What I didn’t anticipate was how a series of events would dovetail together and forever complicate my life. Jim and I were just settling into an apartment together and tackling the realities of married life: he was looking for a job, and I was calling my mother ten times a day for recipes and tips on cleaning products." They were married for five years before they divorced in 1964. They had two children, a son, Damon, who was born in 1959, and a daughter, Tahnee, who was born in 1961.

Patrick Curtis: Following her divorce, Raquel married Hollywood producer Patrick Curtis in 1967 at Paris’ City Hall. She was at beginning of her fame. Her career started with appearances on TV shows such as 'The Virginian', in 1964, followed by 'McHale's Navy' and 'Bewitched.' One of the first stints was in 1964 'Roustabout' which had Elvis Presley as the lead. She got her first featured film, the 1966 sci-fi 'Fantastic Voyage' but it was 'One Million Years B.C' that gave her fame as she donned a deerskin bikini in the caveman screen epic. Raquel and Curtis met in 1965’s 'A Swingin’ Summer' as they worked together in the comedy films. However, the duo parted ways in the year 1972.

The actress, Raquel Welch, with her husband, Patrick Curtis, in London. — Raquel Welch with Patrick Curtis in London on January 8, 1971 (Central Press/Getty Images)

André Weinfeld: In 1980, she married filmmaker André Weinfeld and in 1990, the couple called it quits. Talking about their marriage, André told Closer Weekly in 2015, "We had a very happy marriage,” however it was the distance that drove them apart. André recalled, "She moved back to La La Land and I stayed in New York [City] and Paris... She promised me she would sail into the sunset, and I can see she hasn’t. She married after me."

Raquel Welch and her husband Andre Weinfeld circa 1985 in New York (Images Press/Getty Images)

Richard Palmer: Raquel and Mulberry Street Pizzeria owner Richard Palmer met at a party in 1996 and got married in 1999. In 2000, describing Raquel, Richard said, "My wife is a living legend. I get great seats at the flights. You go wherever you want to go. It’s great,” as per New York Post. They divorced in 2004.

3/13/99 Beverly Hills, CA. Raquel Welch with her fiance, Richard Palmer at the 49th Annual Eddie Awards. — Raquel Welch with Richard Palmer at the 49th Annual Eddie Awards on March 13, 1999 in Beverly Hills, CA (Getty Images)

'I don’t regret the marriages'

Raquel revealed she didn't regret her marriages even if she didn't get it right. "I never did get it right. And a lot of men don’t like the fact that when we go somewhere I am the one who gets focused on. I don’t regret the marriages. I had real feelings for all of them. At the time I thought it was love and we could make a great life but it wasn’t in the cards," she told The Irish Mirror.