by Raquel Welch, the international sex symbol of the 1960s whose acting career spanned more than half a century, died Wednesday at her Los Angeles home. She was 82.
Welch rose to stardom in the ’60s with the films Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years BC.
“Then this bikini picture came out that caused a stir,” she told the New York Post in 2014. “I was traveling to shoot the film in the Canary Islands and it was very remote. When I came back, everyone seemed to know who I was. I really couldn’t have been happier or more surprised. How was that possible?
Welch has acted in more than 30 films, dozens of television shows, and had cheeky appearances on variety shows, like when she performed “I’m a Woman” opposite Cher on “The Cher Show” in 1975.
She even appeared in an episode of “Seinfeld,” playing herself getting into a cat fight with Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Elaine, and played Mrs. Windham Vandermark in the 2001 hit film “Legally Blonde.” In 1975 she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in The Three Musketeers.
While many of Welch’s best performances are hard to find today, here are five of her most notable films.
“Fantastic Voyage” (1966)
This was Welch’s breakthrough role, in which she played Cora Peterson, Dr. Duval, in this sci-fi adventure about a submarine crew tasked with fixing the brain of a scientist who was nearly murdered. The crew is microscopically shrunk and injected into the injured scientist’s bloodstream. Of course, they encounter many obstacles during their mission.
You can stream Fantastic Voyage on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.
Raquel Welch starred in “One Million Years BC”.
(20th Century Fox/Getty Images)
“A Million Years BC” (1966)
This British adventure fantasy is set in a fictional age when both dinosaurs and humans roamed the earth. Welch starred as Loana, a woman of the Shell tribe. Exiled to a harsh desert by his savage Rock tribe, Tumak battles various prehistoric creatures before collapsing on a secluded beach where he meets Loana. Together they fight against hunters and volcanoes and of course fall in love with each other.
You can buy One Million Years BC on DVD and Blu-ray through Amazon.
“Myra Breckinridge” (1970)
Welch played a trans woman in the title role in this film adaptation of Gore Vidal’s 1970 satirical novel. After Myron Breckinridge undergoes a gender reassignment surgery in Copenhagen, she returns to America as Myra, where she arrives at her Uncle Buck’s drama school, claiming to be Myron’s widow and having awarded her half the school or $500,000 in his will.
You can buy Myra Breckinridge on DVD or VHS through Amazon or watch it in Spanish on YouTube.
“The Three Musketeers” (1974)
Welch played the role of Constance Bonacieux in this 1974 swashbuckler film. The swordsman D’Artagnan arrives in Paris pursuing his dream of becoming a king’s musketeer, where he commits many faux pas and is robbed, among other humiliations. Eventually, he comes into conflict with three musketeers, who each challenge him to a duel.
However, when they are ambushed, they decide to join forces against the cardinal. D’Artagnan then falls in love with his landlord’s wife, Welch’s Bonacieux, and they begin a torrid love affair.
You can stream The Three Musketeers on Amazon Prime.
“How to be a Latin Lover” (2017)
In her last film, Welch portrayed widowed billionaire Celeste Birch, the target of Maximo, a rusty gigolo who made his career seducing wealthy older women. Maximo is shocked when his 80-year-old wife leaves him for a younger man, sparking his pursuit of Celeste.
You can stream How to Be a Latin Lover on Showtime or rent it on Amazon Prime.
