Raquel Welch, the iconic actress who rose to fame in the 1960s with her roles in “One Million Years B.C.” and “Fantastic Voyage,” passed away at the age of 82 after a brief illness, according to a statement from her manager, Steve Sauer. Welch, who had over 70 film and television credits, began her career as a spokesmodel on the show “Hollywood Palace” and later had a minor role in the 1964 Elvis Presley film “Roustabout”. However, her career took off in the late 1960s with her performances in science fiction film “Fantastic Voyage” and prehistoric drama “One Million Years, B.C.”, where her photos in a fur bikini became the basis of the movie’s marketing campaign and established Welch as an international sex symbol.

Welch went on to star in several westerns, including “Bandolero!” and “100 Rifles,” which is notable for her then-controversial interracial love scene with former football star Jim Brown. Her role in the 1973 movie “The Three Musketeers” earned her a best actress Golden Globe award. In the 1990s, Welch appeared in various sitcoms, including “Seinfeld,” where she played herself, and “Spin City,” “Evening Shade,” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”. She continued her acting career into the turn of the century, appearing in 2001’s “Legally Blonde” alongside Reese Witherspoon.

Despite her success, Welch struggled with the “sex symbol” label that continued to follow her throughout her career. In an interview around the release of her 2001 film “Tortilla Soup,” Welch stated that “part of being a sex symbol is very flattering and it does help you get success in the business – but only to a point.” She added that it clouded people’s imagination and made it difficult for them to see her in other roles.

Aside from acting, Welch also ventured into entrepreneurship with jewelry, skincare, and wig lines. Her final professional credit was in 2017, where she starred as Rosa in UPtv’s “Date My Dad”. Welch leaves behind her two children, son Damon Welch and daughter Tahnee Welch.

In summary, Raquel Welch was an accomplished actress with over 70 film and television credits. She rose to fame in the 1960s with her performances in “Fantastic Voyage” and “One Million Years, B.C.”, becoming an international sex symbol. Despite struggling with the label throughout her career, Welch continued to take on diverse roles and also ventured into entrepreneurship. Her legacy as a Hollywood icon will live on.