‘She was glamorous beyond belief!’: Raquel Welch tributes pour in from Reese Witherspoon, Melissa Gilbert and Viola Davis after the Hollywood icon dies at age 82 following a brief illness
Raquel Welch died at the age of 82 following a brief illness, her business manager confirmed on Wednesday.
Shock waves rolled through the entertainment industry quickly as it took a while to sink in that one of the greatest Hollywood beauties of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s was gone for good.
And soon after tributes for the Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C. actress came pouring in.
Several stars commented on Raquel’s iconic status as she was one of the first brunette bombshells in Hollywood to star in films.
Among the celebrities that took to social media to share their messages were Reese Witherspoon, Melissa Gilbert and Viola Davis.
Hard to take: Raquel Welch died at the age of 82 following a brief illness, her business manager confirmed on Wednesday. Reese Witherspoon said she loved working with Welch on Legally Blonde
Melissa Gilbert of Little House On The Prairie fame shared a stunning photo of the star
Reese Witherspoon talked about acting with the great.
‘Sad to hear about Raquel Welch’s passing,’ began the Wild actress. ‘I loved working with her on Legally Blonde. She was elegant, professional and glamorous beyond belief. Simply stunning.’
The wife of Jim Toth added, ‘May all her angels carry her home. Sending love to her family and her many fans.’
Melissa Gilbert posted a throwback photo of Welch from the 1960s as she wore a Native American necklace and fringed dress.
‘There are people one aspires to be like and then there are those you know you’ll just never be like because they are just so individually undeniably themselves,’ wrote the Little House on The Prairie star.
‘This woman was one of those people. And what a woman she was and will always be! #RIP.
Viola Davis shares old clips of Raquel.
‘It was such a pleasure to meet you! You were ageless to me…iconic…. Rest well Raquel Welch!! ❤️❤️❤️,’ she shared.
Brian Wilson took to Twitter to share a 1960s photo of her
Robert Wagner of Hart To Hart fame also took to social media to say a few words.
In two images he is seen as a young man with his arm around a bikini clad Welch.
‘Jill and I are saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, Raquel Welch,’ wrote the widower of Natalie Wood.
Jill is Jill St John, his current wife.
‘I worked with her back in 1968 in The Biggest Bundle of Them All and again a few years ago on Date My Dad.
‘She was an incredibly gifted woman with such a beautiful soul. Our thoughts go out to her family and her children.’
Barry Watson – who is married to Robert’s daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner – wrote, ‘Very sad to hear that Raquel Welch passed-way too soon. This pic was probably the last time I spent time with Raquel. We were doing press for Date My Dad where she played my mother in law.
‘I’ll never forget when she first met my daughter Clover at the hotel we stayed at in Vancouver while we were shooting the series.
‘Clover wouldn’t stop hugging her:) Rest in peace Rocky. This world will miss you.’
Farewell: Robert Wagner took to social media to say a few words. In two images he is seen as a young man with his arm around a bikini clad Welch. ‘Jill and I are saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, Raquel Welch,’ wrote the widower of Natalie Wood. Jill is Jill St John
A good match: Here Robert is seen going in for a kiss with Raquel on Date My Dad
His words: Barry Watson wrote, ‘Very sad to hear that Raquel Welch passed-way too soon. This pic was probably the last time I spent time with Raquel. We were doing press for Date My Dad where she played my mother in law’
Pals: Playboy model and producer on The Bay Devin Devasquez, far right, shared a photo with Welch from a few years ago. ‘It was sad to hear of the passing of #RaquelWelch such an iconic and beautiful woman. We had the pleasure of her company a few years ago at an art show. #ripraquel.’
A fan: Antonio Sabato Jr called her an ‘amazing beauty grace & talent’
Kurt Loder said that she maintained a winningly wry attitude about her place in the showbiz firmament’
Playboy model and producer on The Bay Devin Devasquez shared a photo with Welch from a few years ago.
‘It was sad to hear of the passing of #RaquelWelch such an iconic and beautiful woman. We had the pleasure of her company a few years ago at an art show. #ripraquel.’
Kelly Rowland shared several photos of Welch from throughout the years as well beginning with a selfie of the star with wavy brown hair.
Wavy locks: Kelly Rowland shared several photos of Welch from throughout the years as well beginning with a selfie of the star with wavy brown hair
Busty: She showed off her ample chest in a long white gown with fringe coming off the elbows
Iconic: Of course, Kelly shared Welch’s most iconic moment which showed her from her appearance in the movie Planet of the Apes
Cracking a joke: Social media personality Nik Carter decided to quote from an iconic film. Along with the photo from Planet of the Apes, Carter wrote, ‘Its a conspiracy! AND EVERYONE IS IN ON IT, even that CUPCAKE ON THE WALL?!”….. #raquelwelch as immortalized in “The Shawshank Redemption” RIP’
Of course, Kelly shared Welch’s most iconic moment which showed her from her appearance in the movie Planet of the Apes.
Social media personality Nik Carter decided to quote from an iconic film. Along with the photo from Planet of the Apes, Carter wrote, ‘Its a conspiracy! AND EVERYONE IS IN ON IT, even that CUPCAKE ON THE WALL?!”….. #raquelwelch as immortalized in “The Shawshank Redemption” RIP.’
The quote comes from the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption. Welch’s poster appears on wall, concealing the hall that Tim Robbins’ character escapes through.
She died in Los Angeles Wednesday morning following, Steve Sauer said. Her son, Damon Welch, also confirmed her death, but did not cite a specific cause.
Welch rose to fame after breaking the mold of the ‘blonde bombshell’.
From there, she appeared in a slew of movies and television shows, and earned a Golden Globe for her role as Constance de Bonacieux in the 1974 remake of The Three Musketeers.
Welch’s death was first reported by TMZ, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans and celebrities.
Another collage tribute: Comedienne Sandra Bernhard shared four images and wrote RIP
A blast from the past: Kurt Loder said that she maintained a winningly wry attitude about her place in the showbiz firmament’
Welch, who gained international fame in the 1960s, cemented her status as an international sex symbol after her role in One Million Years BC
Welch passed away at her home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. She appeared in a slew of movies and television shows, and earned a Golden Globe for her role as Constance de Bonacieux in the 1974 remake of The Three Musketeers
DailyMail.com spotted the star in July, writhing in pain, during her three-hour visit to Beverly Hills nail salon J&J Beauty Lounge.
For her outing, she wore glamorous gold hoop earrings and a white top with black pants as she patiently read magazines in the waiting area until her beautician was ready.
Eventually, Welch seemed thrilled with the results and shared some laughs with her manicurist during less arduous moments.
Before her July outing, lowkey Welch, who rarely ventured out in public, was last photographed by DailyMail.com in September 2021 for the first time in two years.
Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada on September 5, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to a Bolivian immigrant father, Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo and mother, Josephine Sarah Hall.
Welch, pictured in 2017, is survived by her two children, Tahnee and Damon Welch
She had two younger siblings, James and Gayle Tejada.
The family moved to San Diego, California when Welch was just two years old, where she regularly attended church with her mother.
Welch began studying ballet at the age of seven, but gave up on the pursuit after 10 years when her instructor told her she did not have the right body type for professional ballet companies.
At the age of 14, Welch won beauty titles as Miss Photogenic and Miss Contour. She would then go on to win Miss La Jolla and the title of Miss San Diego – the Fairest of the Fair – at the San Diego County Fair.
Eventually, she was even named Maid of California.
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