Actress Raquel Welch has died at 82.
On Wednesday, Welch’s manager, Steve Sauer, confirmed exclusively to People she “passed away peacefully early this morning after a brief illness.”
“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,” he added.
Following the news of her death, people sent tributes for Welch on Twitter.
“So sad to hear about Raquel Welch’s passing. I loved working with her on Legally Blonde. She was elegant, professional and glamorous beyond belief,” actress Reese Witherspoon tweeted.
She added, “Simply stunning. May all her angels carry her home. Sending love to her family and her many fans.”
Laraine Newman, an original cast member on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), reminsced about Welch’s time hosting the show.
“When Raquel Welch hosted SNL, I had a sketch with her in which I played Lina Wermuller. It was cut because she wanted to sing a song instead but a couple of years later she sent me a postcard from Italy with Wertmuller’s autograph. RIP sweet lady,” she wrote.
The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation, created for Ray Harryhausen, who was behind the special effects in the movie “One Million Years B.C,” also paid tribute to her.
“We are saddened to hear about the passing of legendary actress Raquel Welch, who starred as Loana in Ray Harryhausen’s 1966 classic ‘One Million Years B.C’. An iconic role which spawned one of the most famous movie posters ever. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time,” the foundation wrote.
In an interview with Johnny Carson in 1968, Welch spoke about being referred to as a “sex symbol” in her career.
“There seemed to be a stereotyped idea of what a sex symbol was – sort of vapid and not too bright and not with much ability,” she said.
She added that although she felt limited by her image, she didn’t think she could “fight against an image” because it’s “something that you can’t control.”
