Actress Raquel Welch was battling health issues prior to her death at the age of 82.
According to Welch’s death certificate obtained by TMZ, she died from cardiac arrest along with Alzheimer’s disease, per People.
On Feb. 15, Welch’s manager, Steve Sauer, confirmed the news of her death exclusively to People.
Sauer said Welch “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.
Her breakout roles were in the 1966 movies “Fantastic Voyage” and “One Million Years B.C.”
The Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation, created for Ray Harryhausen, who was behind the special effects in “One Million Years B.C,” paid tribute to her after her passing.
“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 Fox News in 2017, per Entertainment Tonight Canada (ET Canada), Welch revealed she almost turned down the role that catapulted her into stardom.
“I told [Fox’s studio head] Dick Zanuck I didn’t think I was going to do it because it was a dinosaur movie and I didn’t want to be caught dead in a dinosaur movie,” she said. “And he was not sympathetic to that.”
Welch added, “He said, ‘No, you’re going to do it, Raquel. And listen Raqui, you’re going to become a huge star!’”
However, Welch still had her doubts initially but took the role after some convincing.
“I said, ‘What? What am I even going to wear? What happened in dinosaur time?'” she shared.
Zanuck managed to ease her worries.
“He said, ‘Don’t worry, they’ll figure something out.’ And they sure did,” Welch continued.
