Entertainment

Raquel Welch, actor and international sex symbol, dies at 82

Marlene Lenthang and Diana Dasrath
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Actress Raquel Welch poses for a portrait in 1980 in Cabo San Lucas. Mexico.
Harry Langdon | Archive Photos | Getty Images

Actor Raquel Welch, whose role in the 1966 film "One Million Years B.C." shot her to stardom and cemented her status as a sex symbol, has died, her management company said.

She was 82.

Welch died Wednesday morning following a brief illness, Media Four said in a statement.

A publicity photo for "One Million Years" showing her wearing a fur bikini thrust her into international fame. That same year, she appeared in the film "Fantastic Voyage." 

Welch won a Golden Globe in 1975 for best actress in a musical/comedy for her role in "The Three Musketeers." She was nominated in 1988 for best actress in a limited series for her role in "Right to Die." 

Over the course of a career that spanned more than 50 years, Welch had more than 30 film and 50 television credits.

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Her most recent appearances were on the TV Series "Date My Dad" in 2017 and in the film "How to be a Latin Lover," which was released that same year, according to her IMDb profile.

Welch was involved in a very successful line of wigs.

She is survived by her two children, Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch.