Raquel Welch rose to international stardom with her role in One Million Years B.C., but this was just the beginning. Over the following decades, the Hollywood star acted in dozens of movies, appeared in countless television shows, was named a MAC Cosmetics Beauty Icon, and cemented herself as one of the sexiest and most powerful women in Hollywood. Now, following the actress’s death at the age of 82, we’re taking a look at some of the unforgettable screen siren’s most notable career moments—from her award-winning on-screen performances to her time spent on Broadway, and everything in between.

Welch, who went by Jo Raquel Tejada before hitting the big screen, was born in Chicago and later moved to San Diego with her family when she was two. She always knew she wanted to be a performer, and she took dance classes, joined beauty pageants, and even attended San Diego State College on a theater scholarship to support this dream. After a divorce from her high school sweetheart, James Welch, Welch moved herself and her two children to Dallas.

Before breaking into screen acting, Welch was a television weather presenter, Neiman Marcus model, stage actor, and cocktail waitress. After landing minor roles in the early 1960s, she finally gained attention for her role in Fantastic Voyage. Her work in this film got her a contract with 20th Century Fox.

1966 was a very busy year for the actress—she also starred in One Million Years B.C., a remake of a 1940 film. Welch only had three lines in the whole movie and wore just one costume, a two-piece deerskin bikini. Despite all this, critics still raved about her performance.

That same year, Welch appeared in the Italian film Shoot Loud, Louder...I Don't Understand, which was directed by Marcello Mastroianni.

Here, Welch is pictured meeting Queen Elizabeth during a Royal Film Performance in the UK.

Welch married her second husband, American producer, and Hollywood agent Patrick Curtis in 1967. Curtis was also Welch’s personal and business manager.

In 1967, Welch acted in the British spy film, Fathom, which was directed by Leslie H. Martinson. Here, she is pictured sitting beside English actor Richard Briers while on set.

During the Vietnam War, Welch traveled with Bob Hope to Vietnam to perform in a USO show. Here, the actress is seen dancing and laughing with soldiers.

Welch starred in a 1968 heist film, The Biggest Bundle of Them All. The movie was shot in Naples, Italy, and centers around the story of a retired mobster who teams up with rookie gang members to steal $5 million worth of platinum bars from a train.

Here, Welch is seen chatting with Dean Martin on the set of their American Western movie, Bandelero! The film also starred other big names, including Jimmy Stewart.

In 1968, Welch acted opposite Frank Sinatra in the detective film Lady in Cement. Welch played Kit Forrest, a socialite who is also the love interest of Sinatra’s character, Tony Rome. The actress shared years later that she was enamored with the blue-eyed singer during the movie’s filming.

Burt Reynolds, Jim Brown, and Fernando Lamas joined Welch in the 1969 Tom Gries-directed film 100 Rifles. At the time, the film stirred up much controversy because of its intimate love scenes between Brown and Welch, who played a freedom fighter leader.

The comedy film, The Magic Christian, brought musician Ringo Starr and Welch together. Here, the two are pictured on the set of the satirical movie in which Welch appeared as a slave priestess.

Welch poses in a red, white and blue bathing suit, long red gloves, and white cowboy boots to promote her 1970 film, Myra Breckenridge.

Welch not only starred in the 1970 film The Beloved, but also co-produced it as well. It was shot on-location in Cyprus.

Here, Welch attends the Academy Awards with famous football player Joe Namath—the two dated on and off during the early 1970s following her divorce from Curtis.

A year later, Welch would claim the title role in the Western movie Hannie Caulder, which was shot in Spain. At the time, Welch was one of the few actresses to land a top spot in a Western film. This movie, which Burt Kennedy directed, later inspired many revenge pictures, including Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 1.

Welch reunited with Reynolds for the 1972 film, Fuzz. In this movie, Welch plays Detective Eileen McHenry, who works alongside Reynolds to get to the bottom of a murder-extortion racket.

Welch received much attention for Kansas City Bomber, where she starred as a single mother and roller derby athlete. Life magazine called her “the hottest thing on wheels” following the film's release. However, shooting Kansas City Bomber wasn’t all smooth sailing—Welch, who did her own stunts, broke her wrist during filming, causing production to pause for six weeks.

Welch simultaneously shot the mystery comedy-drama Bluebeard while working on Kansas City Bomber. While filming in Budapest, Elizabeth Taylor, who was married to the film’s star, Richard Burton, threw a luxurious fortieth birthday for herself. Besides Welch, big names, including Michael Caine, Grace Kelly, and Ringo Starr, attended.

In 1973, Welch appeared in two films, The Last of Sheila and The Three Musketeers. Inspired by the 1884 novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers was a critical and commercial success and received several award nominations. Welch would receive a Golden Globe for her role in this movie and reprise her role in The Four Musketeers the following year.

Welch appeared as a guest star on a 1978 episode of The Muppet Show. The actress is shown here singing a duet of “I’m A Woman” with Miss Piggy.

In 1979, Welch appeared on an episode of Mork and Mindy alongside Robin Williams. In this episode, Welch plays Captain Nirvana, a seductive alien from Necroton who tries to get information about Earth out of Williams’ character.

Welch married her third husband, Andre Weinfeld, in 1980 after meeting a few years earlier in Paris. The actress would remain married to the photographer for a decade.

Although known for her screen acting, Welch made her big Broadway debut in the early 1980s when she filled in for Lauren Bacall in the Broadway musical Woman of the Year. Welch was only supposed to be Bacall’s replacement for two weeks, but because critics and production loved her so much, they invited her back to perform the role for an additional six months in 1982. The actress is pictured here celebrating during the Woman of the Year cast party at Regine’s in New York City.

Not only did Welch act, model, and produce films, but she also wrote books. In 1984, she released a beauty and health-focused book titled, The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program. Here, she is photographed at the book’s launch, which was held at Private Eyes, a famous night club in New York City.

A few years after her book launch, Welch starred in Right to Die, a television drama based on articles written by Andrew H. Malcolm that appeared in The New York Times. Welch’s performance in this show earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Welch was honored with a Hollywood Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the late 1990s. Here, she is seen posing next to it.

After her praise-worthy Broadway performance over a decade earlier, Welch returned to the stage for Victor/Victoria. Here she is seen at curtain call receiving a bouquet of flowers during the production’s opening night.

Many Hollywood celebrities, including Welch, made guest star appearances on Seinfeld, one of the most famous sitcoms of the 1990s. On this special episode of Seinfeld, the actress played herself.

The actress is pictured here alongside actors Hector Elizondo and Jacqueline Obradors while walking the red carpet of their film Tortilla Soup. Tortilla Soup is a comedy-drama about a Mexican-American family living in Los Angeles. Welch plays the role of Hortensia, the humorous mother.

Welch married her third husband, Richie Palmer, the owner of Mulberry Street Pizza, in 1999. Here, the two are pictured walking the red carpet of Legally Blonde, in which Welch had a cameo.

MAC Cosmetics honored Welch by naming her one of their Beauty Icons. Her makeup collaboration with the brand featured limited-edition makeup shades, all housed in tiger-print packaging.

In 2017, Welch hosted Estee Lauder’s The Incredible Women Gala in Los Angeles. The actress passed away in 2023 at the age of 82.