Raquel Welch became famous for her striking beauty, but people’s love for her was more than skin deep.
Welch, the Hollywood sex symbol known for her 1960s roles in “One Million Years B.C.” and “Fantastic Voyage,” died Wednesday following a brief illness. She was 82.
Born Jo Raquel Tejada in September 1940, Welch’s career spanned 50 years, 30 films and 50 TV series and appearances. She won a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical for her role in “The Three Musketeers” in 1975.
An outpouring of love for the Bolivian American actress has flowed in, with several stars taking to social media to share their fondness for Welch.
“We are saddened to hear about the passing of legendary actress Raquel Welch,” visual effects creator Ray Harryhausen’s Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation wrote on Twitter.
Raquel Welch:Sexy star of ‘One Million Years B.C.’ and ‘Fantastic Voyage’ dies at 82
“An iconic role which spawned one of the most famous movie posters ever,” the tweet read. “Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”
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“Raquel Welch dying is a very weird feeling,” actor Chris Meloni tweeted.
“Amazing beauty grace (and) talent,” “General Hospital” alum Antonio Sabato Jr. wrote. “Rest in peace.”
“This is so sad. I had the great pleasure of working with Ms. Welch when I was a regular on Sabrina the Teenage Witch and she was awesome,” actor Paul Feig shared.
“Kind, funny and a true superstar whom I was pretty much in love with for most of my childhood,” Feig added. “We’ve lost a true icon.”
“She lit up movie screens for years with her beauty and charisma,” Deborah Roberts, a correspondent for “Good Morning America,” wrote on Twitter. “What a life.”
“A unique beauty who left her one of a kind groovy vibe wherever she went,” actress and comedian Sandra Bernhard wrote.
“I know she’s famous for bigger/more notable things (inventing the bikini basically) but for me, Shake Your Whammy Fanny is forever burned on my brain,” singer-songwriter Tom Aspaul wrote alongside a clip of Welch on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.”
“Abbott Elementary” actor Bruno Amato shared a throwback photo of himself with Welch on Twitter.
“She was a guest on ‘The Talk’ and I was working on the show ‘Baby Daddy,'” Amato recalled. “Somehow our dressing rooms were across from each other. She was so gracious and still a total bombshell and I was in complete awe.”
“We’ll never forget our remarkable friend Raquel Welch, one of our favorite guests on The Muppet Show,” the official account for The Muppets posted on Twitter. “From dancing with a giant spider, to inspiring Fozzie Bear, and duetting with Miss Piggy, Raquel could do it all!”
“Raquel Welch has departed,” actor Titus Welliver tweeted. “An iconic beauty and actor.”
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Contributing: Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY
Story Credit: usatoday.com