Raquel Welch, the actress, model and sex symbol of the 1960s, dies

The entertainment world is in mourning the passing of famed actress Raquel Welch, who came to be regarded as an icon of beauty in the mid-1960s.

It was the artist's agent who broke the news Wednesday that Welch had died at age 82 after a "brief illness." According to the representative, the actress passed away "peacefully" in the morning hours in Los Angeles.

Welch, whose real name was Jo Raquel Tejada, had an illustrious professional career featuring appearances in more than 30 films and 50 television programs. She began her acting career in the early 1960s with minor roles.

The artist's fame began to rise when she participated in the science fiction film Fantastic Voyage. However, it was her role in the prehistoric drama One Million Years B.C. that truly propelled her to stardom.

The actress came to be considered one of the most beautiful woman in the world after being pictured in a skin-colored two-piece garment during the filming of One Million Years B.C. After that, Welch was recognized as a sex symbol worldwide, which led her and her talent to several leading roles.

The artist went on to win a Golden Globe in 1974 for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her performance in The Three Musketeers, and she worked alongside other great artists such as Frank Sinatra, Vittorio de Sica and Marcello Mastroianni.

The last role the actress had was in 2017 in How to be a Latin Lover, a comedy film she did alongside Eugenio Derbez and Salma Hayek.