Raquel Welch’s death certificate reveals that the Hollywood icon died of cardiac arrest. The death certificate also notes that Welch battled Alzheimer’s disease.
Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada on Sept. 5, 1940; she died on Feb. 15. TMZ reported the actress battled Alzheimer’s but chose not to disclose her medical condition to her fans.
In 2014, Welch told Fox News host Bill O’Reilly she “was more on the conservative side,” adding, “I think it was my upbringing, to tell you the truth, Midwestern values. I just was raised in a certain way; ladies behave a certain way; your country is important; honor those people who do fight for our country.”
Putting feet to her words, Welch notably accompanied famed comedian Bob Hope several times to entertain American soldiers serving in Vietnam.
In her memoir titled, “Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage,” Welch noted that her Hollywood break came in 1966 when she was cast in the film “Fantastic Voyage.” She later starred in “One Million Years B.C.,” wearing what has become an iconic deerskin bikini.
Welch wrote: “I was happy that I had got a break so I could have my career, but at the same time, it was like: ‘This isn’t me. But this is what I have to do because this is my ticket to ride.’”
The actress went on to win a nomination for a Golden Globe for her work in “The Three Musketeers.”
In 2011, the Men’s Health’s list of the 100 Hottest Women of All Time put Welch in the No. 2 slot.
Welch had a good sense of humor, and in 2012 she recalled a time when she worked with Faye Dunaway: “My first day on set, Faye Dunaway comes over to me all dolled up, and she was so cute. She said, ‘Darling, I just want you to know, I’m a big fan of yours. But don’t you know, they’re all just waiting for us to tear each other’s eyes out. So let’s have fun with them.’”
“Everyone on set was going, ‘Uh-oh, here they come,’ standing there watching. And Faye gets out her fan and starts fanning herself, saying, ‘Darling, I adore your work.’ And I say, ‘Everything you do is genius!’ Everyone was so disappointed,” she added.
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