Who is James Westley Welch, the first husband of actress Raquel Welch?
James Westley Welch is well known for being the first husband of actress Raquel Welch. Their relationship started as a high school romance and ended with their marriage in 1959. This partnership, which lasted until their divorce in 1964, gave birth to their two children. In her 2010 memoir, titled Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, Raquel said this about James:
From the first minute I saw him, I secretly knew that I was destined to have his babies. In my emotionally charged, romantic young mind, I fixated on Jim as 'my one and only.'
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- James Westley Welch is an American tuna fisherman who later worked as a publicist and real estate developer.
- He became famous for being the high school sweetheart and first husband of Raquel Welch.
- His first wife, Raquel Welch, was an American actress who died on 15 February 2023.
- James is the father of Raquel Welch's two children: Damon and Tahnee.
- He and Raquel married in Las Vegas in 1959, separated in 1962, and divorced in 1964.
James Westley Welch's profile summary
Full name | James "Jim" Wesley Welch |
Gender | Male |
Year of birth | Late 1930s/1940 |
Place of birth | San Diego, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Hair colour | Dark brown |
Eye colour | Light brown |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-wife | Raquel Welch (died 15 February 2023) |
Children | Damon, Latanne Rene "Tahnee" Welch |
Mother | Tahnee Land |
Siblings | Jan, Jerry, Judy |
Education | La Jolla High School |
Profession | Tuna fisherman; publicist; real estate developer |
Who was James Westley Welch?
James Westley Welch is an American tuna fisherman. He was born in San Diego, California, United States, to Tahnee Land. His birth year is reported as 1937 by most sources, though some cite 1940.
He is of White ethnicity and American nationality. He grew up alongside his sisters Jan, Jerry, and Judy. James attended La Jolla High School and was reportedly a dropout.
Source: Original
A look into James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch's relationship
James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch started dating in high school. Raquel was a cheerleader, while James played on the football team. According to People, she stated in her 2010 memoir, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, that she first spotted him when she was 15. She wrote:
My schoolgirl crush on Jim lulled me into believing that he was the man of my dreams.
Westley and Raquel married in Las Vegas on 8 May 1959, shortly after she graduated from high school. According to AS USA, James Westley Welch's ex-wife told Piers Morgan on Life Stories that marrying Westley was something she did for her own personal fulfilment and against her father's desires. She said,
By marrying Jim, I was doing something for my own satisfaction and in defiance of my father's wishes.
She continued,
What I didn't anticipate was how a series of events would dovetail together and forever complicate my life. Jim and I were settling into an apartment together and tackling the realities of married life: he was looking for a job, and I was calling my mother ten times a day for recipes and tips on cleaning products.
Raquel and Westley Welch divorced in 1964 after separating in 1962. The legendary film star was 19 when she had her first kid, which she regarded as a "painfully young age" that contributed to her divorce. Despite their divorce, Raquel retained Westley's surname, Welch, for the rest of her life.
Source: Getty Images
Raquel and James Westley Welch's children
The American couple has two children: a son, Damon Welch (born on 6 November 1959), and a daughter, Latanne Rene "Tahnee" Welch (born on 26 December 1961). Damon is an American actor and producer, known for his roles in Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness (1984) and The Day the Earth Got Stoned (1979).
Latanne Rene is a former American model and actress. She is known for her roles in Cocoon (1985), Sleeping Beauty (1987), and I Shot Andy Warhol (1996).
Following Raquel's death in February 2023, both Damon and Tahnee are believed to have inherited their mother's estate, estimated at approximately $40 million. Raquel reportedly set up a trust for her two children prior to her passing.
James Westley Welch's career and later life
After his divorce from Raquel, James pursued a career beyond tuna fishing. He reportedly transitioned into work as a publicist and talent agent before finding success in real estate development during California's booming property market of the 1970s and 1980s.
James lived a private life largely outside the public eye following his divorce. According to some sources, he reportedly died on 23 November 2019 at the age of 82. However, that remains unconfirmed. His passing went largely unreported in mainstream media, reflecting the private life he had maintained for decades after his marriage to Raquel ended.
Source: Getty Images
James Westley Welch's net worth
James Welch's net worth is not publicly confirmed. He reportedly transitioned from tuna fishing to real estate development, which suggests financial success later in life. His sources of income included:
- Tuna fishing (early career)
- Work as a publicist and talent agent
- Real estate development (1970s–1980s)
By contrast, his former wife Raquel Welch had an estimated net worth of $40 million at the time of her death in February 2023. Her estate was inherited by their two children, Damon and Tahnee Welch.
FAQs
- Who is Raquel Welch's first husband? Her first husband was James Westley Welch. They married in 1959 and divorced in 1964.
- How old was James Westley Welch when he died? His age remains unknown. James has largely lived a private life, and there is no evidence that he is dead.
- Is James Westley Welch still alive? It is unknown whether he is dead or alive. Some online sources say he died on 23 November 2019, but that remains unconfirmed.
- What ethnicity is Raquel Welch? The American actress was of mixed Bolivian and English descent. Her father emigrated from La Paz, Bolivia, and her mother was of English ancestry.
- Who was Raquel Welch's greatest love? According to her 2010 memoir, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, the actress's first true love was her first husband, James Westley Welch.
- How many husbands did Raquel Welch have? She was married four times: to James Welch (1959–1964), Patrick Curtis (1967–1972), André Weinfeld (1980–1990), and Richard Palmer (1999–2004).
- Is Raquel Welch still alive? The legendary actress is not alive. She passed away on 15 February 2023, at the age of 82.
- Who inherited Raquel Welch's money? Her two children, Damon Welch and Tahnee Welch, are believed to have inherited her estate, estimated at approximately $40 million.
James Westley Welch is widely known as actress Raquel Welch's high school lover and first husband. His fame is closely linked to his brief marriage to the American actress, which lasted from 1959 to 1964 and produced their two kids, Damon and Tahnee. Raquel retained her first husband's surname, Welch, until her death on 15 February 2023.
Yen.com.gh published an article featuring Seung Yong Chung, an entrepreneur and marketing expert in the entertainment sector. He co-founded Cashmere Agency and serves as its CEO.
Seung is Diane Farr's ex-husband. Diane is a well-known American screenwriter, producer, and actress. Chung currently lives a secluded life away from the spotlight. Read the article to learn more about him.
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